Motorcycle license: A license

Verified 15 January 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You want to drive a large engine of more than 35 kilowatts (47.5 horsepower) and you wonder how to pass the motorcycle A license? We present you the information to know and the steps of the process.

Step-by-step approach

The A license allows the following vehicles to be driven:

  • Motorcycle, with or without side-car, no matter how powerful
  • 3 Wheels of a power greater than 15 kW: titleContent.

Age

To get the A permit, you must have at least :

  • 20 years for driving a motorcycle with a power exceeding 35 kW: titleContent (47.5 ch: titleContent)
  • 21 years for driving a 3-wheel vehicle with a power exceeding 15 kW: titleContent.

Motorcycle license

You must have the A2 motorcycle license for 2 years or more.

Deadline

You can take the training within 3 months before the anniversary date of the 2 years of obtaining the motorcycle license A2.

For example, if you had the A2 license on the 1er august 2024, you can take the training from 1er May 2026.

Registration

You can take the training in a driving school (motorcycle school) or a approved associative school.

Driving license: find a certified school near you

The driving school must offer you a standard driving education contract. That contract shall specify in particular the program and the course of training, on price training and administrative services, obligations of each, the means of payment.

When you register for the training, a digital training booklet is open to you.

The main information in the e-learning booklet concerns:

  • Driving school (auto school or association)
  • Teachers
  • Driving hours
  • The training provided
  • The estimated date of the training provided.

Price

Training rates are free.

Duration

Training lasts 7 hours and is done over a day.

Content

Training includes 1 theoretical sequence and 2 practical sequences :

  • 2 hours of theory : accident, speed, detectability, driving and psychoactive products (alcohol, drugs, medicines...)
  • 2 hours maneuverability out of circulation, on tray
  • 3 hours driving in circulation

You can consult the detailed program on the Légifrance website.

End of training

At the end of the training, your instructor will give you a follow-up certificate. There's no exam to take.

Warning  

The follow-up certificate can't drive a motorcycle or a three-wheel vehicle in category A of the license. You must wait to receive the email or SMS from theANTS: titleContent informing you that your permit application has been validated. Then you can download a Secure Certificate of Driving Rights (SDA).

The school takes care of the demand of your A license (driving license).

You must provide the following documents:

  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...).

One on-line service allows you to track your driver's license application.

Track the progress of a driving license application

Driving license dispatch

The driving license (driving license) is shipped by Letter Followed.

This type of dispatch traceable, with mailbox delivery, is different from traditional mail.

You must pay attention to the address you provide in the online procedure. It must be as complete as possible (building number, apartment number, mailbox number, floor, hallway, staircase, "resident", etc.).

Your mailbox should contain the first and last name of the person who receives the mail.

Follow-up of the dispatch of the driving license

From the receipt of the SMS informing you of the validation of your online request, you must count about 15 days to receive your driving license (driving license).

At the end of the stage of manufacturing your driving license, you receive a mail containing a mail tracking link. This link allows you to track the progress of your driving license.

Tracking the dispatch of your driving license can also be done directly on the La Poste website with the number of the mail followed.

Please note

In order to stay informed of the status of your application and the dispatch of your driving license, remember to provide your phone number and email during the teleprocedure.

In the event of failure to obtain a driving license

If you did not receive your driving license (driving license) while the mail tracking view shows a distribution made, contact theANTS: titleContent via the contact form:

Who shall I contact

  • Citizens Contact Center - Driving license

    Online

    https://permisdeconduire.ants.gouv.fr/

    Online Contact Form

    Access to contact form

    By telephone

    34,00 (no surtax)

    09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and foreigner

    Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Upon receipt of the email or SMS informing that your application for a motorcycle A license has been validated, you can download a Secure Certificate of Driving Rights (SDA).

The ADCS allows you to drive a motorcycle under category A of the license while waiting to receive the license A (driving license).

ADCS is valid for 4 months from the date of issue and may be reissued if necessary. It is valid only in France.

Consult and download the information of the driving license: balance of points, full statement, certificate of right to drive secure...

The period of validity of a driving license (driving license) in format credit card is 15 years.

At the end of this period, the renewal is a simple administrative procedure : there is no driving test or medical examination to be taken.

So, even if your driving license is valid 15 years, your license category remains valid for life (unless individually restricted).

However, the period of validity of the title may be small for health reasons.

The validity of the certificate should not be confused with the validity of the license categories :

  • The date of end of validity of the driving ticket is indicated in front, at the line 4b.
  • The dates for obtaining and end of validity of categories of permits are listed in back the permit, columns 10 and 11.
Infographie - Decrypt driving license
Illustration X - Decrypt driving license - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie
Illustration X
Crédits: Direction de l’information légale et administrative

Ouvrir l’image dans une nouvelle fenêtre

The infographic explains the information on the driving license.

Front of the driving license:

1. Name of holder

2. Surname of the holder

3. Date and place of birth of holder

4a. Date of issue of the certificate

4b. End date of validity of the security

4c. Issuing authority

5. Title number

7. Signature of the holder

9. Categories of permits

Unnumbered legend: symbol and name of the State which issued the driving license

Reverse side of the permit:

9. Categories of permits

10. Date of 1re issue of each category of permit

11. Expiry date of each license category

12. Restrictive codes. For example: 01.01 for glasses

Unnumbered Legend: File Number (NEPH Number)

Decrypt driving license

Download
Decrypt driving license - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie
Crédits: Service Public (DILA)Infographie - Decrypt driving license

The infographic explains the information on the driving license.

Front of the driving license:

1. Name of holder

2. Surname of the holder

3. Date and place of birth of holder

4a. Date of issue of the certificate

4b. End date of validity of the security

4c. Issuing authority

5. Title number

7. Signature of the holder

9. Categories of permits

Unnumbered legend: symbol and name of the State which issued the driving license

Reverse side of the permit:

9. Categories of permits

10. Date of 1re issue of each category of permit

11. Expiry date of each license category

12. Restrictive codes. For example: 01.01 for glasses

Unnumbered Legend: File Number (NEPH Number)

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