Can I drive a motorbike or scooter with the B license?

May 7, 2018

The car license, category B, allows under certain conditions to drive a scooter or a light two-wheeler: have obtained the car license for more than 2 years and take practical training. For a larger cylinder, the license equivalence is not enough: you will have to pass the motorcycle license.

Can I drive a motorbike or scooter with the B license?

Is training to ride a motorcycle or scooter mandatory ?

Several cases are possible. If you obtained your B license before March 1, 1980 (with A1 equivalence), you are exempt from the training. You should know that the regulations changed on January 1, 2011. Depending on whether you drive a two or three-wheeler before this date or not, the configuration varies..

If you didn’t drive a 2 or 3 wheeler before 2011

You are required to take training. It can be followed from the month preceding the anniversary date of the 2 years of obtaining the B permit.

If you were driving a 2-wheeler (displacement between 50 and 125 cm3) before 2011

You are exempt if you took the car driving license more than two years ago and you have insured a light motorcycle with a displacement of between 50 and 125 cm3, or a 3-wheel scooter of the L5e category, during the last five years before January 1, 2011, regardless of the insurance period.

If you drove a 3 wheeler (category L5e) before 2011

You are exempted from training provided, again, that you have held the B permit for more than two years, that you have over 21 years old, and to have insured a 2-wheeler less than 125 cm3 or a motor tricycle during the last 5 years before January 1, 2011, regardless of the duration of the insurance.

The risks and penalties incurred if you do not follow this training

Any rider who does not follow these rules is exposed to a traffic ticket. In the event of a control by the police, the user of the scooter must be able to present his driving license but also the training certificate permit or the statement of information provided by the insurer which proves the experience of driving a motorized 2 or 3-wheeler.

Failure to comply with these regulations is punishable by a 4th class fine, i.e. a fixed fine of 135 € ; the maximum amount up to € 750.

The follow-up of the 7h training does not give entitlement to the issue of category A. It simply authorizes the driving, on the national territory, of a light motorcycle or a vehicle of the L5e category regardless of its power.

What does the training consist of?

Since January 1, 2011, the duration of the practical training is 7 hours instead of 3 previously.

Be careful, if you have followed the 3-hour training course, you will keep the benefits. This compulsory training is given in a driving school or an association approved by the prefect..

This driving course comes in a 2 hour theoretical training focused on road safety awareness and the risk of accidents.

A module of 2 hours of "on-platform" circulation allows you to discover the characteristics of the vehicle.

Finally, a practical test of traffic on public roads, with a duration of 3 hours, allows among other things to adapt its speed to the traffic conditions and to other road users.

At the end of this seven-hour training, you will receive a certificate issued by the driving school or motorcycle school.

Good to know : in case of’invalidation or fromlicense cancellation, the benefit of training remains acquired.

Between the Paris region and the province, the prices of this training scooter can generally vary between 250 and 350 €.

What kind of two or three wheeler can you drive ?

Category B driving license, obtained for at least two years, allows driving in France mopeds of the following category:

  • a two wheels of a cylinder capacity equal to or greater than 50 cm³ and less than or equal to 125 cm³ and whose power does not exceed 11 kilowatts,
  • a three wheel scooter (of category L5e) with a cylinder capacity greater than 50 cm³, with a maximum speed exceeding 45 km / h and a curb weight not exceeding 1000 kg.

Warning, license B does not authorize driving a motorcycle ! Since June 2, 2016, the A2 license is mandatory for people, from the age of 18, who wish to drive motorcycles with a power not exceeding 35 kW or tricycles with a maximum motor limited to 15 kW.

To obtain the A2 license, you will have to pass the review of the highway code, then, after driving lessons, pass the practical test. The category A motorcycle license allows you to drive all motorcycles and tricycles as well as motor quadricycles with a maximum power of 15 kW.

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