Categories A1, A2 and A

There are three driving licence categories (behörigheter) for motorcycles: A1, A2 and A. They build on each other like a staircase. You can start with a light motorcycle when you are young and then move on to heavier machines once you have gained experience. In this chapter we go through what each category entitles you to ride.

A1 – light motorcycle

With category A1 you may ride a two-wheeled motorcycle with:

• an engine capacity (slagvolym) of at most 125 cm³,
• a net power output (nettoeffekt) of at most 11 kW,
• a power-to-weight ratio (power in relation to kerb weight, tjänstevikt) of at most 0.1 kW/kg.

You may also ride a light three-wheeled motorcycle, that is, a three-wheeler with a net power output of at most 15 kW (Road Traffic Definitions Act (lag om vägtrafikdefinitioner) 2 §).

A2 – medium motorcycle

With category A2 you may ride a two-wheeled motorcycle with:

• a net power output of at most 35 kW,
• a power-to-weight ratio of at most 0.2 kW/kg,
• an engine that has not been restricted (strypt) from a net power output of more than 70 kW.

(Driving Licence Act (körkortslagen) 2 kap. 5 §. The law says that a converted motorcycle must come from a vehicle with at most double the power output, that is, at most 70 kW.)

All three conditions must be met. A worked example: a motorcycle has 30 kW and weighs 120 kg. 30 / 120 = 0.25 kW/kg. The power output is below 35 kW, but the ratio is above 0.2 kW/kg. The motorcycle therefore requires category A.

If you buy a restricted motorcycle to ride with A2, you must check what power output it originally had. If the original power output was more than 70 kW, category A is required, no matter how much it has been restricted.

A – heavy motorcycle

With category A you may ride all two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, regardless of engine capacity, power output and power-to-weight ratio. However, you may only ride a heavy three-wheeled motorcycle once you have turned 21 (körkortslagen 2 kap. 6 §).

Motorcycles with a category B licence

With a category B licence you may not ride a two-wheeled motorcycle. You may, however, drive a three-wheeled motorcycle with more than 15 kW if you have turned 21 (körkortslagen 2 kap. 6 §). Four-wheeled motorcycles require category B.

Age limits

The age limits for the licence are in körkortslagen 3 kap. 1 §:

Category	Minimum age
A1	16 years
A2	18 years
A	24 years, or 20 years if you have held A2 for at least two years

The system is sometimes called the staircase model (trappstegsmodellen). So someone who takes A2 at 18 can take A at 20, while someone who starts directly with A must wait until 24.

Practice riding

To practise riding a motorcycle you need a learner's permit for group 1 (körkortstillstånd för grupp 1). The age limits for practice riding (övningskörning) are in körkortslagen 4 kap. 2–3 §§:

Category	Private practice	At a driving school
A1	15 years and 9 months	15 years and 9 months
A2	17 years and 6 months	17 years and 6 months
A, with A2 for at least 1.5 years	19 years and 6 months	19 years and 6 months
A, without A2	23 years	17 years and 6 months

So someone who is between 17 years and 6 months and 23 years old and does not hold A2 may only practise riding a heavy motorcycle at a driving school (trafikskola). The person supervising the riding must then come along on the motorcycle or in a sidecar (4 kap. 3 §).

How private practice riding works

For private practice riding you need an approved supervisor (godkänd handledare). The supervisor must either:

• ride along as a passenger on the motorcycle, or
• ride their own motorcycle. In that case the supervisor may only have one learner at a time.

The supervisor must carry their supervisor certificate (handledarbevis). The green and white ÖVNINGSKÖR (learner) sign must be clearly visible from behind. It can, for example, be worn on the back. It is the supervisor who counts as the driver and has the responsibility during practice riding.

If you already have a motorcycle category

If you already hold A1, you only need to take a practical riding test (körprov) to get A2. If you hold A1 or A2, you only need a practical test to get A. If you have done the risk education (riskutbildning) for motorcycles, you do not need to redo it when you take a higher motorcycle category.

One exception: anyone who got A1 before 1 November 2009 did not do any risk education at that time. Anyone who wants to take A2 must therefore complete both parts of the risk education for motorcycles.

Probationary period

A driving licence issued after a passed driving test has a probationary period (prövotid) of two years for all categories except AM, where it is one year. The probationary period is counted from the day of the test (körkortslagen 3 kap. 18 §). If you already have a valid licence with a category other than AM, for example B, the probationary period for the motorcycle category only covers the time that remains of the probationary period for the older licence. So if you have had B for more than two years, you get no new probationary period. During the probationary period you must show that you can drive without committing traffic offences, and a licence revoked during the probationary period has serious consequences.

Remember

• A1: at most 125 cm³, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg. From 16 years.
• A2: at most 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg, and not restricted from more than 70 kW. From 18 years.
• A: all motorcycles. From 24 years, or 20 years with A2 for two years.
• A category B licence gives the right to a three-wheeled motorcycle over 15 kW only from age 21.
• Practice riding: A1 from 15 years and 9 months, A2 from 17 years and 6 months.
• Without A2 you may practise for A privately only from age 23. Before that only at a driving school.
• The supervisor rides along as a passenger or rides their own motorcycle, and ÖVNINGSKÖR must be visible from behind.
• The probationary period is two years.