A and A2 licenses, simplified. According to the new rules established by the MIT and approved on September 18, 2023, it has become possible for A2 and A1 license holders to obtain - respectively - A and A2 licenses without a driving test. The rule implements Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, with the result of streamlining the bureaucratic process required for the upgrade.
Class A licenses enable the driving of motorcycles. Let's look in more detail at how they work.
- A1 license: can be obtained at 16 years of age and allows driving motorcycles with a maximum engine displacement of 125 cubic centimeters
- A2 license: allows, from 18 years of age upwards, driving motorcycles with a power not exceeding 35 kW
- A license: from 24 years of age upwards, enables driving all types of motorcycles
So, what changes? Those who already hold a lower category license can upgrade to a higher level without taking the driving test again. A training course attended at a driving school will suffice. With some limitations, however. Let's see.
- Upgrade from A1 to A2 license: only possible for adults who have held an A1 license for at least two years
- Upgrade from A2 to A license: only possible for those who are at least twenty years old and have held an A2 license for at least two years
The training course is mandatory, lasts 7 hours, and is divided into two phases.
The first phase is dedicated to "vehicle preparation and technical checks for road safety, specific maneuvers for road safety," lasting 3 hours. This initial training can be collective, for a maximum of 5 people. The remaining four hours will be dedicated to driving in traffic; in this phase, training must be individual. No candidate can receive more than 3 hours of training per day, so the course must last a minimum of 3 days.
At the end of the training, the driving school will send a certificate of participation in the training course to the Motorizzazione Civile (Department of Motor Vehicles).
For those who do not hold an A1 or A2 license, there are no shortcuts: the two traditional exams, theoretical and practical, remain necessary.
