A3 or A2 driving licence? Want a motorbike and need to clarify? Let's try to help you

A3 driving license (and A2 driving licence)

The kids who read us every day are perhaps thinking of treating themselves to their first motorbike, while among the older ones, there is simply the desire to ride the much desired two-wheeler. The first step, however, remains the fact of obtaining the A3 license for the motorbike, or if you prefer the A license. The A3 license, in fact, allows you to drive motorcycles without limitations on engine capacity and power, for this reason it is also called a driving license A without limits, but in the sea of ​​laws it is good to make a little clarity. First of all, it should be remembered that those who had obtained an A or B license before 1 January 1986 do not have to take any exam, neither theoretical nor practical, to be able to drive motorcycles without limits on engine capacity and power. Those who obtained an A or B license between 1 January 1986 and 25 April 1988 can drive any motorcycle, but only on the condition of remaining within national borders. Otherwise you will need to take the practical exam. From 18 January 2013, the age limit for directly obtaining the A3 driving license is 24 years, but it is possible to do so earlier if the person has obtained the A2 driving license for at least two years (which can be obtained after the age of 18). What, perhaps everyone doesn't know, has changed with the latest regulatory update, is that there is no longer any automatic transition from A2 to A3. In essence, if the exam is not passed with a motorbike exceeding the minimum power limit, usually due to the absence of the age prerequisite, it will be necessary to repeat the practical exam, effectively incurring the costs of the pink slip etc.

Driving license A: the theoretical exam

The real bugaboo for those who have to take it, as we know, is the theoretical exam. After all, who loves to be judged or, perhaps, once their school cycle is finished, wants to go back to studying? But we are motorcyclists and lovers of two wheels, so we arm ourselves with books, we go to the driving school closest to our home and we get ready to face the theory exam which, with a little effort, will no longer be then so much a bogeyman. The theoretical exam must be taken only by those who are at their first approach to a driving licence, or by holders of an AM license (the one for "fifties"), while those who have an A1 license (up to 125 cc), A2 license and driving license B is exempt (obviously the obligation to take the practical exam remains). The theoretical exam for the A3 driving license consists of a form in the form of a quiz made up of 40 questions with the true or false formula which must be completed in half an hour and which must not contain more than four errors to be passed. It should also be remembered that the pink slip (issued at the time of enrolment) lasts six months, within which both theory and practical tests must be passed.

Driving license A: the practical exam

Once you have passed the theoretical exam and received the pink slip (which will allow you to ride your motorbike on roads with little traffic and in any case without a passenger), the time comes for the practical test. The final exam is divided into two parts, one to be taken in an equipped area (usually near the motorization station) and one on the street (remember that it is not a simulation, but you are in traffic and therefore forced to respect the rules and regulations of the road, which you have just studied!). Initially you will have to face the slalom between five cones arranged in a straight line four meters apart from each other and then "draw" a figure eight between two cones arranged eight meters apart and with limited maneuvering space . Having completed these first two steps you will have to face the passage in a six meter straight line, as wide as the width of the motorbike plus 30 centimeters and, finally, in second gear face braking, stopping the motorbike with the front wheel in a square of one meter per side. Once this is done you will move on the road and, guided by your instructor and the examiner (who will give you directions via radio, while sitting in the car) who will judge your driving conduct, knowledge of the horizontal and vertical signs and all those regulations to be respected to be good motorcycle drivers.

A license: the motorbike used for the exam derives any restrictions forever, or almost

The law provides that, to obtain the A3 license without any limitation, the practical exam must be carried out with a motorbike with a displacement equal to or greater than 600 cc, with a minimum power of 54 HP, manual gearbox and a weight of at least 180 kg. The advice is to choose something comfortable and easy to handle, meaning with this term that it has a sufficient steering angle to be able to face the tests with the pins, especially the legendary (or cursed) "8", without problems. Years pass, the laws are updated, but this remains in fact the biggest problem, which forces many to carry out the test with a borrowed or rented motorbike, given that many sports bikes, but not only, have an insufficient steering angle to be able to pass the exam, even for the most experienced pilots. Also be careful when using a motorcycle that you do not own. In fact, it is required to indicate the vehicle data at the time of registration and, for those who are not the owner, the examiner has the right to request an authentic delegation or the presence of the owner at the time of the exam.

If you take the practical exam with a motorbike with less power, displacement or weight than previously indicated, what happens? In essence, instead of the A3, you will get the A2, provided however that the motorbike used has power between 25 and 35 kW (34 – 48 HP), a displacement greater than 400 cc and no more than 0,2 kW per kg of weight . You will subsequently only be able to drive motorcycles with a power rating equal to or less than 35 kW (48 horsepower - possibly motorbikes with higher power, if in a version detuned to this threshold, as long as the original power value is not greater than 95 HP). On a similar motorcycle, if you use a motorcycle with automatic transmission (usually a scooter, but transmissions such as Honda's DCT, which do not have a clutch lever, are also becoming widespread), your license (regardless of the power limit) will be restricted to the use of this particular type of transmission (A2 or A3 “automatic”).

In all cases, to eliminate any restrictions and ride motorbikes "without limits", you have to repeat everything from the beginning: registration, practical exam and associated costs.

License A: the cost

Getting a license isn't free, obviously, but driving a motorbike usually costs much less than driving a car. If you decide to rely on one driving school, prices will be around 2-300 euro approximately, plus any driving lessons, which we remind you are not mandatory. However, you can also contact the DMV directly (as private dealers, as they commonly say). By doing so you will actually save a significant part of the costs, but you will have longer management times for completing and submitting the forms and registering for the exams. The first is the TT2112 model, which can also be found online. Then you still have to pay postal bills and incur further costs related to photocopies of identity card and tax code, the two necessary passport photos, but above all the medical history certificate, with stamp duty. If for payment slips and revenue stamps you get to approximately EUR 75 (further 16 for the possible oral test), the medical history certificate, usually issued by the treating doctor and which certifies the absence of addictions to alcohol and drugs, as well as other pathologies, can cost from less than 30 euros to over 100. As a private individual you will therefore be able to spend from around 100 euros in total, even up to almost (in some cases over) 200.

License A: once done…

Well once done, all you have to do is go and buy your favorite motorbike. We are so sure that you will have seen it, checked it, analysed it, studied it, desired it and you will know every feature of it. If you're really undecided, well, there are our road tests to dispel all your doubts.