FAQs for motorcycle learner drivers

Here are the steps you need to follow:

• Apply for a category A1 (lower power or small motorcycle) learner permit
• complete Initial Basic Training (IBT)
• continue practising until six months have elapsed and you are eligible to take the driving test
• present for a driving test with a motorcycle of minimum 115cm3 and no greater than 125cm3.

On 19th January 2013, category M (moped) changed to category AM (moped). There is no change to the size of motorcycle or the type of driving test you need to do.

You must present on a motorcycle of a minimum of 115cm3 and no greater than 125cm3.

Progressive access allows you to take advantage of your previous riding experience and skills in a lower motorcycle category to acquire a licence in a higher category without having to take another driving test. For example:

• if you hold a full category A1 licence for two years and complete a progression module training course of IBT on a category A2 motorcycle, you can get a full category A2 licence without taking a practical driving test.

In some instances you may need to take a full driving test. For example:

• if you take the progressive access training route to get a category A2 licence and later decide to get a category A licence, you must take a practical driving test for category A.

No. You can only acquire a licence by progressive access once.

• This means that you can only take the training option under progressive access for either category A2 or category A licence, but not for both.
• Where you are taking the progressive route by doing training only, you will not need to hold your learner permit for six months before getting the full driving licence.
• Where you are taking the driving test route then you must hold the learner permit for 6 months before sitting the driving test.

Direct access means that if you meet the minimum age requirements of a particular category, you can complete a theory test (if not already completed) and you can take out a learner permit in that category and complete IBT without ever having held a full licence in a lower category of motorcycle. You also must wait 6 months from the issue date of the learner permit before sitting your driving test in the category.

Direct access can also be used to advance to a higher-powered motorcycle without having to wait the two years needed with progressive access.

For example, John is 25 years old and has held a full category A1 licence for one year. With direct access, he can skip category A2 to apply directly for a category A motorcycle learner permit and complete his IBT. He must wait 6 months from the start date of the category A learner permit to sit the category A driving test and pass this driving test to apply for the full category A licence.

No. The minimum age for direct access to category A is 24 years.

If you are under 24 years, you can obtain a full category A licence by either:

1. holding a category A2 full licence acquired by direct access for a minimum of two years, applying for a learner permit and completing the requisite IBT training module, or
2. holding a category A2 full licence acquired by progressive access from category A1 for two years, applying for a learner permit and passing the category A practical driving test.

Yes, you must hold a learner permit in the category of motorcycle you propose to do the training on.

The fee for the A2 driving test is €85. It’s the same for all motorcycle tests.

If you have never taken a motorcycle theory test you must now sit a theory test before you can get a first learner permit. If you took out a first motorcycle learner permit since April 2001, you will have passed a theory test and do not need to do so again in order to get a learner permit in the motorcycle category. The only exception to this is if the learner permit in the category has expired for a period of over five years.

The table below sets out the motorcycle types in each category.

Licence category	What type of motorcycle
AM	Mopeds and three-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed greater than 25 km/h but not greater than 45km/h as well as light quadricycles. The minimum age at which a learner permit can be taken out for this category is age 16.
A1	Motorcycle less than 125cm3, power rating not less than 11kW with a power to weight ratio no greater than 0.1kW/kg. The minimum age at which a learner permit can be taken out for this category licence is age 16.
A2	Motorcycle less than 35kW, a power/weight ratio not greater than 0.2kW/kg and not derived from a vehicle more than double its power. The minimum age at which a learner permit can be taken out for this category is age 18.
A	All motorcycles including those greater than 35kW. The minimum age at which a learner permit can be taken out for this category is age 20, where an A2 licence has been held for 2 years. Direct access is possible at age 24.