AM: mopeds and scooters
Up to 50cc, or electric up to 4 kW, with a top speed of 45 km/h. From age 16. IBT: 16 hours. Even a full AM licence doesn't let you on the motorway.
Book your AM IBTHow to get your motorbike licence in Ireland.
Every motorbike licence in Ireland follows the same route: theory test, learner permit, IBT, six months of riding, then the test. What changes from one rider to the next is the bike you can ride, and that comes down to your age and the category you pick. This guide covers the steps, the four categories, the learner permit rules, how to move up to a full A licence and what it all costs. We run IBT and lessons for every category, from AM to A.
Fees and rules checked on 21 October 2026 against rsa.ie, ndls.ie and theorytest.ie.
How to get a motorbike licence in Ireland, step by step.
- Pass the motorcycle theory test. It's one test for every bike licence, listed as AM (Motorcycle/Moped) on theorytest.ie, and it costs €45. Your certificate lasts two years. More in our theory test guide.
- Get your learner permit. Apply to the NDLS for a permit in the category you want: AM, A1, A2 or A. A first permit costs €45 and lasts two years.
- Do your IBT. Initial Basic Training is compulsory, and you can't ride on the road until it's done. It's 16 hours for AM and A1 and 18 hours for A2 and A, on a bike from your category, with an approved IBT instructor. With us it takes two days. See our IBT training.
- Ride for six months. You have to hold your learner permit for at least six months before you can sit the test.
- Sit the motorcycle test. The fee is €85 for every bike category, and you apply on MyRoadSafety. The test takes about 60 minutes, according to the RSA. A pre-test with us before the day shows you how it will go.
- Get your full licence. Apply to the NDLS for it (€65). For your first two years you wear a yellow tabard with N-plates on the front and back.
Motorbike licence categories: AM, A1, A2 and A.
The category decides which bike you can ride. You choose it when you apply for your learner permit, and you do your IBT and your test on a bike from that category.
A1: small motorbikes
Up to 125cc and 11 kW, with no more than 0.1 kW per kg. From age 16. IBT: 16 hours. You sit the test on a bike between 115cc and 125cc.
Book your A1 IBTA2: medium motorbikes
Up to 35 kW, with no more than 0.2 kW per kg. If the bike has been restricted, the full-power version can't have more than 70 kW. From age 18. IBT: 18 hours.
Book your A2 IBTA: any motorbike
No power limit. From age 24, or from 20 if you've held a full A2 licence for two years. IBT: 18 hours.
Book your A IBTSource: NDLS licence categories and the RSA, checked on 21 October 2026.
Which licence can you get at your age?
- AM or A1
- 16
- A2
- 18
- A, after two years on a full A2
- 20
- A, straight away (direct access)
- 24
From 1 November 2026 you need to be at least 15 on the day of your theory test (theorytest.ie).
What a motorcycle learner permit lets you do.
A motorcycle learner permit works differently from a car one. Once your IBT is done, you can ride on your own, without a qualified driver with you. These are the rules:
- You can't ride on the road until you've finished your IBT.
- You wear a yellow fluorescent tabard with L-plates on the front and back. Riding without it gets you penalty points.
- You can't carry a passenger.
- You can't use motorways.
- You can only ride bikes in your permit's category. An A1 permit doesn't cover an A2 bike.
- Your bike has to be taxed, insured and roadworthy.
A full car licence doesn't get you out of any of this for an A1, A2 or A bike.
A first or second learner permit lasts two years. From 1 November 2026 you can only renew a third or later permit if you've sat a driving test in the previous two years, and once you've held learner permits for seven years you start again from the theory test (ndls.ie).
From A2 to a full A licence.
If you're under 24, you get to a full A licence through A2. Once you've held a full A2 licence for two years, you apply for a category A learner permit, and then:
- If you got your A2 by passing the test, 11 hours of IBT on a bigger bike gets you your A licence, with no second test.
- If you got your A2 by moving up from A1 without a test, you have to pass the category A test. You can only move up without a test once.
The same step works one level down: after two years on a full A1, 11 hours of IBT on an A2 bike gets you a full A2 without a test. On the training route you don't have to wait six months on your permit. The rules are on rsa.ie.
If you're 24 or over, you can go straight for A instead. We run lessons on category A bikes, so you can get used to the extra power before your IBT or your test.
How long it takes and what it costs.
- Theory test
- €45
- First learner permit
- €45
- Motorcycle test
- €85
- Full licence
- €65
Add IBT with O'Neill at €650, bike and gear included, and the total comes to €890. Our IBT costs the same for every category. Extra lessons and a pre-test aren't in that total.
The quickest route takes a little over six months, because of the six-month rule between your learner permit and the test. You also need time to book the theory test and to get a test date. The RSA's driving test waiting times page shows the current wait.
Fees from theorytest.ie, ndls.ie and rsa.ie, checked on 21 October 2026.
Motorbike licence questions.
Can I ride a motorbike on my full car licence?
Not a motorbike. A car licence doesn't cover A1, A2 or A bikes, and that includes 125cc and electric motorbikes. You need a motorcycle learner permit, then IBT, then the motorcycle test, and you sit the motorcycle theory test first if you've never passed it. The one exception is mopeds: if you got your full car licence before 21 October 2006, it also covers category AM, as long as it hasn't been expired for more than 10 years.
Can I ride on my own with a learner permit?
Yes, once you've finished your IBT. Motorcycle learners don't need a qualified driver with them. You still need the L-plate tabard, and you can't carry a passenger or use the motorway.
Can I skip A1 and go straight to A2?
Yes, if you're 18 or over. You pass the theory test, get an A2 learner permit, do your IBT and sit the A2 test after six months. You never need an A1 licence.
Is an A2 licence a full licence?
Yes. A full A2 licence lets you ride A2 bikes on every road, motorways included, and carry a passenger if your insurance allows it. For the first two years you wear the N-plate tabard. After two years you can move up to A.
Can I ride a 600cc on an A2 licence?
It depends on the power, not the cc. An A2 bike can have up to 35 kW, with no more than 0.2 kW per kg. Some 600cc and bigger bikes come in A2 versions or can be restricted, as long as the full-power bike has no more than 70 kW. Check the bike's papers before you buy.
Can I use the motorway on a learner permit?
No. Learner permit holders can't ride on motorways in any category. Once you hold a full A1, A2 or A licence, you can. A full AM licence still doesn't allow motorways.
How hard is it to get a motorbike licence in Ireland?
The steps aren't complicated, but they take time: the theory test, then IBT, then at least six months on your permit before the test. On the day of the test you answer questions, show hand signals and explain how you'd check the bike, then you ride on public roads. A pre-test with us before the day shows you where you'd lose marks.
Do I need a licence for a scooter or moped?
Yes. A moped or scooter up to 50cc, or electric up to 4 kW, with a top speed of 45 km/h is category AM, from age 16. Bigger scooters, like a 125cc, are A1. For either one you need the theory test, a learner permit and IBT. The exception is a full car licence you got before 21 October 2006, which also covers AM. We run IBT for AM too.
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- +353 85 100 0629
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- Meath, Westmeath & Dublin