Licence category A – motorcycle driver's licence

If you are among those aspiring to acquire Licence category A – motorcycle driver's licence, and if you are determined to join thousands of motorcycle riders, driving school "Einšteins" is the place for you! Training for Category A under the guidance of experienced instructors will help you learn the traffic rules and regulations. However, when it comes to safe and confident motorcycle riding, the best motorcycle instructors in Latvia are here to train you – making use of our fleet of Yamaha and Kawasaki motorcycles – same models used at official Category A examination at the  Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD).

Motorcycle driver's licence is most often associated with licence Category A. However, licence of Category A has several sub-categories, the acquisition of which takes place with individual requirements: Licence categories A1 and A2 which licence category is the one to pick?

Category A

Licence category A lets you drive any motorcycle without limitations on engine displacement or maximum design velocity. Category A training can be started only from the age of 22, whereas the theoretical and driving exam at Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) can be taken from the age of 24. The prospective motorcyclists must receive 15 lesson (each being 45 minutes long) of theoretical training and at least 10 lessons (again, each 45 minutes) of practical training. The driving exam at Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) must be taken in the period from April 1 to October 1. It is important to mention that this driving licence can also be obtained by passing the CSDD category A driving test, if 2 years of experience in driving an A2 motorcycle has been achieved (additional driving training is in this case not mandatory).

Category A1 

Licence category A1 is suitable for driving motorcycles with the maximum engine displacement at 125 cm3 and engine power not exceeding 11 kW, with maximum design velocity at least 90 km/h and the maximum weight/power relation at 0.1 kW/kg. A Category A1 driving licence can be obtained from the young age of 16. The knowledge and skills required for driving an A1 category vehicle can be acquired through self practice (i.e., individually), but if you want to feel safe and confident in road traffic, we offer to acquire training at the driving school together with a group of Category AM.

A Category A1 driving licence is issued if the number of incorrect answers out of 30 questions at theoretical examination of CSDD not exceed 3. In turn, the Category A1 driving exam tests the student's driving skills – practical abilities in performing figures and in road traffic. The driving exam at Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) for Category A1 must also be taken in the period from April 1 to October 1.

Category A2

Licence category A2 is designed to drive motorcycles with engine power not exceeding 35 kW and engine displacement of at least 395 cm3, whereas the power relation to vehicle weight cannot exceed 0.2 kW/kg. Category A2 motorcycle licence can be acquired from the age of 18. Category A2 driving licence can be obtained by completing a training course at a driving school and passing the theoretical and driving test at the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD). The training program at the driving school consists of 3 theory lessons and 5 practical lessons with a driving instructor. Depending on the student's level of preparation and prior ability, practical classes may be set in excess of the specified minimum.

Also in the theoretical exam of category A2 at CSDD, 30 questions must be answered (the maximum of 3 errors is allowed). In the driving exam, the applicant's driving skills in the performance of figures and in road traffic are tested. The driving exam must once again be taken in the period from April 1 to October 1.

Theoretical training for Categories A1, A2, A

  • Prior to starting the training for Licence Category A at the driving school, you will be registered in the training group and in the database held by Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD).
  • Make sure you have a valid medical certificate. Pay attention to whether your general practitioner has also included category A as one of the valid types of vehicles in the registry of CSDD. Otherwise, you will have to undergo a repeated medical examination. 
  • Theoretical training course for Licence Category A takes a total of 3 lectures (15 academic lessons) as per a pre-determined schedule.
  • The driving school "Einšteins" holds the mandatory training courses in first aid. During the training, our students are prepared for the theoretical exam at CSDD. Upon completion of the course, a certificate will be issued that will be valid for 5 years. In the event you already hold such a certificate, repeated attendance of the training will not be required.
  • At the end of Category A theoretical training, the Category A theoretical exam must be taken at the driving school.
  • After successful passing of the driving school's theoretical exam, the Category A theoretical exam must be passed at Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD).

Practical training for Categories A1, A2, A

  • In order to embark the practical training (driving) for Category A, the student is not required to have training driver's licence (so-called "white" driver's licence). Any previously obtained category licence will serve as a permit to start driving instruction (practical lessons).
  • The number of Category A driving lessons will depend on the student's level of practical skills, but not less than 10 lessons (each 45 minutes).
  • The training course and schedule of Category A driving lessons is planned online on the electronic student platform of the driving school "Einšteins".
  • When practical motorcycle driving skills of the student are sufficient, he or she will be assigned to the Category A driving test at CSDD, after passing which you will obtain the motorcycle driver's licence.
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Frequently asked questions – category A

Licence category A is a motorcycle driver's licence which allows one to ride a two-wheel motor vehicle with the engine displacement of 50 cm3 or more and a maximum speed exceeding 45 km/h. More specifically, Category A allows one to ride any motorcycle without restrictions on engine displacement or maximum speed.

Categories A1 and A2 are subcategories or motorcycle driver's licences that are suitable for driving motorcycles with certain restrictions:

Category A1: motorcycle engine with power not exceeding 11 kW, engine displacement not exceeding 125 cm3 and the maximum speed not exceeding 90 km/h.

Category A2: Motorcycle engine with power not exceeding 35 kW, engine displacement not exceeding 395 cm3 and the power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kW/kg.

Indeed, the driving school "Einšteins" offers to obtain Licence category A from its branches all over Latvia under the guidance of the best teachers and instructors. We also offer Category A2 theoretical and practical training, as well as A1 theoretical training within the AM category courses.

Yamaha and Kawasaki motorcycle models are used by the driving school "Einšteins" for Category A driving lessons, the identical type of motorcycles used by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) for Category A driving exams.  

An age limit is in place for acquiring Category A driver's licence. Theoretical training by the motorcyclists can be started from the age of 22, but the driving exam at Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) can be taken from the age of 24. However, a valid exception is regulated by law – Category A can also be obtained after reaching 2 years of experience driving a Category A2 motorcycle.

The price of Category A driver's licence consists of both theoretical and practical training expenses and various additional expenses – fees at CSDD, medical examination costs. Use our Licence category A price calculator to find out the approximate cost of acquiring motorcycle driver's licence!

In order to obtain a motorcycle driver's licence, one must take both the CSDD Category A theoretical exam and the Category A practical (driving) exam. The Category A theory exam at CSDD is passed with 3 or less errors in 30 theory questions, while the driving exam tests the skills of driving a motorcycle in the performance of figures and in real road traffic.

Licence of category A can be obtained in two ways – with or without a Category B driver's licence. If the student wants to implement the training process, which is indicated on our website, then Category B is mandatory. On the other hand, if the student doesn't already hold a Category B licence, then Category A can be acquired through a longer training path – 12 theory lessons and 20 driving lessons.

Yes, in order to obtain a Category A driver's licence, one must take both the school theory exam and the CSDD theory exam. Only after successfully passing the school theory exam can a student apply for the CSDD theoretical exam.

In order to participate in driving lessons and CSDD driving exam, the following motorcycle driver's equipment is required: motorcycle helmet, gloves, jacket, shoes and pants.