How to upgrade from an A2 to an A licence

You can take the direct A test from age 24. From age 20, if you have held A2 for at least two years, you can take the practical test or complete the seven-hour progressive access course without an exam.

Two routes to an A licence

You can obtain category A based on your age or through the progressive route from A2 if you meet the specified requirements. On the progressive route, the length of time you have held A2 must be checked alongside the other requirements; simply having riding experience is not enough. MIT publishes specific guidance for obtaining A2-to-A entitlement. Check it when applying, as procedures and rules may change.

Your licence is not automatically upgraded when a certain period expires. You must apply under the relevant office’s instructions and complete the assessment required for your chosen route. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office can advise on forms, availability and required documents. A driving school can help you prepare, but the official rules determine the requirements.

The route without an exam takes place at a driving school: three hours of preparation, technical checks and safety manoeuvres, followed by four hours of riding in traffic. The school submits the application and issues the paperwork when the course is complete. For the route with an exam, you can obtain A from age 20 if you have held A2 for at least two years; otherwise, you must be 24.

• Check the date you obtained A2 and the category you actually hold.
• Check current requirements, assessments and procedures on the MIT website.
• Do not ride category A motorcycles until the entitlement has been granted.

Preparing your application

Before paying or booking, read the MIT guidance and ask the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office which procedure applies to you. Distinguish the progressive route from direct access based on age: they are separate legal routes, not an informal choice between taking a test and waiting. Keep receipts and correspondence, and check that the new category appears on your licence before riding a motorcycle outside A2 limits.

In practice, broader entitlement does not automatically make every motorcycle familiar. Weight, power delivery, brakes and geometry vary greatly between models. Make the transition gradually and in suitable conditions, following your instructor and the vehicle manual. Never improvise exercises in traffic.

Theory revision

Before changing category, also check the actual date of issue and whether your current licence has restrictions. Requirements may differ for a licence obtained by direct access or one issued abroad. Take your licence and any certificates to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office so it can check your record and confirm whether the progressive route applies. After passing the assessment, wait until the new category is recorded and check the updated card before riding outside A2 limits.

Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps you revise motorcycle chapters and rules with timed exam quizzes and review of incorrect answers.