Travelling outside Europe with a restricted European licence?
 

With the new Third European Licence Directive there are now a whole range if different motorcycle licence categories, ranging from AM for 50cc mopeds through A1, A2 to A for unrestricted motorcycles (more HERE). Each category has age, engine capacity and power restrictions. Also in the UK at least, the motorbike category you take your test on restricts the licence you will be given, and to progress up the categories you have to sit a further test. Gone are the days when you could take the test on a 125cc, ride a bike restricted to 46bhp? and then automatically progress to any power bike.

The question is, how do these categories affect travel outside Europe? Are they recognised? At best would you find that there was no difference and suddenly you find yourself able to ride any size bike, at worst would you find that the category isn't recognised at all and you have no licence?

Of course as an over 24 year old I could personally take a Direct Access, on a big bike, and get a Category A licence, but the cheapskate in me says, I love my Derbi, I have no foreseeable plans to replace it, and I could save an awful lot of money, not having to hire a big bike and instructor to accompany me just to get a Category A licence.

Where are you thinking of going then Alex?

Who knows? At the moment I'm not going to be riding there, more likely fly and hire which it's even more reason for wanting to check someone's not going to look at a licence and say "A2, what's that then?"