Categories of motor vehicles and minimum age of drivers
Are you under age and wish to have a driving licence in the UK ? Are you 17 years old and want to buy a Uk driving licence without sitting for test online?
Are you under age and have dreams to own a driving licence freely without exams
Motor vehicles in Ireland are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes. This is a standard practice throughout the European Union. Each category of vehicle has a prescribed minimum age for the driver. In other words, before you can apply for a licence to drive a vehicle in Ireland, you must be a certain age.
When you apply for your driving licence or a learner permit, the categories of vehicles you are authorised to drive/operate are listed on your licence. It is a serious offence to drive any vehicle for which you do not have a licence.
Are you under age and have dreams to own a driving licence freely without exams?
Whether you have a driving licence or a learner permit, you are only entitled to drive the category of vehicle for which the licence or permit has been issued.
If you wish to have another category of motor vehicle added to your existing driving licence or learner permit, your existing licence/permit must be in date. Certain categories of vehicles may be added to your existing driving licence or learner permit automatically without having to do another test, for example if you have a licence to drive a car, you can automatically drive a tractor. But to add other categories, you may have to go through the application process and complete the relevant tests for that category.
Motorcycles and mopeds
The categories and driver’s minimum age for motorcycles and mopeds are:
| Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age of driver |
| AM | Mopeds and tricycles with a maximum speed of 45kph and light quadricycles | 16 years |
| A1 | Motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) of 11kW or less and 125cc or less, with a maximum power/weight ratio of 0.1 kW/kg, and motor tricycles of 15 kW or less | 16 years |
| A2 | Motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) of 35kW or less, with a maximum power/weight ratio of 0.2 kW/kg, and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power | 18 years |
| A* | Motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) and motor tricycles | 24 years (20 years via progressive access) |
*Learner permits for category A were restricted to motorcycles of 25kW or less. This restriction continued for two years after obtaining your first driving licence for category A. This restriction still applies to learner permits and driving licences issued before 19 January 2013.
Further information is available in our documents on learner driver permits and driving licences
Are you under age and wish to have a driving licence in the UK ? Are you 17 years old and want to buy a Uk driving licence without sitting for test online?