Driving a Vespa: Which driving licence for which scooter?
In warmer temperatures, it is particularly pleasant to have recourse to a scooter in everyday life. The Vespa scores points for its ease of use and makes many places easily accessible. Not least because of rising fuel prices, scooters, mopeds and especially Vespas are gaining in popularity.
However, before one can enjoy the pleasure of driving, one must obtain the necessary driving licence. Depending on the scooter model, different driving licence classes or additional qualifications are required. While some scooters may be driven with a car licence, others require special driving licences.
Overview of driving licence classes for mopeds, scooters and Vespas
The entry age for the category of motorised mopeds has been lowered to 15 years. This enables young people to organise their everyday life more flexibly with a motorised two-wheeler - be it with an internal combustion engine or an electric motor.
Depending on the driving licence or driving licence class according to the 3rd EC Directive, the regulations and conditions vary. This concerns both the requirements for learner drivers and the costs incurred.
Driving licence classes for motorised two-wheelers at a glance
Class A allows you to drive the most powerful Vespa and other motorbikes from classes AM, A1 and A2. The minimum age for this is 24 years. If you have 2 years of driving experience in class A2, you can take the test at the age of 20.
How long are driving licences for scooters, Vespas and other two-wheelers valid?
After successful completion of theory and practice, examined by a licensed TÜV examiner, the driving licence is issued. In principle, this driving licence remains valid for an unlimited period of time, unless there are serious violations that lead to a revocation.
Persons who obtained their driving licence before 1 April 1980 may use it to drive motorbikes up to class A1. When a driving licence is exchanged, the competent authority updates the classes according to the current regulations.
As of January 2013, it was stipulated that physical driving licence documents have a validity of 15 years. This means that they must be renewed, whereby only the document itself is exchanged. This does not affect driving rights or require retesting. Upon expiry, the driving licence document is renewed according to the latest standards.
What you should know about driving licence categories for Vespas and other motorised two-wheelers
Driving licence category AM - the path to a moped
With the introduction of the 3rd EC Directive on 19 January 2013, the S and M driving licence categories were merged into one category: Class AM for mopeds. This allows 15-year-olds to drive lightly motorised two-wheelers.
Cost overview for the scooter driving licence
The costs vary depending on the driving school and the number of driving lessons required. In total, the costs for the driving licence, theory test and first aid course amount to around 1300 to 2000 euros.
The popularity of the AM driving licence category among young people
If you want to ride a Vespa with 125 cc and an output of up to 11 kW, you need an A1 driving licence. The minimum age for this is 16, and the costs are in the region of €1,200.
Basics for extending the driving licence for 125 cc scooters
The type of driving licence for a Vespa depends on its model, ranging from 50 to 300 cc and a maximum speed of 45 km/h.
For a Vespa up to 50 cc, a class B driving licence is sufficient. Since January 2020, there has been a rule change that allows Vespas up to 125 cc to be driven with a B196 extension.
The following criteria must be met:
Minimum age of 25 years
Possession of a class B driving licence for at least 5 years
Proof of 13.5 hours of training (theory and practice) at a driving school
Confirmation from a driving instructor is required. The B196 extension is then entered on the driving licence. A separate test is not necessary, only practical training must be completed.
The costs for this vary between 500 and 920 euros. In addition, there are fees for the official entry of up to approx. 40 euros and the standard costs for a passport photo.
Extension to the A2 driving licence
The special feature of the A2 driving licence category is the rated power of up to 35 kW and it relates to motorbikes with a maximum of 0.2 kW/kg. If motorcyclists have already held an A1 driving licence for two years, a practical test is sufficient. A completely new motorbike licence is then not required. For category B, the theory lessons are reduced to 10 double lessons instead of the usual 12. The total costs amount to around 1000 to 1500 euros.
It has recently become possible to obtain this category of driving licence at the age of 15, which allows you to ride motorbikes with a maximum speed of 45 km/h and a maximum engine capacity of 50 cc. The cost of this licence is around 500 euros. Due to this affordable price, this class is very popular among young people.
No classic driving licence is required for the Vespa moped, which does not exceed a top speed of 25 km/h. A test certificate is sufficient. A test certificate is sufficient here.
The same applies to the Vespa in its electric version or as an e-moped. These certificates are sufficient, making electric scooters an attractive option to petrol-powered models.
Protective clothing for your test ride
When taking a driving test, it is essential to dress appropriately in accordance with the applicable regulations and to ensure optimum protection. In this blog, we provide information on the protective clothing required when riding two-wheelers.
FAQs about the Vespa and scooter driving licence
How much does a scooter licence cost?
The costs vary depending on the desired driving licence class and your previous experience. In general, the prices for the classes AM, A1 and A2 range from 1000 to 2000 Euros. Both the choice of driving school and the region where you take the test play a role.
At what age can I drive a scooter? Can I get a scooter driving licence from the age of 15?
Yes, the AM driving licence, which has a speed limit of up to 45 km/h, can be obtained from the age of 15.
Which scooters can I drive with a class B driving licence?
A class B driving licence, often referred to as a car driving licence, allows you to drive motorbikes such as mopeds, scooters and Vespas. These must not exceed a cubic capacity limit of 50 cc and should not exceed a maximum speed of 45 km/h.
Video: driving a 125 cc Vespa scooter with a class B driving licence
