How motorcycle licensing works in Ireland
Ireland uses a graduated system for motorcyclists. Every new rider follows the same steps, whatever the size of the bike.
- Pass the Driver Theory Test for motorcycles.
- Apply for a learner permit in the category you want.
- Complete Initial Basic Training (IBT) with an RSA Approved IBT Instructor before you ride on a public road.
- Hold your learner permit for at least six months and practise.
- Pass the practical driving test on a suitable motorcycle.
| Category | What you can ride | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| AM | Mopeds with a top design speed over 25 km/h and up to 45 km/h, and light quadricycles | 16 |
| A1 | Light motorcycles up to 125cc and 11kW (up to 0.1kW/kg) | 16 |
| A2 | Motorcycles up to 35kW (up to 0.2kW/kg) | 18 |
| A | All motorcycles | 24 by direct access, or 20 after two years on A2 |
With direct access, you go straight for the category you want once you are old enough. With progressive access, you move up from a smaller bike. For example, if you have held a full A1 licence for two years, you can complete an IBT progression module on an A2 bike and get a full A2 licence without another practical test. You can use this training-only route once, for either A2 or A.
The old category M became category AM on 19 January 2013. For the A1 driving test, you must use a motorcycle of at least 115cc and no more than 125cc. The driving test fee is €85 for all motorcycle categories.
The Driver Theory Test
You must pass the theory test before your first motorcycle learner permit. If your first motorcycle learner permit was issued since April 2001, you have already passed it, unless your permit has been expired for more than five years.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 35 out of 40 |
| Fee | €45 |
| Languages | English or Irish |
| Certificate | Valid for two years |
The questions cover the rules of the road, road signs, hazard awareness and safe riding. Many are the same kind of question asked of car learners, so study the whole of the Rules of the Road, not only the motorcycle sections. Learn the signs well, because they also appear on the test.
Learner permit rules
Learner permits are generally issued for two years. Under direct access, you must hold yours for at least six months before you can take the driving test. While you hold a motorcycle learner permit:
- Wear a yellow fluorescent tabard with L plates on the front and back. The L plate is a red L on a white background.
- Do not carry a pillion passenger, and never carry a passenger for payment.
- Do not ride on a motorway in the category you are learning.
- Keep your IBT certificate with your learner permit. A Garda may ask to see it.
Learners are specified drivers, so the alcohol limit is lower: 20 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. If your first learner permit was granted on or after 1 August 2014, you are disqualified at 7 penalty points, not 12.
Initial Basic Training (IBT)
IBT is a mandatory course that teaches basic riding skills. It applies to learners whose first motorcycle learner permit was dated on or after 6 December 2010. You must complete it before you go on a public road, and you may not ride unsupervised until you have your certificate.
| Course | Length | Modules |
|---|---|---|
| AM or A1 (small motorcycle) | 16 hours | Four modules (1, 2, 3 and 4), in order |
| A2 or A (first time on a larger bike) | 18 hours | Three modules (1, 3 and 5) |
| Progression (for example A1 to A2) | One progression module | Taken on the larger bike |
By law, IBT must be given by an RSA Approved IBT Instructor at an approved training centre. Training with anyone else does not count. When you finish, your instructor records it in your logbook and gives you a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion. You need this certificate before your driving test.
Helmets and protective clothing
You and any passenger must wear a helmet. Good protective clothing reduces injuries on every trip, however short.
A rider in full protective clothing.
- A full-face helmet.
- Eye protection: the helmet’s visor.
- A jacket with long sleeves and bright reflective material.
- Full-fingered gloves.
- Long, sturdy trousers.
- Boots that cover the ankles.
- A full-face helmet protects your chin and face as well as your head. Keep the visor clean and free of scratches.
- Wear bright or fluorescent clothing by day and reflective material at night.
- Choose full-fingered motorcycle gloves and strong boots that cover your ankles.
Checking your motorcycle
A few minutes of checks before each ride can prevent a breakdown or a crash. Learn what each item should look like on your own bike, and use the figures in the owner’s handbook.
- Tyres: check pressures when the tyres are cold. Look for cuts, bulges, objects stuck in the tread and worn tread.
- Brakes: both brakes should work smoothly, and the brake light should come on with each one.
- Lights, indicators and horn: check that they all work and are clean.
- Chain: check the slack and keep it lubricated.
- Throttle and steering: the throttle should snap closed when you let go, and the steering should turn freely.
- Leaks and mirrors: look for oil or fuel leaks under the bike, and adjust your mirrors while sitting in your riding position.
Riding skills
Brake, accelerate and steer smoothly. Most skids are caused by harsh use of the controls. On a dry road the front brake gives most of your stopping power; use both brakes in normal riding, and brake hardest when the bike is upright and going straight.
Above walking pace you steer by countersteering: press the handgrip on the side you want to go.
Countersteering: press the grip on the side you want to go.
- The rider presses the right grip forward. For a moment, the front wheel points slightly left.
- The motorcycle and rider lean to the right.
- The motorcycle follows the road as it turns right.
Slow down before a bend, look through it to where you want to go, and keep a steady throttle. In a normal bend, lean with the motorcycle.
Rider and machine lean together in a normal bend.
- The head stays level, with the eyes in line with the horizon.
- The body leans with the motorcycle at the same angle.
- The arms are relaxed, with the hands on the grips.
- The feet stay on the footrests.
- The lean angle between upright and the motorcycle.
Before you turn or change lanes, check your mirrors and take a final look over your shoulder to cover the blind spot. Do not coast with the clutch pulled in: you lose engine braking and some control.
Road position and overtaking
Choose a position in your lane that lets you see and be seen. Stay out of other drivers’ blind spots, keep away from parked cars and the gutter, where gravel and drain covers collect, and leave yourself space to move if something goes wrong. Before you overtake, make sure the road ahead is clear for long enough, check behind you and signal. Never overtake near a junction, on a bend or at the top of a hill, where you cannot see what is coming. When you pull back in, do not cut in on the vehicle you have passed.
Hazards, weather and road surfaces
Many crashes happen at junctions when a driver pulls out without seeing the rider. Ride with your headlight on, assume you have not been seen, and cover your brakes when a car may pull out. Keep left, and at roundabouts yield to traffic coming from your right unless signs or markings say otherwise.
- Leave at least a two-second gap in good conditions, and double it in the wet.
- Roads are often most slippery just after rain starts. Painted markings, manhole covers and metal plates are slippery when wet.
- Cross tram tracks as close to a right angle as you safely can.
- Expect strong gusts on exposed roads, bridges and when passing large vehicles.
- Watch for car doors opening and people stepping out from between parked cars.
Riding at night
At night you see less, and other road users find it harder to judge your speed and position. Slow down, leave a bigger gap and wear reflective clothing. Keep your visor clean, because dirt and scratches scatter the light from oncoming headlights. If you are dazzled, slow down and stop if you need to.
Sharing the road
Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders have even less protection than you. Give cyclists plenty of room when you pass, and pass horses slowly and wide, without revving your engine. Large vehicles have big blind spots: if you cannot see the driver’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Do not ride up the inside of a long vehicle that is turning, as it may swing across your path.
Carrying a passenger
You may carry a pillion passenger only after you pass your test. The extra weight means the bike takes longer to speed up, slow down and turn. Ask your passenger to lean with you in bends.
Rider and pillion passenger in the correct positions.
- The rider’s hands are on the handlebar grips.
- The rider’s feet are on the rider footrests.
- The passenger holds the rider’s waist or the passenger grab handles.
- The passenger’s feet are on the passenger footrests.
Fitness to ride and test tips
Only time removes alcohol from your blood. Some medicines can also make you drowsy, so check the label. Wind, noise and cold make long rides tiring, so take breaks. Using a hand-held mobile phone while riding is an offence.
- Read the Rules of the Road and learn the motorcycle sections well.
- Learn the numbers: ages, IBT hours, the six-month rule, the 20 mg alcohol limit and the 7-point limit for learners.
- Practise until you can explain why each answer is right.
- Bring the ID that theorytest.ie asks for on test day.