Motorcycles: helmets and licences by country
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
Motorcycle rules compared: helmets for riders and passengers, licence classes and minimum ages, and daytime headlights. Pick a country for the full list of rules, each with its official source.
| Country | Helmet required for the rider | Helmet required for a passenger | Minimum age, category A1 (light motorcycle) | Minimum age, category A2 | Minimum age, category A (direct access) | Dipped beam or daytime running light required by day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam or DRL |
| Netherlands | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 18 (practical exam) | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 20 (practical exam) | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 (practical exam) | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Only if visibility is seriously impaired |
| United Kingdom | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle, Great Britain: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle, Great Britain: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle), Great Britain: From 17 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle), Great Britain: From 19 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle), Great Britain: From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle, Great Britain: No (dipped beam advised) |
| France | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): ⚠ Not yet verified | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Only if visibility is poor |
| Spain | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): ⚠ Not yet verified | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam by day |
| Italy | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam by day |
| Ireland | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Australia | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: ⚠ Not yet verified | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: ⚠ Not yet verified | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): ⚠ Not yet verified | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): ⚠ Not yet verified | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): ⚠ Not yet verified | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Poland | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam or DRL |
| Portugal | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Belgium | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): 20 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Dipped beam always on |
| Sweden | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam or other adequate light |
| Austria | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam or DRL |
| Denmark | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 20 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes (dipped beam in daylight) |
| Czechia | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam or DRL |
| Hungary | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: dipped beam |
| Finland | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes: headlights or daytime lights |
| Croatia | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Romania | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes | Riding a motorcycle, Category A1 (light motorcycle): From 16 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A2 (medium motorcycle): From 18 | Riding a motorcycle, Category A (unrestricted motorcycle): From 24 | Riding a motorcycle, Motorcycle: Yes (dipped lights) |
Before you rely on it
This comparison covers national rules. Regional or local rules can apply on top of them, and rules change. A rule marked “to verify” has not yet been confirmed against an official source. Each country page links to the official sources, and those are the place to confirm the details before you act.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.