Motorcycle license: how to get it and what you need for it

What category of license should you have to drive a motorcycle?

The law establishes category “A” for motorcycle licenses. Accordingly, only:

Citizens (or residents) over 16 years of age.
Recognized as mentally healthy.
Passed a physical health test.

The type of A-license is related to the engine size of the vehicle. If it does not exceed 125 cubic meters, then the driver receives a certificate of form “A1”, and if it exceeds - form “A”.

Until 2013, licenses were not required for motorcycles with an engine size of up to 50cc. After changing the conditions, the question “for which motorcycles do you need a license” can be answered precisely - for everything, it’s just that vehicles on two (or three) wheels with small engines were called mopeds, and a separate category of rights was created for them - M.

But even to this rule there are exceptions. For example, a cross-country motorcycle or ATV, which is used for off-road travel outside the city limits, can be driven without obtaining a driver’s license.

Useful to know: “How to register a motorcycle and get license plates”

Is it necessary to receive

In the Russian Federation, driving two-wheeled vehicles that are not driven by human muscular power is permitted only if you have a driver's license of the appropriate category.

Knowing the rules of the road when driving a motorcycle without a license can only save you from an accident, but not from a traffic police inspector, who will definitely send the vehicle to the impound lot and issue a fine to the “illegal” driver.

REGARDLESS OF THE MOTORCYCLE MODEL AND THE POWER OF THE ENGINE THAT IS INSTALLED ON IT, DRIVERS MUST OBTAIN A LICENSE, BUT ONLY WHEN REACHING A CERTAIN AGE.

But do you need a driver’s license for a motocross motorcycle, or can you participate in competitions and training without a category “A” license? This question is not at all difficult to answer.

A cross-country motorcycle belongs to the category of sports equipment and is intended for use on unpaved surfaces, so you do not need to obtain a driver’s license.

What does a motorcycle driver's license look like?

A driver's license has a certain appearance and structure that is approved at the state level and cannot be changed. This document is issued in the form of a laminated plastic card no larger than a plastic discount card.

A license to drive a motorcycle must contain the following information:

Full name of the subject;
Date of Birth;
category of rights and date of receipt (several categories can be entered into one certificate);
ID number;
location;
photograph (taken against a white background);
date of commencement and termination of the certificate.

What documents are needed for a motorcycle? | Abmoto Blog

When asking this question, many people mean the documents required to register a motorcycle with the traffic police, to pass a technical inspection, and those that must be carried with you on the road.

To register a motorcycle with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate you will need:

Pass a technical inspection and receive a diagnostic card;
Present the MTPL policy to the MREO;
Application for registration/deregistration - obtain on site (at MREO);
Provide receipts for payment for the license plate, certificate of registration and registration actions;
Present documents for the vehicle (vehicle passport, purchase and sale agreement, certificate-invoice, documents issued by customs authorities);
Obtain a vehicle registration certificate.

The diagnostic card (formerly a vehicle inspection certificate) has been removed from the list of documents that must be carried with you. Confirmation of the vehicle's compliance with the requirements is now provided by the MTPL policy - data on the technical condition of the vehicle is entered into it.

The law does not stipulate the driver’s obligation to carry a medical certificate with him at all times, but it may be useful in the event of an accident. Everyone decides on their own whether it is advisable to obtain a medical certificate in a timely manner and include it in the list of required documents.

How the exam works

How do you apply for a motorcycle license? In order to receive a certificate, the subject needs to pass two parts - practical and theoretical.

The content of the tests depends on what category is needed for the motorcycle.
Tests for level A are slightly more difficult than for level A1. In practice, when passing the exam, this is practically not felt if you prepare using traffic rules for motorcycles.
The entire theoretical part of the exam consists of 20 questions. They are submitted electronically. If the subject answered all the questions correctly, then he moves on to the practical part. If he made one mistake, then he receives an additional 5 questions. They are offered to the subject in order to eliminate random errors and double-check him.

The questions will relate to the topic on which the mistake was made. The subject gets 1 minute for each answer. For 2 errors, the examinee must answer 10 additional questions. If 3 mistakes were made, then the future driver is sent to retake the theoretical part, and is not yet allowed to take the practical part.

In the practical part, the calculation is carried out differently. In practice, for mistakes, the driver of the motorcycle is counted with penalty points. In order not to obtain a license to drive a motorcycle, it is enough to receive 5 penalty points. Not every violation is awarded 1 point.

Some violations may immediately result in 5 penalty points and, as a result, disqualification and retake.
For example, an automatic retake is assigned by the examiner if the subject drove over the stop line, ran over a cone, or touched the asphalt with his foot (until he came to a complete stop at the finish line). The practical task is the same regardless of whether the driver needs a category A or A1 license.
When passing both stages of verification, the subject is given his document on the same day. A motorcycle driver's license is valid for ten years.

How much does it cost to get a motorcycle license? In order to obtain a license, you need to not only pay for the test itself, but also the time spent studying at a special driving school.

The price in this case is extremely variable and can range from 4 to 20 thousand rubles, depending on the “eliteness” of the establishment, the average salary in the city, etc. In addition, there are a number of other expenses prescribed by law:

1200 rubles for a medical certificate;
1200 rubles for state duty;
approximately 700 rubles – renting a motorcycle for the internship.

You can come to the practical part with your own vehicle, but not in all schools. You are allowed to train before the exam on your own motorcycle, then you only need to rent a training place and pay the instructor for the time spent with you.

Is it possible to take it simultaneously with other categories?

In practice, it is impossible to obtain several categories at once, even if they relate to motorcycles, due to the fact that each of them has different course durations, volume of material and complexity.

At the same time, you can study at one school in several areas at once and ask for an integrated course (so as not to take the same classes several times), but in this case you will still have to take as many exams as the number of categories a person wants to receive.

The exception is subcategories. That is, if you have category A open, then you also have the right to manage M and A1.

Scoring

Scoring occurs differently depending on the stage.
The theoretical part is checked automatically by the computer, so you will immediately know your result. In this part of the exam, the test taker needs to score as many points as possible out of 20, but not less than 18.

Such strict limits are set because of the damage that can be caused to a vehicle if it is not used correctly.

The practical part is assessed by the examiner. It is not rented out in the city, but at a special site, where an expert can sensibly assess the distance to the stop lines and follow the driver’s every turn.

People, unlike machines, are subjective, so the examiner's decision can be reconsidered after the subject's statement. On many tracks, for such purposes, visual recording devices are installed that record the entire motorcycle ride.

Procedure for obtaining rights

Those who are interested in how to obtain a motorcycle license need to know that training must initially be completed. After which a package of documents is collected and time is allotted to pass the exam.

Motorcycle driving training

This is the first step towards obtaining a driver's license. Training for all 3 categories is, in principle, not very different.

First, basic motorcycle riding skills are taught. The main technically necessary parts of the vehicle (assemblies, mechanisms, spare parts) are studied. The main thing is to understand exactly how a motorcycle works and what are the features of driving a vehicle in different categories.

Riding a motorcycle involves studying the following aspects:

vehicle structures;
legislative framework;
providing first aid;
correct positioning of the driver and other passengers in transport;
lateral vision;
braking skills, using the rear and front brakes (up to a complete stop);
safe start;
driving with one hand (basic principles);
quick gear changes;
turning on a motorcycle at minimum and maximum speed;
driving a vehicle in emergency situations;
driver behavior in an accident;
balancing on sharp turns;
developing a sense of the dimensions of the selected vehicle (a special set of exercises and maneuvers is studied);
features of driving over the bridge and across railway tracks;
driving skills on a circular route, etc.

After this, they are tested (this is not an exam, but educational verification tests). If the result is successful, the student is allowed to take practical classes.

In practice, students learn the above and basic maneuvers:

travel "snake";
driving along the board;
stopping at the stop line, etc.

Motorcycle schools offer different training packages. It can be basic or simplified. Usually consists of 10 - 12 lessons lasting up to 90 minutes. If the course is in-depth or complete, then the training is designed for 15 - 20 lessons, where 6 - 8 lessons will be devoted to practical development of the acquired theoretical knowledge. Each practice lesson lasts at least 1.5 hours, but more often 2.

The focus of the training is to successfully pass the traffic police exam and develop the skills to fearlessly drive a motorcycle of the selected category.

Required documents to obtain rights

After the courses are completed, you need to collect the necessary package of documents. He is sent to the traffic police.

You will need the following documents:

Application on an approved form. The sample is taken at a driving school, on the website or at the traffic police department.
Passport with registration.
Check or receipt for payment of state duty. Its size is 2,000 rubles.
Certificate of training and completion. A copy is submitted along with the original.
Medical certificate. Just like a certificate, both a copy and an original are needed.
Two photographs measuring 3.5 by 4.5 cm.

These documents are registered in order of priority. If there are no problems (absence of some document, forgery, etc.), the traffic police officer sets the place, date and time of the exam. The place of residence or registration of the future driver is taken into account.

Exam procedure

Students who have completed the entire training course and received a medical certificate confirming that they can drive a motorcycle are allowed to take the exam. The exam consists of 2 parts – theoretical and practical. If the theory is unsuccessful, the person is not allowed to take the practical part of the test, but is sent to retake it.

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Theoretical part

Consists of 20 questions. The applicant is allowed to make a maximum of 2 mistakes. Now testing is taking place on computers. The program has more than 500 questions to test knowledge of traffic rules, transport structure, etc.

If a person makes more than 2 mistakes, the exam automatically ends. This is indicated by the program automatically turning off. In this case, the student is sent to retake. It is prescribed no earlier than 5 days after the previous test.

The results of theoretical testing are valid only for 3 months. After this period, to pass the practical part of the exam, you will have to take the theory tests again.

Practical part

Involves the execution of an appropriate set of maneuvers. The classic set consists of maneuvering exercises in confined spaces. Includes 4 maneuvers, of which the examiner selects 3. Their list:

Dimensional eight. The candidate’s task is to drive along a given trajectory without moving beyond its boundaries. The examiner sets out 4 cones, which the person must drive around along a figure-eight trajectory.
Snake. A “snake”-shaped trajectory is created using 3 cone shapes.
Large corridor. Includes correct neutral transmission and keeping the vehicle stationary.
High-speed maneuvering. According to the students, the most difficult maneuver. An arrangement of 5 cones is made, which must be driven around on the right or left side. During the process, the applicant passes 3 clearance gates. The execution time for this maneuver is 35 seconds or less.

Maneuvering is performed on an automated racing track or closed area. If the exam is passed successfully, the person receives a driver's license. Licenses are issued 5 - 7 working days after presentation of the passport. The package of necessary documents is transferred by the motorcycle school to the MREO.

If the student has not completed all 3 maneuvers, then he is sent to retake. The date is set 5 days after the first test attempt.

What will it be like to drive a motorcycle without a license?

Driving a motorcycle without papers confirming the subject's skill level is an administrative offense for which a fine of 5 to 15 thousand rubles is provided. The vehicle will be evacuated to the impound lot, and the owner will be able to pick it up from there only after presenting his license, or with a person who has a driver’s document of the required level.

Required documents

Very often, when a vehicle such as a scooter or motorcycle is purchased secondhand, the old owner does not provide the required amount of documentation, since they are missing or lost. In such and similar situations, it is necessary to draw up the necessary papers, and the vehicle itself according to all the rules. According to the law of the Russian Federation, a motorcycle without documents is not allowed to be used.

Of the entire set of documents that need to be completed for a motorcycle, the papers can be divided into three groups:

documents that must be carried with you while driving a vehicle;
papers required to undergo technical inspection;
documents for completing the vehicle registration procedure with the traffic police.

That is, it turns out that for each individual situation you should have a certain set of documents in stock.

When driving a motorcycle, you must have the appropriate documents with you. The most important of them is the certificate, which serves as legal confirmation of the fact that this vehicle has passed the state registration procedure. In addition to this certificate, you must have with you:

driver's license;
OSAGO policy. Please note that the driver's name must be included on this policy.

Previously, the driver of a motorcycle had to have a power of attorney with him if he was not the owner of the vehicle.
But since 2013, due to innovations, this norm has been abolished. Now the driver, not being the owner of the motorcycle, is not required by law to provide a power of attorney to the traffic police inspector. Today, it is quite enough to present the inspector only with the above documents. The presence of a certificate and keys to the vehicle, as well as the absence of a wanted motorcycle, will be quite sufficient to dispel all the doubts of the traffic police officer.

You should also know that if the driver’s name is not included in the MTPL policy, he may be held liable in the form of paying an administrative fine. An excellent way out of this situation would be to initially issue an MTPL policy in the “without restrictions” form. With such a policy, anyone who has the necessary set of documents and keys can drive a motorcycle.

Also, previously, when driving a vehicle of this category, a citizen of the country had to have with him a diagnostic card or coupon confirming that the motorcycle had undergone maintenance.

But at the moment there is no need to carry such a card with you. Now it’s enough to make an MTPL policy. All necessary records will be made in it about the motorcycle passing the procedure for assessing the technical condition of the vehicle.

In addition, the current legislation does not stipulate that the driver must carry a document such as a medical certificate while driving a motorcycle. But experts recommend doing it and taking it with you just in case. A medical certificate will be very useful in case of an accident. Although the question of the advisability of obtaining a medical certificate, each person, being a motorcycle driver, decides independently.

In addition, it is necessary to remember that when traveling abroad, a Russian citizen must know what documents he will need in this situation when traveling on the roads of another country. After all, each state has its own list of document requirements and you should worry about its contents before your trip so as not to get into an unpleasant situation.

Each vehicle, according to the adopted legislation, including scooters and motorcycles, must undergo a technical condition assessment within a certain period of time. It is imperative to do this. even if your vehicle is a motorcycle.

In order to go through this necessary procedure without any problems, you must have the following documents with you:

internal or civil passport. It can be replaced by any other documentation that is competent to act as identification of the owner of the vehicle;
power of attorney. It is only needed in certain situations. The power of attorney must be notarized. Instead, you can present the PS;
certificate issued upon state registration of a motorcycle;
a driver's license that gives you the right to drive a motorcycle;
issued and valid MTPL insurance policy. If the expiration date of this policy is approaching, it must be reissued.

Since undergoing a technical inspection procedure for a vehicle of any category is a paid service, you must have the appropriate paid receipt with you. She will confirm that the cost of this service has been paid.

The following persons are exempt from paying the cost of this service in our country:

heroes of the USSR;
heroes of Russia;
Knights of the Order of Glory;
pensioners;
disabled people. This group includes all existing categories;
public organizations created for people with disabilities.

Fans of advertising on a motorcycle or installing special equipment or signals (sound or light) should know that the driver must carry documentation authorizing such modifications.

In a situation where a technical service employee discovers equipment that has not been registered, the motorcycle will not be able to pass the technical inspection and will not be allowed to operate.

Knowing the above list of documentation, as well as some nuances, you will be able to quickly and without any hitches undergo a scheduled inspection of the technical condition of the motorcycle.

How to do

In a situation where some or all documents are missing for a similar type of vehicle, they should be made. Otherwise, you will not be able to ride it normally around the country or pass a technical inspection of the motorcycle.

So, from the very beginning you should deregister your newly purchased vehicle. This is usually done before the purchase and sale agreement is executed. But you can do this after the purchase. When deregistering, the old owner must receive a certificate-invoice. If for some reason the old owner did not carry out the procedure for deregistering the motorcycle, then you, as the new owner, will have to worry about this.

The necessary documentation should be done with knowledge of certain nuances, which will speed up all bureaucratic procedures as much as possible, and will also help to avoid a number of complications.

You should start making documents from the very moment you purchase the vehicle. Therefore, the first thing when purchasing a motorcycle is to draw up a purchase and sale agreement with its old owner. Remember that it must meet all the requirements of Russian law in order to be recognized as legal confirmation of a completed transaction. Moreover, in this case, it does not matter in what form the document will be drawn up (printed or handwritten). The main thing is that it bears the date and signature of the seller. It is better for the witness of the transaction to also leave his signature on the documents.

In order to avoid unnecessary delays in the future, the purchase and sale agreement must contain a complete description of the object of the transaction: engine number, color, existing problems (especially if the product is purchased second-hand), etc.

Also, as an addition to the purchase and sale agreement, you can draw up a receipt stating that the former owner received a certain amount of money.

Moreover, if some documentation was lost, then this fact should appear in the purchase and sale agreement. This will to a certain extent make it easier for you, as a new owner, to restore or re-register the necessary documentation. It will become much easier to do this if you have this primary documentation in your hands, drawn up according to the established rules.

After this, you need to write an application to the traffic police stating that you need to issue a passport for the motorcycle. You must be given this document even if there is no other documentation. But here it should be remembered that according to the law, traffic police officers have the right to issue PTS if they have any document confirming the legality of the purchase. In this case, the purchase and sale agreement will act as legal confirmation of the completed transaction.

If you do receive a refusal, then it must be given to you in writing. With copies of the documentation in hand and with this receipt, it will be possible to submit to the court for further proceedings. As practice shows, the court in most cases takes the plaintiff’s side.

There are situations when a motorcycle was purchased from relatives because the old owner died. In this situation, it will be necessary to re-register ownership. A simpler situation will be when the heirs have already transferred the property (including the vehicle sold to you) to themselves. With the paper issued by a notary, you can safely contact the traffic police. Here they will re-issue a PTS for you.

Next, you need to submit a statement to the police to notify them that the motorcycle is now in your possession. The application must indicate all the parameters of the vehicle. This should be done in case the old owner of the motorcycle is discovered in the future (for example, if he went missing or did not know that he had such an inheritance). The state allots six months to clarify such circumstances. After this period has expired, you will need to contact the police again with a statement that the owner did not show up. If the former owner appears, then by law you have the right to demand from him compensation for the money you spent on registration. In this case, you must keep copies of all statements.

If the owner does not show up and the heirs do not mind, then you become the rightful owner of this vehicle.

After the procedures described above and receipt of the necessary certificates, you can proceed with the state registration of the purchased vehicle with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. In order to register, you will need to do the following:

pass a motorcycle inspection;
get a diagnostic card;
issue an MTPL policy and present it to the MREO;
write applications for registration;
pay the cost of this service and attach a receipt confirming the fact of payment to other documentation.

The list of documentation required to register a motorcycle and carry out the state registration procedure includes:

contract of sale;
motorcycle passport;
certificate-invoice. It can be obtained from the customs authorities.

After this, if you correctly submit all the necessary documentation, you will be issued a certificate, which is legal confirmation that a specific vehicle has passed the state registration procedure.
It is worth noting that the deregistration of a vehicle occurs in the same way. When you have a registration certificate in your hands, the state gives you five days to issue an MTPL policy. This policy must be made in the name of the owner of the motorcycle. If you are planning to issue a power of attorney for another person to allow him to drive this vehicle, you can also add his name to the policy. Or, as already mentioned, we make a policy in the “without restrictions” form. This will allow you to avoid complications when communicating with traffic police officers on the country’s roads.

If you did not manage to make a policy within the allotted time, you will have to pay a fine that is charged for lack of insurance. As you can see, paperwork for a motorcycle is a very troublesome matter. But after all the manipulations described above, you will be able to move around the country without any problems.