This article covers getting a motorcycle licence in France. It is relevant if you live in France or are moving there, because the French process only applies to residents. Most of it runs through the riding school (auto-école or moto-école) and the government's online services. Below you will find the steps in order, using the A2 licence as the example, the official fees, funding options and what to check before choosing a school. Licence categories and test content are covered in our lesson on French licence categories (in French). All information as of November 2026.
In short
- Entry: A2 from age 18. If you are under 21 and this is your first category, you need the ASSR2 or ASR road safety certificate.
- Registration: through the school or yourself on the ANTS website. You then get your NEPH number.
- Training: at least 20 hours, 8 on the plateau (off-road area) and 12 on the road.
- Tests: the ETM theory test (30 euros), then the plateau test and the road test.
- Cost: riding schools set their own prices. There is no official average price for the motorcycle licence.
- Later: after two years on an A2, a 7-hour course gives you the full A licence, with no test.
Who this applies to
These rules apply to anyone taking their licence in France. Swiss and EEA nationals must show personal or professional ties to France for at least six months. Other foreign nationals need six months' residence and a valid residence permit. If you live in Germany, see our guide to getting a motorcycle licence in Germany.
Steps to a motorcycle licence in France
1. Registration with ANTS and the NEPH number
You register online on the ANTS (France Titres) website, either through the school or yourself. You need, among other things, ID, proof of address under six months old, a digital photo with signature and, if under 21, the ASSR2 or ASR. You then receive a registration certificate (AIPC) with your NEPH, the number that follows you through training. Allow time: according to France's National Consumer Institute, this can take several weeks.
2. Theory: the ETM
The motorcycle theory test (ETM) has 40 questions and you need at least 35 right. Booking costs 30 euros, payable again after a fail. You can book through the school or as an independent candidate. A pass is valid for five years at most. If you got your A1 within the last five years, you are exempt for the A2.
3. Practical training
For the A2, minimum training is 20 hours: 8 on the plateau and 12 on the road. With an A1 it drops to 15 hours, 5 on the plateau and 10 on the road. These are minimums.
4. Plateau and road test
The school books your slot through the RdvPermis system, and you choose the centre, date and time with your instructor. The off-road test (plateau) lasts 10 minutes with 6 manoeuvres. You must pass it before the road test, which lasts 32 minutes: you need at least 21 points and no eliminating fault. After a fail you wait two days before trying again.
Without full gear the test does not go ahead: approved helmet and gloves, long-sleeved jacket, trousers or a suit, and boots or high shoes.
5. Result and licence card
Results go online the day after the test. If you pass, you download the CEPC certificate, which serves as your licence for four months from the test date, in France only. The school or you apply for the card on the ANTS website. It arrives by tracked letter, about 15 days after the application is validated according to Service-Public.fr. Your first licence is probationary and the "A" sticker must be displayed on the bike.
From A2 to A: the formation passerelle
After at least two years on an A2, you move up to A without a test, through a 7-hour course in one day: 2 hours of theory, 2 hours on the plateau and 3 hours in traffic with a debrief. It can start no earlier than three months before your A2 turns two. The attendance certificate alone does not let you ride a category A bike. You must wait until ANTS validates the application, then download a temporary driving rights certificate (ADCS), valid for four months in France only. For the technical side, read our article on the A2 restriction.
How much does a motorcycle licence cost in France
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ETM, per attempt | 30 euros | Service-Public.fr |
| Fees for presenting you to the tests | not allowed | Code de la route, art. L213-2 |
| Returning or transferring your file | free | Code de la route, art. L213-2 |
| Lessons, packages, accompaniment on test day | set freely | Service-Public.fr |
The school may not charge you a fee for presenting you to the tests. It can, however, bill accompaniment on test day as a riding hour if the contract says so. For training and packages there is no fixed price and no official average for motorcycles, so compare several written quotes.
Funding: permis à 1 euro and CPF
The permis à 1 euro par jour is an interest-free loan for 15 to 25-year-olds that also covers A1 and A2. You choose 600, 800, 1,000 or 1,200 euros, with another 300 euros possible after failing the practical test. Repayments are at most 30 euros a month and the loan can be used only once. The school must hold the state quality label and have signed the standard agreement with the state.
The CPF (personal training account) can pay for A1 and A2 under conditions: the licence must support a professional project and you must not already hold a valid licence in that category. If you are not a jobseeker, a third party (employer, OPCO, local authority) must co-fund at least 100 euros. The cap is 900 euros a year. Both schemes can be combined. Source: Service-Public.fr, checked on 1 April 2026. For brand offers, see our article on licence discounts from manufacturers.
Choosing a riding school in France
- Approval: the school needs approval from the prefecture (agrément). Its number must appear in adverts and in the contract.
- Price display: a visible sign outside must show the duration and price including VAT of each service, the test fees and the price of the most common package. France's National Consumer Institute refers to a decree of 19 June 1987 for this.
- Initial assessment: it takes place before you sign and estimates how many hours you will need.
- Contract: a written contract following the official model is mandatory. It lists hours, all prices, the payment schedule and whether a financial guarantee exists.
- Pass rates: these are public. The Interior Ministry shows them on the official map of driving schools, including for A1 and A2.
- Quality label: labelled schools must have a financial guarantee. Without one, paying in instalments is safer.
Tip: you can change schools. Termination takes effect 15 days after your letter arrives, immediately if you have a legitimate reason such as moving. The old school must return your file free of charge. A contract signed online can be cancelled within 14 days.
Once you have your licence, a safety training course is worth it. Mandatory gloves and lane splitting are explained in our motorcycle rules for France. For practice questions, visit our online riding school for France (in French).
Frequently asked questions
Can I register without a riding school?
Yes. ANTS registration and the ETM are open to independent candidates. The minimum 20 hours of practical training for the A2 still apply.
How much does the ETM cost?
30 euros per attempt. After a fail you pay again.
Do I need another test for the A licence?
No. After two years on an A2, a 7-hour course is enough. You may ride a category A bike only once ANTS has validated the application.
Does the permis à 1 euro cover motorcycles?
Yes, A1 and A2, if you are 15 to 25 and the school holds the quality label.
Sources
- Permis moto : permis A2, checked 01/11/2025 (Service-Public.fr)
- Permis A, checked 10/08/2026 (Service-Public.fr)
- Aides pour financer le permis de conduire, checked 01/04/2026 (Service-Public.fr)
- Auto-école : tout savoir avant de vous inscrire (Institut national de la consommation)
- Auto-école : réponses aux 20 questions les plus fréquentes (Institut national de la consommation)
- Liste des auto-écoles et taux de réussite au permis de conduire (French Interior Ministry, data.gouv.fr)
Last checked: November 2026. Fees, funding and rules may change.
