This article covers getting an A2 motorcycle licence in Spain, the Spanish carnet A2 (permiso A2). It is relevant if you live in Spain, for example as an expat or long-term resident. The tests are run by the traffic authority DGT, the training by a riding school (autoescuela). The process: medical report, enrolment and application, theory test, manoeuvres on a closed course (pista), road test and a provisional licence on the day you pass. Below are the steps, the official fees and what to check in your riding school contract. Information as of November 2026.
In short
- Minimum age: A1 at 16, A2 at 18, A at 20 and only after two years on A2.
- Fee: fee 2.1 (tasa 2.1) is 94.05 euros and covers two test attempts (convocatorias).
- Medical report: the informe de aptitud psicofísica is valid for 90 days.
- Tests: theory, six manoeuvres on the closed course, road test. Passed parts remain valid for two years.
- From A2 to A: after two years, with a training course and fee 2.3 of 28.87 euros.
Who this applies to
Only Spanish residents can get a Spanish licence. If you already hold a licence from another EU country, you do not need a new one: you can exchange it (canje). If you only want to register a motorcycle in Spain, see our article on registering an EU motorcycle in Spain.
Steps to an A2 motorcycle licence in Spain
1. Medical report
First you visit an approved Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores and tell them the report is for a new licence and which category. The report is valid for 90 days, and your test application must be submitted within that time.
2. Riding school and application
In Spain, only riding schools approved by the DGT may teach people to drive or ride. Learning with a non-professional companion, as in some other countries, is not possible; the competition authority CNMC proposed changing this in January 2025. If you go through a riding school, the school submits your test application to the DGT. You can also apply yourself (por libre), online or at a Jefatura de Tráfico. According to the DGT, you still enrol at a school for the practical test.
The application includes the official form, the medical report and proof that you paid the fee. The fee does not cover the cost of the riding school.
3. Theory test
Under the Reglamento General de Conductores, the general theory test (prueba común) has 30 to 50 questions. You get one minute per question and may get no more than 10 percent wrong. You can take your first attempt up to three months before reaching the minimum age. If you passed the car (B) theory test in the last two years, the DGT says you do not need to retake it for A2.
4. Closed-course manoeuvres
The closed-course test is the same for A1 and A2. First you take the bike off its stand and push it without the engine running, walking alongside. Then come six manoeuvres in two parts:
- Balance: slow slalom between poles, riding along a narrow strip and a third manoeuvre, with no time limit.
- Skill and speed: slalom between cones at 30 km/h or more, swerving around an obstacle at 50 km/h or more and a third manoeuvre, all within 25 seconds.
The examiner may check your gear. You need an approved helmet, gloves, a motorcycle jacket with protectors at least on the back, shoulders and elbows, motorcycle trousers with knee protectors and boots that protect the ankle.
5. Road test
Next you ride in normal traffic. The examiner records mistakes using a fixed code list, from the pre-ride checks to junctions, overtaking and dropping the bike. If you disagree with the result, you have 15 working days to complain to the head of the provincial traffic office.
6. The licence
When you pass the last test, you receive a provisional licence that lets you ride in Spain. The full licence arrives by post after about six weeks, with no further fee. It is valid for ten years, and from age 65 it is renewed every five years.
From A1 to A2 and from A2 to A
The A licence is only issued if you have held A2 for at least two years. You also have to complete a training course set out in an order of the Interior Ministry. For this step the DGT charges fee 2.3. From A1 you can move to A2 after two years by passing the road test, which under the regulation can be replaced by a training course. Which bikes are allowed on A2 is explained in our article on A2 restriction.
How much does a motorcycle licence cost in Spain
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fee 2.1, first motorcycle or moped licence (AM, A1, A2 or A) | 94.05 euros for two attempts | DGT |
| New fee after two failed attempts | another 94.05 euros | DGT |
| Fee 2.3, A after two years on A2 | 28.87 euros | DGT |
| Medical report | no official amount found | ask the centre |
| Riding school | no official prices | get a quote |
The two attempts apply across all parts of the test. If you fail twice, in the same part or in different ones, you need a new application and a new fee. A passed part stays valid for two years; after that you have to retake everything.
We found no survey by an authority or consumer organisation on riding school prices for the motorcycle licence, so we give no price range. Ask several schools for a total price.
Choosing a riding school in Spain
The DGT and the consumer organisation OCU list similar points to check before you sign:
- Approval: the school must be approved by the DGT.
- Total price: ask for the final price including VAT (IVA), with all theory and riding lessons, and whether test fees are included.
- Contract: read it first and ask for a copy. Check cancellation terms, how long an offer is valid and prices for anything outside the package.
- Riding lessons: the DGT recommends lessons of at least 45 minutes. Ask how long they last and how available the instructors are.
- Pass rates: according to the CNMC, learners cannot easily look up the pass rate of individual schools.
In September 2026 the OCU warned against offers like "get your licence for 650 euros, all inclusive" when test fees are extra or only a few riding lessons are included. Disproportionate charges for transferring your file to another school can also be unfair. And whatever a school promises in its advertising, it has to deliver.
Tip: ask about the training bike and its seat height. On moto-guide, riding schools can present their fleet with seat heights.
Further reading: motorcycle licence categories, the rules for motorcyclists in Spain, the ITV test for motorcycles in Spain and safety training after your test.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the DGT fee for an A2 licence?
Fee 2.1 costs 94.05 euros and covers two test attempts.
Do I need the A2 theory test if I already passed the car theory test?
According to the DGT, no, if you passed it in the last two years.
How long is the medical report valid?
90 days. Your test application must be submitted within that time.
Can I ride straight after passing?
Yes, with the provisional licence, but only in Spain. The full licence arrives after about six weeks.
Sources
- Requisitos, preparación y presentación a examen, updated 09/07/2026 (DGT)
- Asistente de tasas (DGT online office)
- Solicitud examen teórico por libre (DGT online office)
- Maniobras A1 y A2 (DGT)
- Elegir autoescuela (DGT)
- Royal Decree 818/2009, Reglamento General de Conductores, consolidated text (BOE)
- Autoescuelas: cuidado con las ofertas "todo incluido" (OCU, 15/09/2026)
- La CNMC propone cambios en el sector de las autoescuelas (CNMC, 09/01/2025)
Last checked: November 2026. Fees and rules may change.
