B196 License: Everything About the 125cc Extension (Costs, Requirements, Abroad)
Cruise through the mountains on vacation, or zip past traffic jams in everyday life—a 125cc makes both possible. And with the B196 license, you can get there without having to complete the full motorcycle license.
No exam, just a few training sessions and you can ride 125cc scooters and motorcycles in Germany. That sounds like a fair deal at first, but it comes with certain conditions and has a critical catch when it comes to traveling abroad. We’ll clarify these points one by one here. To see how the B196 fits into the other motorcycle classes, check out our motorcycle license overview.
The MYCOVER® team explains!
Table of Contents
- What is the B196 extension?
- What can I ride with B196?
- Requirements for the B196 license
- What does the B196 extension cost?
- B196 abroad: where is it really valid?
- Can you upgrade B196 to A2?
- Conclusion: Who should get the B196?
- After the license: Protect your motorcycle
- B196 license: The most important questions at a glance
What is the B196 extension?
Strictly speaking, the B196 is not a separate license, but an extension of Class B (car license). The code number 196 is simply added to your B on your license. That’s why it’s also called the “code number 196” or the “196 entry.”
The extension was introduced on January 1, 2020. The idea behind it: Experienced car drivers should be allowed to ride 125cc machines without an elaborate exam. This saves time and money, because getting a full A1 license is significantly more expensive and time-consuming.
The distinction between code numbers is important, because it becomes relevant again later when discussing travel abroad. Two-digit code numbers like 78 for automatic transmission are valid EU-wide. Three-digit code numbers like 196, on the other hand, are purely special regulations of individual countries and are only valid nationally.
What can I ride with B196?
With the extension, you can ride light motorcycles and scooters in Germany. The technical limits are clearly defined in § 6b of the Driving License Regulation:
- Engine displacement: up to 125 cm³
- Engine power: maximum 11 kW (≈ 15 HP)
- Power-to-weight ratio: max. 0.1 kW/kg
- Minimum rider age: 25 years
- Transmission: Manual or automatic
- Drive: Gasoline or electric
These are the same technical specifications as for Class A1. This means: practically every classic 125cc motorcycle and every 125cc scooter approved for A1 can also be ridden with the 196 code number, as well as electric motorcycles with corresponding power. This also includes three-wheeled vehicles up to 15 kW, which also fall under the A1 equivalence.
There are still clear limits: Motorcycles over 125 cm³ or more than 11 kW are off-limits, a trailer cannot be towed with the 125cc, and the extension is not valid abroad.
Requirements for the B196 license
The requirements are straightforward, but strict. If you don’t meet one of them, you cannot have the extension registered. You must be at least 25 years old and have held Class B for at least 5 years, calculated from the issue date on your license. In addition, you need a primary residence in Germany, as well as completed theoretical and practical training. You do not have to take an exam, neither theory nor practical. That’s the key difference from the regular A1 or A2 license.
Instead, you complete mandatory training at a driving school consisting of 9 double lessons of 90 minutes each, totaling 13.5 hours. Of these, 4 double lessons (6 hours) are for theory and 5 double lessons (7.5 hours) are for practical training with basic riding exercises, city traffic, and rural and highway riding. At the end, the driving school issues you a certificate. With that, you go to the driver’s license office within 12 months and have code number 196 registered.
What does the B196 extension cost?
The costs typically range between €700 and €1,100. The price varies by region and driving school: In metropolitan areas like Munich, Hamburg, or Frankfurt, you tend to pay more than in rural areas. These costs apply:
| Cost item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Driving school fee (theory + practical) | €600 to €900 |
| Registration at the driver’s license office | €25 to €45 |
| Biometric passport photo | 10 to 15 € |
| Learning materials / app access | €0 to €60 |
| Total | €700 to €1,100 |
For comparison: A regular A1 license costs between €2,600 and €3,400 depending on the region, including theory and practical exams. With the extension, you can easily save half. In Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, driving schools are often at the higher end (often €850 to €1,100), while in Brandenburg or Saxony-Anhalt you can sometimes get away with as little as €650. It’s worth contacting two or three driving schools in your city and comparing prices.
Hardly anyone thinks about ongoing costs: 125cc liability insurance starts at around €60 per year for older riders, and vehicle tax is around €25 annually.
B196 abroad: where is it really valid?
The extension is officially valid only in Germany. This is stated in § 6b paragraph 1 of the Driving License Regulation: “The authorization according to sentence 1 is valid only domestically.” Anyone who ignores this and is stopped abroad on a 125cc is legally riding without a valid license. The consequences range from fines to possible license revocation to the biggest risk: lack of insurance coverage in the event of an accident.
The reason is formal: Three-digit code numbers like 196 are national special regulations that other EU countries are not required to recognize. Austria has its own version (Code 111), Hungary has B125. None of these national solutions have been harmonized EU-wide so far. For the most important travel destinations, it’s worth taking a closer look.
Italy
Italy is a special case. Italians can ride 125cc motorcycles with their regular car license, without any additional permit. According to EU logic, this should also apply to German tourists, but in practice this is exactly what’s disputed. The ADAC says: No, the Italian regulation only applies to Italian licenses. The police in South Tyrol, on the other hand, often do not penalize German Class B drivers on a 125cc in practice. There is no clear official answer.
Two things are certain: On Italian highways, the 125cc is off-limits anyway. And the biggest risk is not the police, but your insurance. In the event of an accident, your German insurance can argue that you were riding without a valid license. In the worst case, you’re stuck with a six-figure claim.
Austria
In Austria, the extension is not valid. Even the regular Class B license does not entitle you to ride a 125cc there. Austria does have its own regulation with Code 111, but like the German equivalent, it is limited to domestic use and does not apply to German drivers. If you want to ride a motorcycle in Austria, you need at least the A1. This also applies if the route only passes through Tyrol once on the way to Italy.
Switzerland
Switzerland does not recognize the 196 code number either. For 125cc machines, you need the Swiss Category A1 or a correspondingly valid foreign license. Penalties for riding without the required license are particularly severe there: Up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 180 daily rates, and in some cases the vehicle is even confiscated.
Netherlands
The Netherlands also does not recognize the extension and requires the full A1 license for 125cc motorcycles. Anyone who rides anyway risks a fine and problems with insurance in case of damage. There is no loophole via Class B.
England
Even after Brexit, this applies: Your German license is only recognized to the extent of the registered classes, and code number 196 is not one of them. For a 125cc, Great Britain requires at least the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), a separate British course. For a vacation trip, the 125cc is therefore practically not an option, especially since left-hand traffic poses an additional challenge for inexperienced two-wheeler riders.
France
France has its own solution similar to the German one: With a Class B license, you can ride a 125cc after a 7-hour training course. However, this must be completed according to French regulations; the German B196 training is not recognized for this. For you as a German rider, only the A1 remains.
Spain
Spain is a classic vacation gray area. Spaniards can ride a 125cc with a Class B license after three years, and since January 2025 only after a mandatory 7-hour course. Whether this also applies to German tourists is disputed; there is no binding answer. Rental companies often hand over the 125cc anyway on site, but that doesn’t change the insurance risk.
Quick overview of other countries
| Country | B196 recognized? | Class B sufficient for Germans? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | No | Disputed | National regulation applies according to ADAC only to Belgian licenses; Wikipedia mentions 2-year period also for tourists |
| Denmark | No | No | A1 required |
| Luxembourg | No | No | A1 required |
| Portugal | No | Disputed | Sources contradictory: Wikipedia mentions minimum age 25 also for tourists, ADAC only for Portuguese licenses |
| Poland | No | Disputed | National regulation (3 years Class B) applies according to ADAC only to Polish licenses |
| Czech Republic | No | Disputed | Wikipedia: only automatic scooters also for tourists, ADAC contradicts |
| Croatia | No | No | A1 required, national exemptions apply only to Croatian licenses |
Will the extension become valid EU-wide?
In the long term, yes, but it will take several more years. The 4th EU Driving License Directive entered into force on November 25, 2025. It provides for a new, EU-wide code number 60.02, which is intended to harmonize exactly these 125cc extensions. This means: The German 196 will eventually become the EU-wide recognized 60.02.
The timeline is crucial: Member states have three years to transpose the directive into national law in Germany and the other EU countries, plus another year for preparation. Realistically, EU-wide recognition will take effect at the earliest by the end of 2028, more likely 2029.
Until then, it remains the case: As long as individual countries have not actively implemented the new regulation, you still need the A1 license for 125cc motorcycles beyond the border.
Can you upgrade B196 to A2?
The short answer is no, there is no direct upgrade to A2. This is a common misconception. Code number 196 is an extension of your Class B; it is not a full motorcycle license in the sense of the tiered system. This means: Even if you’ve been riding a 125cc for years, that time does not count as a prerequisite class for A2 or A.
If you want to upgrade to A2, you have to complete A2 in the regular way, with theory and practical exams. What you learned in the training sessions will of course help you with riding, but it does not replace an exam.
However, the training is not worthless. It makes you a significantly better A2 student. You know how a motorcycle behaves in traffic, you’ve mastered basic riding exercises, you know lean angles and braking behavior. Many driving schools will reduce the number of mandatory lessons for A2 on this basis, which ultimately saves you several hundred euros.
Anyone who already knows they want to upgrade to larger machines later should honestly weigh this: It may be worth getting the A1 right away (also for upgrading to A2 after two years) instead of first getting the small extension. More on this in our article on upgrading to A2 and A.
Conclusion: Who should get the B196?
The B196 is the quick and affordable solution for anyone who wants to ride a 125cc in Germany without taking the full A1 exam. 13.5 hours of training, no exam, around €700 to €1,100 and you’re on the road. For commuting to work, weekend tours, or bypassing traffic jams on the city highway, it’s a real alternative to the car. However, if you travel abroad frequently, you can’t avoid the A1. Italy is a borderline case; Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are clear: no motorcycle without A1. You can compare which class fits your plans in our motorcycle license overview with all other classes.
After the license: Protect your motorcycle from day 1
You’ve got your license and your first motorcycle is parked outside? Then you should think about protection from the start. A cover with good air circulation keeps rain, UV radiation, and dirt away, so your machine stays in top condition. You can find out which size fits your model with just a few clicks: Enter the manufacturer and model, and the size finder does the rest.
Your size in 3 clicks
Find your cover now!
If your model year is not on the list, select the model of the same type. If the size does not fit, we will of course take the product back or exchange it.
Fill in the fields above to receive recommendations
B196 license: The most important questions at a glance
What happens if I get caught abroad with B196?
Abroad, your 125cc extension does not count; legally, you’re riding without a valid license. Depending on the country, fines, vehicle confiscation, or even criminal consequences like in Switzerland are possible.
The bigger risk, however, is your insurance: In the event of an accident, it can refuse coverage because you were riding without a recognized license. In the worst case, you’re stuck with a six-figure claim. If you want to ride a two-wheeler worry-free beyond the border, only the full A1 will get you there. Go to the A1 license page.
Can I ride an electric motorcycle with B196?
An electric motorcycle is allowed, provided it meets the technical limits of Class A1: maximum 11 kW power and a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.1 kW/kg. Engine displacement is irrelevant for electric motorcycles, as there is no combustion engine.
In practical terms, this means: Models like the Super Soco TC or comparable 11 kW electric light motorcycles are allowed. Whether combustion or electric: To ensure your 125cc reliably withstands rain and UV, it needs the right protection. Discover the MYCOVER® motorcycle cover.
Can I later upgrade directly from B196 to the A license?
There is no direct upgrade. Code number 196 is an extension of Class B and does not count as a prerequisite class in the sense of the motorcycle tiered system. Anyone who wants A or A2 must complete the license regularly with theory and practical exams. Your 125cc experience will help you in practice, though, and often reduces the number of mandatory lessons. This is how you successfully upgrade to A2 and A.
Where can I ride with B196 in the Netherlands?
Nowhere. The Netherlands does not recognize the 196 code number and requires the full A1 license for 125cc motorcycles. Even if you’re just passing through, you risk a fine and problems with insurance without A1. A quick fuel stop with the 125cc is therefore already risky.
Do I need a medical examination for the B196?
An eye test, medical certificate, or first aid course are not additionally required for registering code number 196. You already provided all of that for your Class B license.
Can I go abroad with B196 after 3 years?
The waiting period doesn’t change anything. Whether you’ve had the extension for three months or ten years: Code number 196 remains a national regulation and is valid exclusively in Germany. Only with the planned EU-wide code number 60.02 from approximately 2028/2029 will this change.
What does the B196 cost specifically in NRW or Bavaria?
In North Rhine-Westphalia, most driving schools charge between €750 and €1,000, and in metropolitan areas like Cologne or Düsseldorf even more. In Bavaria, especially in the greater Munich area, you often pay between €850 and €1,100.
Worth it: Contact two or three driving schools in your city; the price ranges can be considerable. You can find an overview of costs and duration for all license classes here.
How long does the B196 training take?
Most driving schools offer the 13.5 hours as an intensive course that can be completed within one to three weeks. They are divided into four theory double lessons and five practical double lessons of 90 minutes each.
How closely the appointments are scheduled depends on the driving school and availability. The course usually cannot be completed in a single weekend, so plan for a few appointments over two to three weeks.
