{"id":74486,"date":"2026-07-30T17:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mycover-protection.com\/magazin\/riding-a-motorcycle-with-a-car-license-what-is-actually-allowed\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T16:50:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T14:50:00","slug":"riding-a-motorcycle-with-a-car-license-what-is-actually-allowed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mycover-protection.com\/en\/magazin\/riding-a-motorcycle-with-a-car-license-what-is-actually-allowed\/","title":{"rendered":"Riding a Motorcycle with a Car License: What Is Actually Allowed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Summer is coming, the first motorcycles are rolling through the streets again, and you’re wondering: with your car license in your pocket, what can you actually do on two wheels? Maybe you’ve heard that car drivers can ride a 125cc bike without much effort. Or you’re considering whether the effort for a full motorcycle license is worth it if you just want to go on a few relaxed tours at the weekend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news first: with your Class B, you have more options than you think. The slightly less good news: you need to know a few rules so that you actually end up riding what you want. In this post, we clarify which motorcycle you can ride with a car license, what B196 has to do with your driving permit, and which path to two wheels makes the most sense for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MYCOVER\u00ae team<\/a> explains!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Are you allowed to ride a motorcycle with a car license?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Riding a 125cc: These are the options<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Which motorcycle can you ride with Class B?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. How much does a motorcycle license cost if you already have Class B?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. E-motorcycle with a car license: What works here?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Expanding your car license: B196, A1, or A2?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Conclusion: Which path suits you?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. FAQ – Riding a motorcycle with a car license<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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    \"Three-wheeled
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    Are you allowed to ride a motorcycle with a car license?<\/h2>\n\n

    Class B automatically includes Class AM. This means you can ride a few light motorized two- and three-wheelers without an additional exam. This includes scooters and mopeds up to 50cc and a maximum of 45 km\/h, or for electric models, up to 4 kW continuous rated power. Also permitted are three-wheeled motor vehicles of class L5e, such as the Piaggio MP3 or similar three-wheeled scooters, although a minimum age of 21 applies for more than 15 kW. <\/p>\n\n

    Anything that goes faster or has more displacement remains off-limits without an extension. For a real 125cc, you need the B196 code on your license; for a classic motorcycle over 50cc, there is no way around a proper motorcycle class. <\/p>\n\n

    For three-wheelers, the date also matters: if you obtained your Class B after January 19, 2013, the authorization for trikes only applies in Germany. The code 194 will then be on your license. Anyone who got their car license (formerly Class 3) before this deadline can ride three-wheeled scooters without restriction, even abroad. <\/p>\n\n

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    Riding a 125cc: These are the options<\/h2>\n\n

    There are two ways to get a real 125cc. The fast one is the B196 code, an extension of your existing Class B. You don’t take an exam, just a training course at a driving school, making it significantly cheaper and faster than a full motorcycle license. The catch: B196 is only valid in Germany. If you regularly plan tours abroad, you’re better off with A1, as it is recognized throughout the EU. <\/p>\n\n

    Requirements, costs, the exact training process, and the question of which countries B196 is really worth nothing in can be found bundled on our page about the B196 extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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    \"Driving
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    Which motorcycle can you ride with Class B?<\/h2>\n\n

    With B196, you can operate light motorcycles of class A1. The same limits apply as for A1: up to 125cc displacement, maximum 11 kW (around 15 hp), and a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.1 kW\/kg. There is no fixed top speed, but technically most models reach 110 to 120 km\/h. <\/p>\n\n

    It sounds manageable at first, but it’s not. Modern 125cc bikes are anything but boring. Nakeds, small sportbikes, all-rounders, adventure models: the selection is huge. You can easily commute with them, go on short tours, and have real fun in city traffic. For the first few years, that’s completely sufficient. <\/p>\n\n

    Popular models for Class B license holders:<\/p>\n\n