In April 2022, all citizens of the Russian Federation who are 16 years old can go to a driving school and take a training course, after which they can take a driving test. Many teenagers were waiting for the regulation to come into force and they could legally drive. New wording has appeared to refer to instructors and students; they are now called “driving instructor” and “learner.” There is a difference in the age limits for passing the license of category B and other categories.
At what age can you apply for a motorcycle license (category A and A1)?
At the age of 14, a teenager receives a Russian citizen passport. From your 15th birthday onwards, your birth certificate is no longer an identity document.
16-year-olds are considered minor citizens of the Russian Federation, and those under 14 years old are considered minors. Such norms are established by Art. 21 of the Civil Code of Russia. The legal capacity of a citizen of the Russian Federation is also taken into account. Legal capacity is defined as the age limit of 21 years.
You can study for a driver's license at any age, but only persons who meet certain requirements can apply for a driver's license:
- for A1 the driver must be over 16 years old, A - 18 years old;
- medical certificate of “fitness” - normal state of health;
- availability of all documents;
- payment of state duty;
- completing training at a driving school, successfully passing a theory and driving exam.
So, passing for a motorcycle license at 16 years old is possible. The law does not prohibit driving a category A vehicle after this age limit. Sixteen-year-old citizens who have passed the VU - A1 can drive: motorcycles, scooters, ATVs with an engine capacity of no more than 150 cubic meters. see More details about opening category A1 in our article.
How is the exam taken?
Changes are made to exam procedures every year. But the general principles remain unchanged. Thus, the qualifying exam includes:
- Testing theoretical knowledge - rules.
- Practical skill - driving.
20 minutes are allotted to test the theory. Modern tickets are in electronic format and are issued on a computer.
Testing practical skills
The practical test consists of two elements – motor racing and city driving.
At the racetrack, the cadet demonstrates driving skills by performing elements of varying difficulty:
- Acceleration-braking.
- Overall corridor or semicircle.
- Snake.
- Driving at low speed.
- Slide.
- Dimensional eight.
For each cadet, only a few of the elements listed above can be designated.
Riding around the city must demonstrate not only the ability to operate a motorcycle, but also comply with the requirements of traffic rules on public roads.
At what age are category M licenses (mopeds and scooters) issued?
Having the “M” mark on your driver’s license allows you to drive mopeds and scooters with an engine capacity of up to 50 cubic meters and a power of up to 4 kW. The maximum speed should not be more than 50 km/h. If the parameters of the vehicle are different, then it will be equivalent to a motorcycle; to drive it you will have to open category A1.
Requirements:
- 16 years;
- medical examination with a positive result;
- completion of training at a driving school, successful passing of the traffic police exam.
Minor citizens can study in a driving school only with parental permission. Persons are allowed to study only after a medical examination.
In a driving school, the theory is studied for several weeks, then the design of the vehicle, and the rules of first aid. Next - driving within a closed area, and then - in urban conditions.
If you already have VU: A, B, C, then you do not need to undergo training to drive a moped. Read more about the opening of the M category here.
What do you need to receive
Basics:
- Studying theory.
- Submit an application for admission to a driving school, where you indicate the category you would like to receive.
- Complete all required classes.
- Pass exams - theoretical (knowledge of traffic rules) and practical (driving).
- Receive a certificate of successful completion of training.
- Pass a medical examination.
- Come to the MREO (State Traffic Safety Inspectorate) with all the necessary documents to obtain a driver’s license.
- Get a VU.
From documents
To start studying at a driving school, you will need:
- statement;
- passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- military ID (on request).
At the State Traffic Inspectorate:
- application to the traffic police;
- passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- conclusion from the medical commission;
- certificate of successful completion of studies and passed exams;
- a paid receipt for the payment of state duty to the regional budget.
A driving school certificate is also called a “driver’s card.” It must indicate the license number of the educational institution.
When paying state fees electronically (through websites - State Services, at the MFC), you do not have to present a paper receipt. Photographing takes place in the traffic police department itself.
But if some unit is not equipped with special equipment, then you will need to take 2 photographs (3 x 4) in advance.
By knowledge
To obtain a driver’s card and further registration of a driving license, you will need to pass the following exams:
- Theory.
- Practice.
The first option takes place on the territory of the driving school and is sold using tickets. This requires excellent knowledge of traffic rules. No grades are given, but the result “passed successfully” is simply indicated.
The second option can be divided into 2 stages. First, the preliminary part of the exam is taken - driving on the territory of the educational institution, and around the city.
At what age can you get category B?
To drive vehicle B - a passenger car, you need to meet the following requirements:
- complete a driving school to drive a car with a maximum weight of no more than 3.5 tons, the number of seats without a driver’s license is no more than 8;
- You can take your license at 16 or 17 years old, but get your license only at 18 years old;
- You can drive a car - B from the age of 18, during training, under the supervision of an instructor - from 16 years.
Read more about opening category B here.
At what age can you ride a motorcycle?
On equipment with a capacity of 125 cubic meters or more. see It is permissible to drive only from 18 years of age. If the unit has less power, then the law allows you to drive it from the age of 16. In any case, the legality of movement must be confirmed by the rights of the appropriate category.
You can also ride scooters and mopeds from the age of 16. Pit bikes deserve special attention, as they allow movement without any documents, but only on specially designated sports tracks. Such transport, subject to power up to 50 cubic meters. cm are considered sports equipment. It is prohibited to ride pit bikes on public roads, even with a category “A” license.
Age restrictions for category C drivers
The age limit for driving vehicles is 18 years.
You can take the exam from the age of 17.
Studying the theory is possible even at 15 years old. Theoretical material includes:
- Traffic Laws;
- features of road markings;
- what are the signs on the road, how to use them;
- features of legislation in this area;
- basics of providing medical care in various situations on the road.
According to experienced instructors, it is advisable to study theoretical materials early. Thus, you can better prepare for the traffic police exams and feel more confident on the road.
Read more about opening category C here.
Requirements for a driver to obtain a license, restrictions on medical indications
To be able to obtain a license to drive a motorcycle, you only need to reach the required age and not have medical contraindications, in the presence of which driving a vehicle is strictly prohibited. The medical opinion may concern a ban for a certain time until the contraindications are eliminated, or it may be one that makes driving impossible for life. To eliminate such problems, you will need to pass a commission before enrolling in a driving school.
The rules for passing a medical examination are based on the standards outlined in the Federal Law of 1995 “On Road Safety”. For each category of drivers, different rules may be provided that provide specific standards and indicators by which the possibility of admission to driving vehicles is assessed.
The procedure for passing the commission involves visiting the following doctors:
- ophthalmologist;
- ENT;
- surgeon;
- therapist;
- neurologist;
- gynecologist (for women).
As a result of passing the commission, a driving ban will be imposed if the following disorders or diseases are diagnosed:
- chronic hearing or vision impairment;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- developmental delay (mental);
- mental illnesses;
- alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse and other diagnoses included in the list of prohibited driving.
If a positive conclusion is issued, the validity period of such a certificate will be 10 years.
One of the indicators that can interfere with driving is the lack of necessary visual acuity. However, in such situations, a recommendation from an ophthalmologist may be issued to use glasses or contact lenses while driving. It is worth considering that if it is necessary to artificially increase visual acuity, driving without glasses can be equated to driving a vehicle without a license, for which the driver can pay a significant fine.
Responsibility for driving a motorcycle by a minor
Many teenagers ignore the need to obtain a license to drive a motorcycle, and some get on such equipment before reaching the required age. In such cases, negligent drivers or their parents will face administrative liability:
- If a minor drives a motorcycle without authorization, his parents will have to pay a fine of 5-15 thousand rubles. At the same time, the transport is confiscated and sent to the impound lot.
- An even greater fine awaits a person who entrusts the operation of a motorcycle to a minor. You will have to pay 30 thousand rubles, while the fine remains for the parents of the minor. The owner of the vehicle also faces a fine of 800 rubles, since insurance rules are violated.
You can ride a motorcycle only after reaching the age of 18 and after obtaining a license in the appropriate category. In this case, training can begin earlier than the issuance of licenses is allowed by law. If a minor drives a motorcycle, then the parents are responsible for this, as well as the owner of the vehicle who let him behind the wheel.
Theoretical exam
Clause 9 of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1097 of October 24, 2014 states that in order to obtain a driver’s license of category A1 in 2022, it is necessary to pass a theory and an exam on initial vehicle driving skills. There is no travel to the city.
The theory comes first. Testing the examinee's knowledge is carried out by answering questions on the computer. Tickets and time remaining until the end of the exam are displayed on the screen. You are given 20 minutes to complete the procedure. The ticket contains 20 questions. For each of them there are from 2 to 5 answer options. Only one of them is correct. A citizen can independently choose the sequence of answers to the questions on the ticket. Based on the results, a grade of “pass” or “fail” is given.
The exam for obtaining a driver's license category A1 is considered failed if a person:
- made three mistakes;
- did not answer 2 questions in one thematic block or answered them incorrectly;
- made one mistake when answering additional questions;
- refused to undergo testing;
- used literature, the help of other people, specialists. means.
If a citizen did not have time to answer one question or made a mistake, an additional 5 minutes are provided and 5 questions are added. If a person manages to answer them correctly, a “pass” grade is given. When two mistakes are made, or it was not possible to answer two questions from different thematic blocks within the set time, an additional 10 minutes are provided. During the above time, you need to answer 10 more new questions. If all answers are correct, a “pass” grade is given.
If it was not possible to successfully complete the theoretical exam for obtaining a license of category A1, a retake is assigned. A second attempt is given only after 7 days from the date of the initial testing. If you fail to pass the theory even on the third try, you will need to wait 30 days. The number of attempts is not limited.
What does category A1 mean?
Car owners who have an open category A mark on their license can drive:
- ordinary motorcycles;
- motorcycles equipped with sidecars;
- three-wheeled vehicles;
- four-wheeled vehicles.
IMPORTANT! These vehicles must weigh up to 400 kg (fully loaded).
License designation A1, what does it mean? The presence of such a mark in the driver's document gives its owner the right to drive light motorcycles. In this case, the characteristics of a light motorcycle should be as follows:
- engine with a volume of not more than 125 cc. cm;
- power not higher than 11 kW.
It is allowed to drive a vehicle with 3 wheels in this category if one of the conditions is met:
- its capacity is above 50 cm3;
- The vehicle can move at speeds over 45 km/h.
For subcategory A1, there are restrictions on the weight of the vehicle - no more than 550 kg.
Is it possible to drive without a license?
A motorcyclist is a driver who drives high-risk vehicles. Therefore, any type of motor vehicle requires a license. After all, a license is a confirmation of driving competence.
But if you decide to ride a motorcycle without a license, know that you risk being fined. The first hit will cost 15,000 rubles, and subsequent hits will cost 30,000 rubles. Also, an irresponsible driver can be arrested for 15 days, and a motorcycle (moped/scooter) can be sent to a impound lot. The driver's license presented must have the category of the vehicle the driver is driving. That is, if it is a motorcycle of more than 125 cubic meters, then the license must be category “A” and not “A1” or “M”.
A driver driving onto a public road must remember that he is not alone on the road; there are also other road users and pedestrians. And it is desirable that when driving on public roads, the driver has well-honed driving skills.
How to get a motorcycle license if you have category “B”?
Open category “B” does not give its owner the right to drive a motorcycle over 50cc. You'll have to sit down at your desk again and go through the DD rules again. Only after successfully passing the oral part of the exam will the driver be allowed to take the practical test.
Some people will be outraged by this approach - why learn the rules, all this has been covered. It's not about the traffic rules themselves, but about the specifics of driving a motorcycle. Driving a car is very different from riding a two-wheeler.
However, if you feel strong enough, you don’t have to attend a motorcycle school. Practice your motorcycle riding skills on your own. But where is the guarantee that you are performing all the elements correctly?
Still, it’s worth playing it safe and taking a lesson or two from an experienced driver-instructor. He will clearly explain the requirements for the exams.
Required driving age
Before proceeding with the establishment of age restrictions, it is necessary to determine which vehicle is a motorcycle and which category motorcycles of various types belong to.
In accordance with Article 1 of Government Decree No. 1090, which defines the Rules of the Road, a motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle with or without a side trailer (sidecar) with an engine capacity of more than 50 cm³ (in the case of an internal combustion engine) or capable of reaching a speed of more than 50 km/h (regardless of engine type).
Motorcycles also include scooters with similar performance parameters, tricycles and ATVs with a motorcycle seating position and a handlebar of the appropriate type, if:
- the weight of the vehicle excluding the weight of the batteries is 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for transporting goods)
- effective power up to 15 kW
A moped is a mechanical vehicle that has two or three wheels, the design speed of which cannot be more than 50 km/h, and the engine, depending on the type, has the following power:
- up to 50 cm³ (internal combustion engine)
- 0.25 kW – 4 kW (electric motor)
Mopeds also include:
- ATVs that meet the declared characteristics
- scooters with similar performance parameters
You can read about what documents are needed to ride an ATV here.
In accordance with Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196:
- Motorcycles belong to category A, and there is an additional subcategory of vehicles of this type - A1 - which defines light motorcycles with an internal combustion engine up to 125 cm³ and a power of up to 11 kW.
- Mopeds and scooters belong to the M category.
Motorcycle
Age restrictions when driving a particular type of vehicle are established by Article 26 of the Federal Law on Traffic Safety (Federal Law No. 196).
Ordinary
Persons over 16 years of age are allowed to drive motorcycles belonging to category A1, and 18 years of age to drive a motorcycle of category A.
Sports
Riding a motocross motorcycle (pit bike) is also permissible from the age of 16 or 18, depending on the power.
With stroller
To operate a motorcycle with a sidecar, category A is required. Therefore, the minimum driver age is 18 years.
Moped
Mopeds belong to the M category, which allows you to drive this type of vehicle from the age of 16.
Scooter
If the scooter belongs to categories A1 or M, then in accordance with the traffic rules the driver’s age is 16 years or older. If a more powerful scooter (category A) is used, then you can get a license only when you reach 18 years of age.
Practical exam
If you successfully pass the theory, an exam on initial management skills is scheduled. The procedure is regulated by paragraphs 104-116 of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 995 of October 20, 2015. The A1 category exam is held at the race track. The candidate is required to complete a number of exercises. The list includes:
- demonstration of motorcycle control skills at low speed;
- performing the “snake” exercise;
- passage "eight" and "corridor";
- movement with high-speed maneuvering;
- performing a “parking” maneuver;
- travel with a stop for boarding and disembarking passengers.
The person must begin the exercise within 30 seconds after receiving the command to begin the test.
The A1 category exam is considered failed in the following situations:
- the person did not begin to perform the exercise that the examiner asked him to do in a timely manner;
- the person knocked over the marking equipment 3 or more times;
- the examinee stopped the engine 3 or more times;
- the citizen exceeded the time required to complete the “high-speed maneuvering” element;
- the applicant for a license has deviated from the specified trajectory;
- the person refused to perform any of the exercises;
- the examinee committed other violations provided for in paragraph 113 of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 995 of October 20, 2015.
The practical exam for category A1 in 2022 can also be retaken. There is no state fee for carrying out the action. The procedure is performed 7 days after failure. If you fail to pass the exam the second and third time, the next attempt is scheduled only after a month. The theoretical part is considered valid for up to 6 months. After that it needs to be retaken.
