Which licence do you need for a 50cc scooter, a 125cc motorcycle or a big bike, and can you ride any of them with a car licence? This guide lists every licence category in Cyprus, explains the motorcycle route from AM to A, and covers helmets and electric scooters.
Last checked: 19 October 2026, against the Driving Licence Law (94(I)/2001, consolidated with amendments to 2025), the law on bicycles and personal mobility devices (19(I)/2018, with the 2026 amendments), decree ΚΔΠ 273/2026, the motorcycle test rules in ΚΔΠ 460/2015 and the out-of-court fines tables on CyLaw.
Driving licence categories in Cyprus
| Category | What you can drive | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| AM | Mopeds | 17 |
| A1 | Motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW | 18 |
| A2 | Motorcycles up to 35 kW | 20, after 2 years on A1 |
| A | Any motorcycle | 22, after 2 years on A2, or 24 directly |
| B | Cars up to 3,500 kg | 18 |
| B1 | Quadricycles | 18 |
| B+E | Car with a heavier trailer | 18 |
| C1 | Medium lorries | 18 |
| C, D1 | Lorries, minibuses | 21 |
| D | Buses | 24 |
The exact limits for each motorcycle category:
- AM (mopeds): two- or three-wheelers with an engine up to 50 cc and a top speed of 45 km/h.
- A1: up to 125 cc, a maximum power of 11 kW and a power-to-weight ratio of up to 0.1 kW/kg. Also tricycles up to 15 kW.
- A2: up to 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg, and not adapted from a motorcycle with more than double that power.
- A: any motorcycle. Tricycles over 15 kW need you to be at least 21.
Can I ride a scooter or motorcycle with a car licence in Cyprus?
No. In Cyprus, a car licence (B) also covers category B1 (quadricycles), but not mopeds or motorcycles. To ride even a 50cc scooter, you need at least an AM licence.
The other way round, motorcycle licences include the smaller categories:
- A1, A2 and A each include AM,
- A2 includes A1,
- A includes A1 and A2.
Which licence do I need for a 50cc scooter or a "papaki"?
It depends on the engine, not the shape.
- A 50cc scooter with a top speed of 45 km/h is a moped: you need an AM licence, from age 17.
- A 110cc or 125cc step-through (the classic "papaki", παπάκι) is a motorcycle: you need A1, from age 18, as long as it stays within 11 kW.
Check the registration document if you are not sure. It shows the engine size and power.
How to get a motorcycle licence
- Theory exam and learner licence. You pass the oral theory exam and apply for a learner licence: from 17 for AM and from 17½ for A1. It is valid for two years. Our guide to the learner licence explains the documents and fees.
- Lessons at a driving school. Since 14 September 2026 the minimum is 5 lessons for A1, 5 for A2 and 7 for A, each 45 minutes. No minimum is set for AM.
- The practical test. At least 21 days after the learner licence. It has two parts:
- off-road manoeuvres: pushing the motorcycle without the engine, a slow slalom, manoeuvres at 30 km/h or more, an avoidance manoeuvre at 50 km/h and emergency braking from 50 km/h,
- a ride on public roads of at least 25 minutes. The examiner can follow you on another vehicle.
Learner rules on a motorcycle. You may ride only in training, with a licensed instructor following you on another vehicle, or on the test. No passengers, and you must wear an approved helmet, a jacket or vest with reflective strips, long trousers, boots or closed shoes, knee and elbow guards, and gloves.
Moving up from A1 to A2, or A2 to A. After two years on the smaller category you take a new practical test. If you already hold a licence, the theory part covers only what is specific to the new category.
Looking for a school that teaches motorcycles? Send one request and let local schools contact you:
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Motorcycle helmet rules
- Who must wear one: the rider and the passenger on any moped, motorcycle, tricycle or quadricycle.
- What kind: a helmet of an approved type.
- The fine: €200 and 3 penalty points, or €400 if you are caught again within three years.
- Child passengers: the government's road safety leaflet for visitors says a child passenger must be over 12 and sit astride the seat.
Motorcyclists and moped riders also have the lower alcohol limit of 9 μg per 100 ml of breath, however long they have been riding. See our guide to speed and alcohol limits.
Electric scooter rules in Cyprus
The law calls e-scooters personal mobility devices. The rules were tightened in April 2026.
- Age: you must be 17 or older to ride one.
- Where: only on roads with a 30 km/h speed limit sign, and on cycle paths and cycle lanes. Motorways and expressways are banned. Squares and pedestrian streets are banned unless the municipality allows scooters there, and then the limit is 10 km/h.
- Speed: the scooter must not go faster than 25 km/h, and it must carry the CE mark.
- Helmet: compulsory for the rider and any passenger.
- At night: front and rear lights, and reflective items on your clothing.
- Passengers: not allowed, unless the scooter is built for two. The passenger must then be over 17, seated and wearing a helmet.
- Alcohol and drugs: banned, as for drivers.
- No insurance or registration is needed for a private e-scooter.
Fines: €85 for riding under 17, in a banned place, on a motorway or faster than 25 km/h, and €50 for no helmet, no reflective clothing or carrying a passenger. The police can also take the scooter away.
Prepare for the theory exam
The theory exam is oral: the examiner shows you road signs and you say what they mean. Practise with the free road signs test and check the rules with the rules test. For roundabouts, priority and riding on the left, read our guide to driving in Cyprus. The official Cyprus Highway Code also has a section for motorcyclists.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride a 50cc scooter with a car licence in Cyprus?
No. A car licence (B) does not cover mopeds or motorcycles in Cyprus. A 50cc scooter needs at least an AM licence, which you can get from age 17.
What is the minimum age for a motorcycle licence in Cyprus?
17 for AM (mopeds), 18 for A1 (up to 125 cc), 20 for A2 after two years on A1, and 22 for A after two years on A2, or 24 if you go straight to A.
What can I ride with an A1 licence in Cyprus?
Motorcycles up to 125 cc with a maximum power of 11 kW, tricycles up to 15 kW, and mopeds.
How many lessons do I need for a motorcycle licence in Cyprus?
At least 5 lessons for A1, 5 for A2 and 7 for A at a licensed driving school, each 45 minutes.
Is a motorcycle helmet compulsory in Cyprus?
Yes, for the rider and the passenger on any moped, motorcycle, tricycle or quadricycle. Riding without one costs €200 and 3 penalty points.
Do you need a helmet on an electric scooter in Cyprus?
Yes. A helmet is compulsory for e-scooter riders and passengers, and riding without one is a €50 fine. You must also be at least 17.
Where can I ride an electric scooter in Cyprus?
On roads with a 30 km/h limit sign and on cycle paths and lanes. Squares and pedestrian streets are allowed only where the municipality permits it, at up to 10 km/h.