Spanish License Laws

[CorriganJ]

Hey guys, I am moving to Spain for 18 months and was wondering if anyone knew what the requirements are for riding a bike in Spain. Obviously it depends on age and the bike so, I am 25, have a full car license, and would be wanting something small. I love the idea of a Yamaha SR250, but would ride a 125 if it was easier.

I don't have a CBT but am thinking of doing one soon. As in in the coming weeks. But I don't think the CBT actually shows on your license or is valid abroad? I would have to do the A1 test instead?

As I am 25, I could go straight to a A license. But lessons look expensive and I've heard its easier to pass the A1 than the full A test?

[Evil Hans]

[davidmv]

Hi, very quickly:
1. Given that you are 25, if you’ve had your car license for more than 3 years, you’re authorised to drive a 125cc bike.
2. No, you can’t go for the full A in Spain directly. You first have to get an A2 license that will allow you to drive a bike that has under 47bhp. 2 years later, you may opt for the full A.

Welcome to Spain anyway.

[Bhud]

[CorriganJ]

Thanks for the replies chaps!

To clarify, I meant that yes, I would do my DAS here before I go and get my full, unrestricted A licence. I don't fancy doing my theory test in Spanish for a start...

I've heard that A1 is easier just because of the size of the bikes - it's easier to handle a 125 than a 600cc bike. Maybe that is not such a big difference though. I always thought that actually the emergency stop would be harder on a smaller bike - harder to get to speed, and then (usually) shitty brakes.

DavidMV, you said that after 3 years of having a car licence I can ride a 125? That is good news! Where did you get this information please?

If so, I would still do my CBT even though it is worthless (hopefully I would gain some basic knowledge to help keep myself from under someone elses tyres, and also, it lasts 2 years, so I could continue to ride when I return to the UK/use it to pass my full test). But I probably would not do the DAS yet.

[kgm]

Unless you're completely useless at operating the throttle, bigger bikes are in many ways easier to ride than a 125.

[ThunderGuts]

The only thing easier on a 125 compared with a big bike it moving the thing around by hand when you're not on it; otherwise like for like the bigger bikes are no harder and when it comes to higher speed riding, they're much easier and more stable. Remember that both the 125s and the "big bikes" you'd do DAS on are typically going to be similar styles of bikes (broadly speaking), i.e. relatively easy to flat foot, no wacky wheel sizes, pegs roughly in the same place and once you're moving the weight all but disappears.

+1 on doing DAS here, not sure on what the licence requirements are when abroad. When I was doing my DAS, there was a Spanish guy who now lived in the UK and he was having to do his full A licence even though he had a full Spanish licence so I don't know if there are restrictions on transferring licences if you're there for longer than the "visitor" duration, whatever that is.
____________________
TG.

[CorriganJ]

Fair enough. Will look at doing my DAS then. I've wanted to for a while, but the cost is putting me off.

[davidmv]

[CorriganJ]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[bhinso]

I 'think' having a car licence in Spain is also equivalent to having a 125cc full licence.
This is why I don't understand why our EU driven laws are more restrictive than countries such as Spain.

[Evil Hans]

[davidmv]

[davidmv]