Riding a 125cc with a car licence in Belgium
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Yes: in Belgium a category B car licence lets you ride a 125cc motorcycle once you have held it for at least two years. If your licence B was issued on or after 1 May 2011, you must first take 4 hours of practical lessons at an approved driving school and have code 372 added to your licence. This right is valid in Belgium only; abroad you need a full A1 licence.
Test yourself: 5 questions on this topic
- What is the maximum power of a category A1 motorcycle? 35 kW / 11 kW / 15 kW. Correct answer: 11 kW. Category A1 covers motorcycles of up to 125cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg. The 15 kW limit applies to A1 tricycles.
- Your licence B was issued in 2018. What do you need to ride a 125cc in Belgium? Nothing, licence B is enough / A motorcycle theory test / 4 hours of lessons at an approved school and code 372. Correct answer: 4 hours of lessons at an approved school and code 372. For a licence B issued on or after 1 May 2011: two years of licence B, 4 hours of practical training at an approved driving school and code 372.
- With code 372, where may you ride an A1 motorcycle? In Belgium only / Anywhere in the EU / In Belgium and the Netherlands. Correct answer: In Belgium only. Code 372 is a national Belgian code: it is valid in Belgium only.
- Besides a helmet, what must a motorcyclist wear in Belgium? A high-visibility vest only / Nothing else is required / Gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers and boots protecting the ankles. Correct answer: Gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers and boots protecting the ankles. Article 36 of the Highway Code requires motorcycle riders and passengers to wear gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers or overalls and boots or ankle boots that protect the ankles.
- How long must you have held licence B before getting code 372? At least 2 years / At least 6 months / At least 5 years. Correct answer: At least 2 years. The category B licence must have been issued at least two years earlier.
Key points
Two years of licence B
Your category B licence must have been issued at least two years ago.
4 hours + code 372
Licence B issued from 1 May 2011: 4 hours of practical training at an approved driving school, then code 372 at your municipality.
125cc, 11 kW
Only category A1 motorcycles: up to 125cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg.
Which 125cc can you ride with a car licence?
A car licence does not cover every motorcycle, only those in category A1: a cylinder capacity of no more than 125cc, a maximum power of 11 kW (about 15 hp) and a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.1 kW/kg. All three limits apply together: a tuned 125cc producing more than 11 kW is no longer an A1 vehicle.
A 125cc scooter falls into the same category as a 125cc motorcycle. Check the figures on the certificate of conformity or the registration certificate before you buy.
The rules depend on when your licence B was issued
These rules come from Article 5 of the Royal Decree of 23 March 1998 on driving licences and are summarised by the Federal Public Service Mobility on its page Motorcycles (categories A, A1, A2), in French. Code 372 is not an A1 licence: to get one, you have to pass the exams.
| Your licence B | Conditions for an A1 motorcycle | Where? |
|---|---|---|
| Issued before 1 May 2011 | No training and no code needed | Belgium only |
| Issued on or after 1 May 2011 | Licence B held for at least 2 years + 4 hours of practical training at an approved school + code 372 | Belgium only |
| Licence A1, A2 or A | No extra conditions | Belgium and the European Union |
The 4-hour course and code 372
The course consists of four hours of practical lessons at an approved driving school, half of them on public roads. There is no theory test and no practical test at the end. The school gives you a certificate, which you take to your municipality to have code 372 added next to category B on a new licence card.
- Hold a category B licence issued at least two years ago.
- Take 4 hours of practical training at an approved driving school.
- Ask your municipality to add code 372 (new card, municipal fee).
- Ride category A1 motorcycles in Belgium only.
The price of the 4-hour course is not set by law: each driving school sets its own rate. Ask whether the motorcycle, protective gear and certificate are included.
Step by step
Even when the law does not require lessons, as with older licences, a few hours of training are the best investment if you have never ridden a motorcycle. Emergency braking, looking through a bend and road positioning are not skills you learn in a car.
Not sure whether a scooter or motorcycle counts as A1? Look at three figures on the certificate of conformity: engine capacity, power in kW and power-to-weight ratio. If any of them is over the limit, code 372 is not enough.
- Check the issue date of your category B: it is printed on the back of the card, in column 10, next to the category.
- If it is before 1 May 2011, you can already ride an A1 motorcycle in Belgium.
- If it is later, wait until your licence B is two years old, then book the 4-hour course at an approved driving school.
- Take the certificate to your municipality to have code 372 added.
- Insure the motorcycle before riding and get the compulsory gear: approved helmet, gloves, jacket, long trousers and boots.
Can you ride a 125cc abroad?
The right to ride a 125cc on a car licence, with or without code 372, is a Belgian rule. Other countries do not automatically recognise it. To ride a 125cc in France, the Netherlands or Germany you need an A1 licence (or A2, A), unless that country has its own exemption. Check the rules of your destination before you leave.
Your insurer may also ask questions after an accident abroad: riding without the category required by the country you visit amounts to riding without a valid licence. For a motorcycle trip outside Belgium, a full A1 licence is the only safe option.
If you need a full motorcycle licence, start with our guide to the motorcycle theory test in Belgium.
Motor tricycles on a car licence
Different rules apply to tricycles. A licence B issued before 1 May 2013 covers motor tricycles. If yours was issued later, you may ride a category A tricycle once you are at least 21, have taken 4 hours of training and have code 373 on your licence, again in Belgium only. Tricycles of up to 15 kW belong to category A1.
The Highway Code on two wheels
Swapping a steering wheel for handlebars does not change the Highway Code: priority, speed limits, overtaking and signs stay the same. Some rules are specific to riders. An approved helmet is compulsory, and under Article 36 riders and passengers must also wear gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers or overalls and boots or ankle boots that protect the ankles.
If your theory is rusty, revise the priority rules, the speed limits in Belgium and the Belgian Highway Code, then try a free theory test.
Code 372 or a full A1 licence?
If you only ride in Belgium, code 372 is the quickest route. If you want to travel or move up to a bigger bike later, the A1 licence is the better investment. All categories are explained on our page about driving licence categories in Belgium.
| Licence B + code 372 | A1 licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Licence B held for 2 years | 18 |
| Theory test | No | Yes, 50 questions, pass mark 41/50 |
| Training | 4 hours | 12 hours, or 9 hours + 1 month on a provisional licence |
| Practical test | No | Off-road manoeuvres + public road |
| Valid abroad | No | Yes, across the European Union |
| Upgrade to A2 | No | After 2 years of A1: 4 hours of lessons, no theory test |
Practise this topic with real exam questions
Reading a rule is not enough: in the Belgian theory exam every question is asked on a photo of a real traffic situation, with answers that look deliberately alike. On PermisBelges, every topic of the highway code is practised with questions in the GOCA exam format, each one corrected and explained.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I ride a 125cc with a car licence in Belgium?
Yes, if you have held your licence B for at least two years. If it was issued on or after 1 May 2011, you first need 4 hours of practical training at an approved driving school and code 372 on your licence.
What is code 372 on a Belgian driving licence?
A code next to category B that allows you to ride category A1 motorcycles (up to 125cc and 11 kW) in Belgium, after 4 hours of practical training and without an exam.
Can I ride a 125cc abroad with a Belgian car licence?
No. The 125cc right linked to licence B and code 372 applies in Belgium only. Abroad you need an A1, A2 or A licence, unless the country has its own exemption.
Is there a test for code 372?
No. There is no theory or practical test, only 4 hours of practical lessons at an approved driving school, followed by an application at your municipality.
My licence B dates from 2007. Do I need the course?
No. A licence B issued before 1 May 2011 lets you ride an A1 motorcycle in Belgium without training or code 372. Lessons are still a good idea if you have never ridden a motorcycle.
Further reading
- Motorcycle theory test
- Driving licence categories
- AM moped licence
- The driving theory test in Brussels
- Road markings in Belgium: lines, colours and meaning
- Overtaking rules in Belgium: bans, cyclists and distances
- The 12 hardest questions in the Belgian theory test
- Free Belgian theory test
- Theory exam simulation
- The Belgian highway code
- Plans and pricing