The A2 motorcycle license, accessible from age 18, authorizes riding motorcycles up to 35 kW (47 hp), restricted or not, and remains in 2026 the most-taken license among Parisians. The capital concentrates around fifty motorcycle driving schools, but approved exam tracks are located in the greater suburbs: Carrieres-sous-Poissy, Rungis, Trappes or Ozoir-la-Ferriere. Understanding the 12-move off-road course, the 25-minute duration and the 52% Ile-de-France pass rate helps choose the right school and arrive prepared on D-day.
A2 License: What the Law Allows
The A2 license grants authorization to ride motorcycles with a maximum power of 35 kW (47 hp) and a power-to-weight ratio less than or equal to 0.2 kW/kg. It is obtained from age 18 after theoretical training (specific motorcycle code since 2020) and practical training at a driving school. After 2 years, the holder can take the 7-hour bridge training to access the A license (all displacements).
The motorcycle code, introduced March 1, 2020, has 40 motorcycle-themed questions (equipment, trajectories, braking, road sharing). It replaces the old common car/motorcycle code and requires a minimum of 35 correct answers out of 40. Its validity period is 5 years after obtention, with unlimited practical exam attempts during this period.
Approved Circuits Paris and Ile-de-France
The A2 practical exam takes place on tracks approved by the DSCR (Road Safety and Circulation Directorate). No track is located in Paris proper: all are in the greater suburbs, requiring 30 to 60-minute trips from the capital center.
Carrieres-sous-Poissy (78)
The Carrieres-sous-Poissy exam center, in the Yvelines, is most used for Parisians from western districts (15th, 16th, 17th). 200-meter asphalt track, recent ground markings, sheltered from wind by adjoining buildings. Inspectors receive up to 30 candidates per day. Access by RER A to Poissy then bus 50, or by car via A14.
Rungis (94)
Located near the National Wholesale Market, the Rungis center serves southern Parisians (5th, 13th, 14th). 180-meter track with a well-marked off-road course. Dense traffic nearby at peak hours: plan a 1-hour margin on exam day. Access via A6 or bus 216 from Porte d'Orleans.
Trappes (78)
The Trappes center welcomes candidates from southwestern Ile-de-France (15th, 16th, southwestern suburbs). 220-meter track, one of the longest in Ile-de-France, ideal for the fast course. SNCF Paris-Montparnasse access then bus 411, or A12 from the southwestern ring road.
Ozoir-la-Ferriere (77)
Main center for eastern Parisians (11th, 12th, 20th) and Seine-et-Marne residents. 200-meter track, spacious parking, calmer atmosphere than Rungis. Access via RER E to Ozoir then bus, or A4 then N104.
Off-Road Course: The 12 Moves
Since the March 2020 reform, the A2 off-road exam includes 12 moves grouped into 3 courses: a slow course, a fast course, and an oral safety questioning. Total duration is 25 minutes maximum.
The slow course, the most feared, requires a figure-eight bypassing cones, a U-turn between parallel lines, a slow-speed avoidance, and a precise stop on a line. Balance, foot on the ground and clutch/rear-brake coordination are decisive. Any foot placed outside the authorized zone leads to 1 or 2 penalty points.
The fast course simulates acceleration with direction change and emergency braking at 50 km/h. The braking distance must occur over 13 to 18 meters depending on road surface (dry or wet). The candidate must then bypass two cones while staying in the marked corridor. Speed too low or too high results in penalty or direct failure.
The oral questioning lasts 3 to 5 minutes. The inspector randomly draws 1 to 2 sheets out of 12, covering equipment, mechanical checks, blind spots, or wet riding. A missed sheet costs 1 point; two missed sheets lead to automatic adjournment.
Exam Duration and Process
The off-road exam officially lasts 10 minutes of effective riding and 5 to 10 minutes of oral questioning, totaling 25 minutes including welcome and briefing. The candidate arrives 15 minutes before the scheduled time, presents the summons and ID, then follows the inspector to the track.
The inspector explains each course before its execution. The candidate has 2 attempts per move in case of error without fall. A fall during the slow course is not eliminating if speed was consistent; a fall on the fast course almost systematically leads to adjournment. The result is communicated by email within 48 hours via the ANTS account.
Paris Pass Rate: 52% in 2026
The A2 off-road pass rate in Ile-de-France is set in 2026 around 52%, slightly below the national average of 56%. Several factors explain this gap: dense traffic limiting riding hours, urban pressure on learners, and higher demands from Ile-de-France inspectors, notably on trajectory respect.
Statistics show candidates who completed 25 to 30 hours of off-road training succeed at 72% on first presentation, against 38% for those who completed the minimum 20-hour package. Investing 200 to 400 additional euros in extra hours remains more economical than failing and re-taking the entire exam.
Inspector Tips: What Makes the Difference
Ile-de-France inspectors stress three key points. First point: regularity of looking far ahead, never at the front wheel. A gaze falling at 2 meters causes imbalance and hesitant trajectories, the main reason for failure in slow course.
Second point: clutch control in the controlled-slip zone. Too short slip stalls the bike; too long slip wears the clutch and reveals lack of precision. Work this point specifically with your trainer, asking for repeated exercises at very low speed.
Third point: attitude at briefing and during oral questioning. A hesitant or unsure candidate may be penalized on appreciation points. Prepare the 12 official sheets, freely available on the Road Safety website, and review them the night before the exam.
Mandatory CE Equipment on D-Day
The candidate must show up with an integral or modular ECE 22-06 helmet (jet helmet is forbidden in exam), CE-approved motorcycle gloves, a motorcycle jacket with shoulder and elbow shells, motorcycle pants or reinforced motorcycle jeans, and ankle boots or shoes.
Any non-compliant equipment leads to track access refusal: exam lost without second chance before 6 weeks minimum (average rebooking time in Paris). Check the day before the CE markings on each piece and bring a copy of the invoice if equipment is recent. The FFMC publishes each year an updated list of compliant equipment, freely available online.
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