Motorcycle License in Bordeaux

With its 267,991 inhabitants reported by INSEE, Bordeaux is a French metropolis located in department 33 (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Getting your Motorcycle License here requires understanding local road-network particularities and knowing which funding schemes are available to candidates in the department.

Driving in Bordeaux means dealing with a dense urban environment and an extensive multimodal network. Bordeaux Métropole entered its Low Emission Zone on 1 January 2025, covering the entire area inside the N230 ring road. At this stage, only unclassified vehicles, registered before 1 January 1997, are banned from circulating in the zone, while Crit'Air 1 to 5 cars remain authorised.

The city is served by six tram lines (A, B, C, D, E and F) which cross the centre and connect the neighbouring communes. Candidates must learn to coexist with trams on many shared routes, respect tram-specific priority rules and anticipate rail crossings, especially given the large number of two-wheelers and cyclists on the metropolitan area.

The Pont de Pierre, an iconic bridge in Bordeaux, has been closed to private car traffic since summer 2018 and is reserved for buses, trams, taxis, bicycles and pedestrians. Drivers cross the Garonne mainly via the Chaban-Delmas, Saint-Jean, Aquitaine or Simone-Veil bridges. The N230 ring road is the main bypass and remains a frequent exercise for exam candidates, especially when moving between left and right banks.

The historic centre, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site under the name Port de la Lune, requires particular attention: narrow streets, many 30 km/h zones, pedestrianised quays of the Garonne, and a strong presence of pedestrians and cyclists. Solid control of lane positioning, blind spots and speed-braking dosage is essential to approach the exam calmly.

The average waiting time observed in department 33 for the practical Motorcycle License exam is around 63 days (national average). The Prefecture of Bordeaux coordinates session scheduling via the licence-and-road-safety inspectors.

In parallel, the highway code theoretical test (ETG) can be taken with several state-approved operators. La Poste, one of the most widespread, offers an official search tool allowing candidates to book a session close to home.

The 1st-attempt B licence pass rate is 63.8% in department 33 according to data published by the ONISR. This rate is higher than the national average of 58.0%, a favourable indicator for preparation conditions in the department. For the Motorcycle License, the actual result also depends on the training plan and the assigned exam centre.

The Motorcycle License in Bordeaux means mastering plateau manoeuvres, circulation training in real conditions and specific equipment (approved helmet, CE-certified gloves, high-visibility gear). Two-wheelers are particularly exposed to blind spots, lane splitting rules and interactions with heavy vehicles. In this context, the Low Emission Zone active since 2025 (Véhicules non classés (immatriculés avant le 1er janvier 1997) interdits) applies equally to two-wheelers: a Crit'Air certificate is mandatory, and access restrictions must be anticipated when choosing an itinerary. Our partner schools tailor training to the traffic density observed in the department 33.