Motorcycle License in Lyon

Listed as a French metropolis of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Lyon (department 69, 519,127 inhabitants) attracts new Motorcycle License candidates every year, especially since the B licence stopped granting motorcycle access. Going through an approved Qualiopi school remains the only legal way to reach the A1, A2 or A category.

For the Motorcycle License, the plateau exam in Lyon features three standard workshops: slow-speed run (cone passing, U-turn), fast-speed run (slalom, avoidance, emergency braking) and technical checks. Exam centres designated by the prefecture of department 69 apply an official scale shared across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

For apprentices in department 69, the 500-euro grant can ease the cost of the Motorcycle License in Lyon. Combinable with the 1-euro-a-day licence and the CPF, this France Travail scheme targets young people in apprenticeship contracts. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region can add complementary bursaries.

Several approved operators (La Poste, SGS, Objectif Code, Pointcode, Dekra, among others) run the highway code (ETG) sessions since the 2016 liberalisation. Candidates in department 69 can in particular search for a La Poste session in Saint-Priest, Vénissieux, Dardilly, Rillieux-la-Pape, Givors and Villefranche-sur-Saône.

For riding hours of the Motorcycle License in Lyon, choosing morning slots helps avoid the dense end-of-day traffic in department 69. Instructors however adapt the route to real conditions to prepare the candidate for circulation-exam situations in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

ONISR public data for 69: 1st-attempt Class B licence pass rate at 56.3% (departmental data), average practical exam wait of 63 days (national average). In Lyon, the Motorcycle License is prepared with these figures in mind, knowing the national reference is 58.0%. Department 69 hosts 6 attached exam centres. Note: Lyon is part of the communes with a Low Emission Zone active since 2020 (Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles banned, Crit'Air 2 restriction planned in 2026 (regime subject to the abolition law voted in April 2026)), to be anticipated when choosing the training vehicle and for later use.

The Motorcycle License in Lyon 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 2020 (Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles banned, Crit'Air 2 restriction planned in 2026 (regime subject to the abolition law voted in April 2026)) 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 69.

In Lyon, motorbikes are a very practical alternative to avoid recurring jams in the Fourviere tunnel, A6/A7 and bridges. The LEZ does not ban Critair 2 and newer motorbikes (Euro 3 and newer bikes), making them particularly suitable. Lyon bikers find rich terrain: Beaujolais roads, Monts d'Or, Pilat, rides to the Vercors and Chartreuse passes. Training, about 20 hours for 800 to 1,200 euros, integrates local specifics: frequent rains, slippery Lyon cobbles, severe slopes, coexistence with T1-T6 trams. Lane filtering is authorised in the Rhone (legalised trial).