Which licence do I need?
An automatic doesn't change which licence you need — that's set by the bike's power. But it does add one trap most people miss: the test you sit can quietly lock your licence to automatics for life. Here's the plain version for the UK & Ireland.
The categories (by power, not gearbox)
- AM / CBT — mopeds and twist-and-go up to 50cc / 28 mph. In Great Britain a CBT lets a learner ride up to 125cc with L-plates; many scooters here are automatic.
- A1 — up to 125cc and 11 kW (about 15 bhp). Minimum age 17.
- A2 — up to 35 kW (about 47 bhp), and not derived from a bike making more than double that. Minimum age 19. Plenty of bikes are sold "A2-restrictable", meaning a dealer fits a kit to bring them down to A2 power.
- A — full, unrestricted. Direct access from 24 (or 21 after two years on A2). Anything goes.
The automatic catch. If you take your practical test on a fully automatic or twist-and-go machine, your licence is restricted to automatics only — you'll need to test again on a geared bike to ride manuals. Crucially, in Great Britain a bike with Honda's DCT or a clutchless automated manual counts as automatic for the test, because there's no clutch lever. So passing on a DCT bike can leave you auto-only. If you might want a manual later, sit the test on a conventional clutch bike.
Ireland
The Republic of Ireland uses the same A1/A2/A power bands, with Initial Basic Training (IBT) required before you ride on the road and again before the full test. The automatic-restriction principle applies in the same spirit: test on an automatic and expect an automatic-only entitlement. Always check the current RSA guidance, as detail changes.
So is "auto-only" a problem?
For many riders, no. If you're certain you want clutchless riding for good — commuting, a scooter, an electric bike, a DCT tourer — an automatic-only licence is perfectly fine and the test is often easier. The restriction only bites if you later want a manual. Decide that before you book the test, not after.
This is a general summary, not legal advice, and rules differ between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and change over time. Confirm current requirements with DVSA (GB), DVA (NI) or the RSA (ROI) before booking.