It is one of the most frequently asked questions among commuters who are tired of traffic jams: can I ride a 125cc motorcycle or scooter with my standard car driving licence? The answer is: yes, subject to certain conditions — via the so-called code 372. However, there are persistent misunderstandings about who is entitled to this and what you are allowed to do with it.
In this article, we explain exactly how code 372 works, who is eligible, which restrictions apply and when a real A1 driving licence is the better choice.
Code 372 in a nutshell Anyone who has held a category B driving licence for at least 2 years and completes 4 hours of training at an approved driving school will receive code 372 on their driving licence, allowing them to ride a category A1 motorcycle: max. 125cc, max. 11 kW, power-to-weight ratio max. 0.1 kW/kg. The most important restriction: this only applies on Belgian territory. Exception: anyone who obtained their category B licence before 1 May 2011 is automatically allowed to ride an A1 motorcycle in Belgium — without training and without a code. |
Two situations: when can you ride a 125cc with a category B licence?
Situation | Conditions | What are you allowed to do? |
Category B licence obtained before 1 May 2011 | No extra conditions — automatic entitlement | Ride an A1 motorcycle, only in Belgium |
Category B licence obtained after 1 May 2011 | At least 2 years of category B licence + 4 hours of training at an approved driving school | Ride an A1 motorcycle with code 372, only in Belgium |
Please note: it is an authorisation, not an A1 driving licence Code 372 gives you the authorisation to ride an A1 motorcycle — it does not mean that you hold an A1 driving licence. The difference is legally important: outside Belgium, your authorisation is worthless. Anyone who wants to ride a 125cc in France, the Netherlands or on holiday needs a full A1 driving licence — including theory and practical exams. |
Which vehicles are you allowed to ride with code 372?
• Category A1 motorcycles and scooters: Max. 125cc cylinder capacity, max. 11 kW (15 hp), power-to-weight ratio max. 0.1 kW/kg
• Popular examples: Honda PCX 125, Yamaha NMAX 125, Vespa Primavera 125, Honda CB125R, Yamaha MT-125
• Not permitted: Motorcycles above 125cc or 11 kW — for these, you need an A2 or A driving licence, with the corresponding exams
The 4 hours of training: what do you learn and how much does it cost?
You complete the compulsory 4-hour training course at an approved driving school. There is no exam — after the training, you will receive a certificate which you can use to have code 372 registered.
Part | Content |
Practical basic skills | Balance, braking, cornering, slow manoeuvres on a closed site |
Traffic insight for two-wheelers | Position on the road, visibility, blind spot, anticipation |
Cost | Average 200-400 euros; some driving schools offer all-in packages including motorcycle, clothing and insurance |
Exam | None — certificate after completing the training |
Registration | Code 372 is added to your driving licence at the local town hall |
Don't forget the compulsory equipment Motorcycle rules also apply to code 372: helmet (ECE-approved), motorcycle gloves, jacket with long sleeves, long trousers and boots that protect the ankles are legally required — even on a 125cc scooter for commuting. Expect to pay 400-800 euros for a decent set. Riding without the compulsory equipment is an offence. |
Code 372 or a real A1 driving licence?
Criterion | Code 372 | Driving licence A1 |
Condition | 2 years category B licence + 4h training | Theory exam + 9h driving lessons + practical exam |
Cost | 200-300 euros (training) | approx. 580-790 euros (complete route) |
Exams | None | Theory and practical exam |
Valid abroad | No — Belgium only | Yes — all of Europe |
Step up to A2/A | No — does not count as motorcycle experience for the progressive route | Yes — after 2 years of A1, progress to A2 without a new theory exam |
Riding skills | 4 hours basic training | Full training + exam |
• Choose code 372 if: you only ride in Belgium, mainly commuting with a scooter, and you have no ambition to progress to heavier motorcycles.
• Choose an A1 driving licence if: you also want to ride abroad, you eventually want to progress to A2 or A via the progressive route (without new theory exams), or you want more thorough training for your own safety.
The hidden cost of code 372: no stepping stone to A2 Anyone who rides a 125cc via code 372 for years and then wants to progress to a heavier motorcycle has to start from scratch: theory exam, 9 hours of driving lessons and practical exam for A2. The years with code 372 do not count towards the progressive route. Anyone who eventually wants a real motorcycle is often better off getting the A1 licence right away — after 2 years, this opens the door to A2 with only 4 hours of lessons and without a new theory exam. |
Going for the real A1 driving licence anyway? Start with the theory Do you choose the full A1 driving licence — valid throughout Europe and the stepping stone to A2 and A? Then your journey begins with the theory exam. RAPP contains the complete motorcycle theory at GOCA exam level: motorcycle-specific practice questions, mock exams at 15 seconds per question, correct 5-point system for major offences and automatic error analysis. Start for free, 9.99 for 14 days of full access. No subscription. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I ride a 125cc motorcycle in Belgium with my category B driving licence? Yes, subject to conditions. If you obtained your category B licence before 1 May 2011: automatically, without training. If you obtained it later: at least 2 years of holding a category B licence plus a 4-hour training course at an approved driving school, after which code 372 is added to your driving licence. In both cases: only on Belgian territory. |
What is code 372 on the driving licence? Code 372 is an endorsement on your Belgian category B driving licence indicating that you are allowed to ride a category A1 motorcycle (max. 125cc, 11 kW) on Belgian territory. You receive the code after completing 4 hours of training at an approved driving school, provided you have held a category B licence for at least 2 years. |
Do I have to take an exam for code 372? No. The 4-hour training course does not have an exam — after completing it, you will receive a certificate with which you can have code 372 registered at the local town hall. This is the main difference from the A1 driving licence, for which you must take a theory and practical exam. |
Am I allowed to ride abroad with code 372? No. Code 372 is a Belgian authorisation and only applies on Belgian territory. If you want to ride a 125cc in France, the Netherlands or elsewhere, you need a full A1 driving licence — including a theory and practical exam. |
How much does the training for code 372 cost? An average of 200 to 400 euros for the compulsory 4 hours of training at an approved driving school; some driving schools offer all-in packages including motorcycle, clothing and insurance, plus the administrative cost to have your driving licence updated at the town hall (approx. 25-30 euros). Don't forget the compulsory safety equipment: 400-800 euros for helmet, gloves, jacket, trousers and boots. |
Does code 372 count towards the progressive route to A2? No. The years you ride with code 372 do not count as A1 riding experience for the progressive route. If you want to progress to A2 or A later on, you start the full route: theory exam, 9 hours of driving lessons and practical exam. Anyone with plans to progress is therefore better off getting the real A1 driving licence right away. |
Is there also a code for trikes? Yes: code 373. This allows you to ride trikes — up to 15 kW, and above 15 kW from the age of 21. Code 373 also requires training at an approved driving school and only applies on Belgian territory. Ask your driving school which code suits your vehicle. |
See also
• Getting a category A, A1 or A2 driving licence in Belgium: the complete step-by-step guide (2026)
• How much does a category A driving licence cost in Belgium? Full cost overview
• Practising category A driving licence theory: the best approach to pass first time
• Practice category A driving licence theory on rapp-app.com/rijbewijs-a-theorie
Written by Daan Van Isterdael, co-founder of RAPP. He built the platform that helps more than 10,000 Belgian candidates pass their driving licence test.