To obtain category A, you can choose between 2 routes depending on your existing driving licence in order to acquire the skills and knowledge required for safe motorcycle riding.

1. You already have category B (in 99.9% of cases). In this case, you will need to complete 3 theory lessons, at least 5 driving lessons, obtain a medical certificate corresponding to the category, and pass the driving school and CSDD theory and driving exams for category A.

2. You want to obtain category A from zero (in 0.01% of cases). In this case, you will need to attend the full course: 12 theory lessons, at least 10 driving lessons, complete a first aid course, obtain a medical certificate, and pass both the driving school and CSDD theory and driving exams.

To obtain category A driving licence, you must meet the following requirements:

• Your age must be at least 24 years.
• You must complete theory and practical training and successfully pass both the theory and driving exams at the driving school and CSDD.
• You must obtain a valid medical certificate for category A.
• You must complete a first aid course.

Category A can be obtained if you are at least 24 years old. However, training can be started 2 years earlier — from the age of 22.

Categories A, A1, A2 and AM differ by the type of motorcycle vehicle, power restrictions and age requirements for the motorcycle rider.

Category A courses consist of a theory part and a practical part.

Theory includes road traffic regulations, motorcycle control theory and road safety topics.

Practical training includes driving lessons that begin with learning manoeuvres in a closed training area, continue with riding in traffic and end with preparation for the driving exams.

Driving lessons can be started in parallel with the theory course, provided that a valid health check for category A has been completed.

Registration for driving school driving lessons takes place through the presto.lv website by logging into your student profile with your email address and password. To register for driving lessons, money must be deposited into the e-account for the electronic booking and payment of driving lessons.

The student freely chooses a driving instructor from the available list and goes to the training location indicated by the instructor before the lesson. Driving lessons are organised both in a training driving area and in traffic.

The scope of practical training will depend on your previous driving experience:

If you already have a category B driving licence, the practical training course consists of 5 legally required driving lessons (10 academic hours in total).

If you are learning category A from scratch, the mandatory practical training course consists of 10 legally required driving lessons (20 academic hours in total).

These amounts are set to ensure minimum preparation and skills according to your previous experience. To feel safe and confident on the road, additional lessons will be required. This is also indicated by driving lesson statistics.

Driving lessons account for 95% of the cost of obtaining a category A licence. The main factor is the number of lessons, not the price. With a highly qualified instructor, you will need fewer lessons. Your focus during training is also important.

If you already have a category B driving licence, you will most likely need fewer driving lessons. Statistics show that if you have no previous experience, you will need at least 5 more lessons than the 5 minimum lessons required by law.

Depending on the driving school’s infrastructure and service level, driving area costs may also apply in certain Latvian cities. However, overall, category A theory, first aid courses, the medical certificate and training area costs make up only a small part of the total cost of category A licence. You should expect to spend approximately EUR 600 in total.

Look for category A service prices in the Prices section of this page.

To obtain category A, in addition to passing the theory and driving exams, you also need a first aid course certificate and a valid medical certificate confirming that you are medically fit to ride a motorcycle.

After completing the category A theory course at the driving school, you must pass the driving school theory exam, which is taken through the driving school website section https://presto.lv/en/csdd-test-exam-online. The online category A theory exam consists of 30 questions, with 1 permitted mistake.

After completing the 5 mandatory driving lessons, you may register for and take the driving exam at the driving school. It takes place in the same way as the CSDD driving exam, in accordance with its requirements.

CSDD theory and driving exams are organised only at those CSDD regional centres that have a qualification department.

You can register for the CSDD theory and driving exam in person at a CSDD customer service centre, online on the e-CSDD website, or by phone at 67025791.

Before the CSDD theory and driving exam, you must present a valid identity document: a passport or ID card.

For category A, the state theory exam must be taken at CSDD. It consists of 30 questions and no more than 3 mistakes are allowed.

In addition, the state driving exam at CSDD must also be passed. It consists of 3 stages: a knowledge test on motorcycle technical issues, manoeuvres and riding in road traffic while complying with road traffic regulations and road safety requirements.

During category A practical training at the driving school, knee and elbow protectors, a helmet, vest and gloves are provided.

For the CSDD driving exam, you must provide full personal motorcycle equipment. You will need a helmet, protective clothing (for example, special trousers and a jacket with protectors), gloves, and suitable footwear that provides full foot protection. If you are not properly equipped with the required equipment, there is a risk that you will not be admitted to the driving exam. It is important to make sure that all your equipment meets safety requirements in order to ensure your own and others’ safety on the road.

To register for training, you must conclude a training agreement on the Presto website. First, choose the most suitable type of training for you — in-person theory lessons or video training. Then fill in the required information and make the payment, which will confirm the conclusion of the agreement.

Driving lessons are organised using the same type of motorcycles as those used in CSDD exams, to ensure that you are fully prepared and confident in your abilities for the state exam.

Category A theory training can be completed at any time of the year. The driving exam can be taken from 1 April to 1 October if weather conditions are favourable for the exam. CSDD may extend this period in good weather conditions.

Payment for services can be made in the student’s personal profile using a payment card or a connection to your bank account. Upon request, an invoice can be obtained from the administration and payment can be made by bank transfer to the driving school’s specified bank details. Cash payment is possible only at the central branch in Riga at the administration.

Category A video training is a form of training provided for in the regulations governing training, which allows 1 of the 3 theory lessons to be completed remotely. Training starts almost immediately, and you do not have to wait for a group to be formed. 2 of the 3 theory lessons will take place in person.

To watch the video recording, use the Theory section of the student profile on the website. The video lesson can be completed anywhere and at any time, adapting the training to your schedule. By choosing video training, you save the time that would otherwise be spent travelling to the driving school, reducing the costs related to category A training.

For the training to run smoothly, a stable internet connection is required. Presto Driving School offers video quality adapted to 3 different internet connection speeds — from 4 to 19 Mbit/s. This flexibility ensures that training materials are displayed without interruptions, adapting to your internet speed to provide you with a better experience and a more effective learning process.

The system checks your presence every 15 minutes. After the lesson, you must pass a knowledge test on what you have seen — 3 attempts are allowed. If these tests are not passed, the lesson must be watched again.

During the active season months, in-person theory lessons are offered even several times per month, depending on the location and demand. You can register for lessons at your chosen place and time through the student profile in the Theory section.

When choosing a specific in-person theory lesson, you can select the most suitable time and location from the available options and register for the lesson. Within 3 working days after registering for the lesson, you will receive a confirmation email confirming that the lesson has been registered with CSDD and that we are expecting you at the selected category A in-person theory lesson.

You can register for in-person theory lessons through your Presto profile, where the available times and locations will be shown.

The time required to obtain category A may vary. Theory lessons can be completed within a week, depending on the selected location and demand there. Since driving lessons can be started in parallel with the theory course, the desired category can be obtained within approximately one month on average.

Watch the video guide on how to do it in 2 weeks here.

To obtain category A from A2, the person must have at least two years of experience in category A2 and must retake the CSDD category A driving exam. This process can be completed without the involvement of a driving school, but before doing so it is necessary to contact CSDD to register for the exam and obtain all necessary information about its procedure.

Driving lessons can be started in parallel with the theory course, already after the first theory lesson. However, before starting driving lessons, it is important to make sure that you have a valid medical certificate for the relevant category; otherwise, you will not be admitted to the lessons.

After successfully passing the category A driving school theory exam, your data will be entered into the CSDD system within 5 working days. You will receive an informative confirmation email about this. After the data has been entered, you will be able to register for the state exam using the e-CSDD electronic registration system or by calling 67025791.

The CSDD category A test is a knowledge test before the driving school and state theory exam. It checks knowledge of road traffic regulations, road signs and safe riding principles for category A. The driving school offers its own version of the category A test, which helps prepare for both the driving school and CSDD exams. You can also practise on these driving school websites: https://presto.lv/en/driving-school-theory-test-exam https://presto.lv/en/csdd-test-exam-online The CSDD category A test is available on the CSDD website: https://csnt2.csdd.lv/

A category A driving licence is a document issued by CSDD (the state) confirming a person’s right to ride motorcycles without power restrictions both in Latvia and in other countries where a Latvian driving licence is recognised.

Motorcycle riding rights can be obtained depending on age. A category A driving licence can be obtained from the age of 24 and allows the holder to ride all motorcycles, including snowmobiles that are considered motorcycles.

A category A licence allows the holder to ride motorcycles of any power and engine capacity (i.e., without power restrictions). It can also be used to ride motorcycles, mopeds and three-wheeled vehicles if their power exceeds 15 kW.

The manoeuvres in the CSDD category A manoeuvre exam are as follows:

1. pushing into the clearance gate — the candidate must maintain balance while pushing the motorcycle backwards into the clearance gate from the marked starting position. The motorcycle must be placed on the stand. Then the motorcycle must be pushed out of the clearance gate back to the marked starting position;

2. figure eight — the candidate rides the figure at a steady speed while maintaining balance. When entering and exiting the figure, the candidate gives a turn signal with their hand;

3. snake — the candidate successively rides around the elements without skipping them, on the right and left sides, controlling the motorcycle and maintaining balance;

4. avoiding an obstacle without braking — the candidate rides in II or III gear at a speed of at least 50 km/h without braking, controls the motorcycle and maintains balance, leans the motorcycle to the left at the first figure element, rides around the second figure element and returns to the previous direction of travel without leaving the boundaries set for the figure;

5. avoiding an obstacle while braking — the candidate rides at a speed of at least 50 km/h, starts braking no earlier than 7 m before the first figure element, leans the motorcycle to the left at the first figure element, rides around the second figure element and returns to the previous direction of travel without leaving the boundaries set for the figure;

7. stop line — the candidate rides at a speed of at least 50 km/h, starts braking at the designated place and fully stops the motorcycle before the stop line. Speed is measured immediately before the stopping distance;

8. slalom — the candidate rides in II or III gear at a speed of at least 30 km/h, controls the motorcycle, maintains balance and, at a steady speed, successively rides around the remaining figure elements on the right and left sides without skipping any elements.

9. slow riding — without leaving the figure boundaries (between 2 straight lines 1 m wide), the candidate rides at minimum speed while simultaneously using the clutch and brakes. The entire length of the figure must be ridden in no less than 15 seconds. Timing begins when the front wheel axle crosses the start marking of the figure and stops when the front wheel axle crosses the end marking of the figure. When performing the figure, feet must not be removed from the footrests.

If the candidate fails to complete a figure on the 2nd attempt or by their actions creates a direct threat to road safety, the exam is not passed.

It should be noted that before the start of the exam, it is checked whether the candidate’s equipment meets safety requirements.

If the manoeuvres are completed successfully, the driving exam in traffic follows.

CSDD category A driving exam procedure in traffic:

Preparation — before the exam starts, the examiner explains the exam rules. You will be given a radio through which the examiner will provide instructions for manoeuvres.

Riding in the city — you must demonstrate the ability to ride safely in city traffic of varying intensity, complying with road traffic regulations, changing lanes correctly, making turns and following the flow of traffic. The examiner may include situations where you must demonstrate a reaction to obstacles, pedestrians or other unexpected circumstances.

Riding outside the city (if necessary) — the route may also include riding outside a built-up area, where speed adaptation and maintaining distance are assessed.

End of the exam and assessment — after the ride, the examiner will provide feedback and inform you of the result. If the exam is passed, you will be able to receive a category A driving licence.

Riding in road traffic lasts at least 25 minutes. The exam is passed if the candidate has a good or sufficient level of competence. After the exam, you will be able to receive a category A driving licence at CSDD.

With a category B driving licence, it is permitted to ride motorcycles with an engine capacity of up to 125 cm³ and power of up to 11 kW. This applies to small motorcycles, lighter motorcycles and mopeds (B1 category motorcycles).

It is not permitted to ride motorcycles with power exceeding 11 kW and engine capacity exceeding 125 cm³, or three-wheeled vehicles with power exceeding 15 kW.

By category A online theory training, we mean training that takes place live online, where an instructor teaches a class using tools such as Webex, Zoom, etc. This type of training is currently not permitted in Latvia. Instead, another form of distance learning is offered — video training. Presto Driving School offers the best distance learning products in Latvia.