Category A unrestricted Switzerland: From A35 to the full motorcycle license
A unrestricted is the Swiss driving license without power restriction — for the most powerful motorcycles with no limit on kW or kW/kg. Here you'll find the requirements, the A35 upgrade, learner's permit, test vehicle, transitional rules and the driving lessons that get you safely to the test.
- Locations Zürich, Winterthur, Rapperswil, Zug, Luzern
- Bookable online & flexible dates
- Own motorcycle or school motorcycle possible
A unrestricted explained in 30 seconds
The key facts about the Swiss motorcycle Category A without power restriction — compact and easy to scan.
Power
No upper power limit. Motorcycles with more than 35 kW or more than 0.2 kW/kg are allowed.
Standard path
At least 2 years of A35 with a clean driving record → A unrestricted learner's permit → practical test.
Direct entry
Since OPERA-3 only for professional exceptions (motorcycle mechanic EFZ, police training, traffic examiners).
Learner's permit
Valid for 12 months. Riding without a supervising driver is permitted.
Test motorcycle
Motorcycle without sidecar, > 35 kW or > 0.2 kW/kg, 2 seats.
Practical test
As of the current standard, at least 60 minutes, of which at least 45 minutes in public road traffic.
Basic course
Generally no second basic course needed — the A35 basic course counts for the A category.
Want to upgrade from A35 to A unrestricted?
Book a driving lesson with DriveLab and prepare specifically for the more powerful motorcycle and the test — at our locations in Zürich, Winterthur, Rapperswil, Zug and Luzern.
Is there still a direct entry to A unrestricted?
In short: no longer for the broad majority of riders. The few exceptions are narrowly defined.
With the revision of the driving license rules OPERA-3 (in force since 1 January 2021), the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) has largely abolished the classic direct entry into Category A without power restriction. The Federal Roads Office wrote on this:
«In future, direct entry into the more powerful motorcycle categories will only be possible for persons who are professionally dependent on operating such motorcycles, such as motorcycle mechanic apprentices, police officers or traffic examiners.»
The direct-entry exceptions are regulated in Art. 15 para. 2 VZV and apply to narrowly defined groups of persons:
- Trainees in the basic vocational training as motorcycle mechanic EFZ, to the extent that operating the corresponding motorcycles is part of the training.
- Persons in initial or advanced police training who are trained on motorcycles.
- Traffic examiners in initial or advanced training.
For everyone else, today the only path to A unrestricted runs via Category A with power restriction (A35) and the subsequent two-year clean driving record.
Binding information on the applicability of the exceptions for your profession or training is provided by the cantonal Road Traffic Office of your canton of residence.
Requirements: From A35 to A unrestricted
The standard path to A unrestricted runs via Category A with power restriction (A35). These points must be met.
Category A driving license with power restriction
You have held the Category A driving license with power restriction (A35) for at least two years. The two years count from the date you passed the practical test — not from when the learner's permit was issued.
Clean driving record
During these two years you have demonstrated a clean driving record — that is, no incidents that, under Art. 8 para. 6 VZV, would block an upgrade.
Application for the A learner's permit
You apply to the cantonal Road Traffic Office of your canton of residence for the Category A unrestricted learner's permit. You bring along the other documents (proof of identity, vision test if required, photo).
Practical test
Within the 12-month validity of the learner's permit, you take the practical test on a suitable motorcycle — more powerful than A35, two seats.
No second basic course needed
As a rule, the Road Traffic Office does not require another practical basic training — the twelve-hour motorcycle basic training from the initial A35 training counts.
Insurance & registration
Make sure the motorcycle is properly registered and insured. The Road Traffic Office inspects the test vehicle against the vehicle registration document before the test.
Binding information on the recognition of earlier basic courses, on the calculation of the two-year period and on cantonal particularities is provided by the cantonal Road Traffic Office of your canton of residence.
A unrestricted generally requires A35 — you'll find the requirements for A35 on our A35 page.
What does «two years of clean driving record» mean?
«Clean» is not «flawless» — but it isn't arbitrary either. This condition is the most common stumbling block on the upgrade path.
For the two-year period to count as «clean», the following — in principle — applies:
- The two years count from the date you passed the practical A35 test and held a valid driving license — not from when the learner's permit was issued.
- Learner trips do not count as driving experience.
- «Clean» is based on Art. 8 para. 6 VZV: no incidents that prevent an upgrade (e.g. serious traffic offenses, measures or driving-license suspensions during the relevant period).
- Whether a specific incident blocks the upgrade is decided in the individual case by the Road Traffic Office — not by the driving school.
This also means: anyone who has held the A35 license for two years but, during that time, received a license suspension or other measure due to a serious incident may lose the upgrade period — or have to start it again.
Practical checklist before applying
- Know the date you passed the A35 test.
- Make sure no open measure is blocking the upgrade.
- When in doubt, contact the Road Traffic Office in advance — not only after booking the test date.
- Have your vision test and administrative documents ready.
The assessment is made by the cantonal Road Traffic Office of your canton of residence; the VZV in its currently applicable version is decisive.
May I ride alone with the A unrestricted learner's permit?
In short: yes. As with A1 and A35, the same applies here: learner trips without a supervising driver are permitted.
The Category A learner's permit entitles you to learner trips without a supervising driver. So on the A unrestricted learner's permit you don't have to take an experienced rider with you. The condition is that your learner's permit has been issued correctly and that all other requirements are met (valid A35 driving license as prior holding, motorcycle properly registered and insured).
What «being allowed to ride alone» does not mean:
- That the first ride on a significantly more powerful motorcycle without any preparation is a good idea.
- That the test passes itself just because you already ride A35.
- That a professional driving lesson is unnecessary.
Particularly the step-up effects — significantly more torque, shorter braking distances, higher speeds, unfamiliar lean angles — are real when moving from A35 to an open machine. Anyone who takes the time to learn here benefits for a long time.
Riding alone with the learner's permit — but not without a plan
With the A learner's permit you may ride alone. For A unrestricted, a professional driving lesson is still worthwhile — especially for cornering technique, braking and test confidence.
Which motorcycle do I need for the A unrestricted test?
The test motorcycle is clearly defined. Annex 12 of the VZV sets the technical requirements — and the Road Traffic Office checks them before the test.
For the practical Category A unrestricted test, you need a motorcycle without a sidecar that meets at least one of the following conditions:
«Power of more than 35 kW or a power-to-unladen-weight ratio of more than 0.2 kW/kg, and with two seats.»
This makes one thing clear: an A35 motorcycle is not sufficient for the A unrestricted test — the machine must lie «beyond the A35 line». That applies both to raw power and to the power-to-weight ratio.
| Requirement | Suitable for A unrestricted? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle without sidecar | Mandatory | Sidecar combinations are regulated separately and are not approved as Category A test vehicles. |
| Power > 35 kW | One of the two conditions | Suffices on its own if the machine is above this threshold. |
| Ratio > 0.2 kW/kg | One of the two conditions | Even a lighter machine can qualify with a high power-to-weight ratio. |
| Two seats | Mandatory | Single-seat machines are excluded as test vehicles. |
| A35 motorcycle (≤ 35 kW & ≤ 0.2 kW/kg) | Not approved | Lies below the threshold for the open category. |
| A1 motorcycle (≤ 125 cm³ / 11 kW) | Not approved | Clearly too little power — only suitable for A1 tests. |
Decisive is always the entry in the vehicle registration document and the VZV (in particular Annex 12) in its currently applicable version. Bring the vehicle registration document to the test.
Why a driving lesson before the A unrestricted test makes sense
A unrestricted is not just A35 with more power. The test, the more powerful motorcycle and the higher speeds demand clean vision technique, cornering technique, braking and traffic strategy.
Vision technique & cornering line
On a more powerful motorcycle, a mistake in the cornering line becomes noticeable and visible more quickly. Conscious eye direction is best trained in a 1:1 setting.
Emergency braking
More power means higher top speed — and therefore significantly shorter reaction windows. Practice emergency braking deliberately, instead of hoping.
Maneuvers & turning
Heavier machines are less forgiving — slow turning, U-turns and tight maneuvers can be made cleaner with targeted practice.
Traffic strategy
City, country roads, motorway — the test route covers various traffic situations. A guided ride shows what the examiner pays attention to.
Breaking in your own motorcycle
Anyone taking the test on their own newly acquired machine benefits especially from a lesson beforehand — seating position, brake point, shifting behavior.
Test confidence
One last targeted lesson before the test builds confidence, smooths out the last rough spots and increases the chance of a calm test.
How to book your A unrestricted driving lesson
Book online, note «Category A unrestricted» in the comment field and whether you need your own motorcycle or a school motorcycle. Meeting point and focus of the lesson we'll clarify after the booking.
Transitional rules: A35 obtained before 2021
Anyone who obtained the Category A driving license with power restriction before 1 January 2021 may, under certain circumstances, upgrade to A unrestricted under different conditions.
The OPERA-3 revision came into force on 1 January 2021 and changed in particular the provisions on the upgrade into Category A unrestricted. For persons who obtained their Category A driving license with power restriction before 1 January 2021 (or whose practical A35 test was taken no later than 30 June 2021), a transitional rule may apply:
- After two years of a clean driving record, a test-free upgrade may be possible under certain circumstances — that means: no second practical test date.
- Anyone who obtained A35 after 1 January 2021 falls under the new regime: two years of a clean driving record + practical A unrestricted test.
- Whether your specific situation falls under the transitional rule depends on the exact date of acquisition and your individual file.
Have your individual case checked directly
The transitional rule only applies under narrowly defined conditions. Anyone falling into this window should obtain the assessment directly from the Road Traffic Office of their canton of residence — not only in forums or via third parties. Only the cantonal decisions are binding.
Note: the description of the transitional rule does not replace legally binding information. Decisive are the Ordinance on the Admission of Persons and Vehicles to Road Traffic (VZV) in its currently applicable version as well as the decisions of the cantonal Road Traffic Office.
A1, A35 and A unrestricted compared
The three Swiss motorcycle categories in direct comparison — so you can see at a glance where you stand, what lies behind you and what comes next.
Entry
Scooters and motorcycles up to 125 cm³ / 11 kW. From age 16 (in the 125er variant).
Standard entry «full motorcycle»
Motorcycles up to 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg. From age 18.
Unrestricted
Motorcycles without power restriction. Generally after 2 years of A35 with a clean driving record. This page.
| Category | Minimum age | Power | Basic course | Test | Typical vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 16 (125er variant) | up to 11 kW | Practical motorcycle basic training | Yes (exceptions for B license holders) | 125 cc scooter, 125 cc motorcycle |
| A 35 kW (A restricted) | 18 | up to 35 kW & max. 0.2 kW/kg | Practical motorcycle basic training — not on an A1 vehicle | Yes, with an A35 motorcycle | Mid-range, often naked bike |
| A unrestricted | generally from about age 20 (via the A35 path) | no power restriction | Generally no second basic training | Yes, with a motorcycle > 35 kW or > 0.2 kW/kg | Large touring motorcycles, sport machines |
Decision tree: Which motorcycle category do I need?
- You're 16 or 17 and want to ride a motorcycle? → A1 (125 cc variant).
- You're 18+ and want to go straight to a «real» motorcycle? → A 35 kW is the standard entry.
- You've held A35 for two years and want full power? → A unrestricted (this page).
- You're professionally dependent on operating powerful motorcycles (motorcycle mechanic EFZ, police training, traffic examiner)? → Have the direct-entry exception checked.
- You're unsure what fits you? → Book a driving lesson, talk to a DriveLab driving instructor, then the plan falls into place.
→ Category A1 (scooter / 125 cc) · → Category A 35 kW · → Motorcycle basic course · → Book a driving lesson
Driving lessons and basic courses at our locations
DriveLab offers motorcycle driving lessons and motorcycle basic courses at five locations in German-speaking Switzerland — including targeted A unrestricted test preparation.
Zürich
A unrestricted driving lessons in Zürich — close to the city, with trained motorcycle driving instructors and the option of coming on your own motorcycle.
Winterthur
A unrestricted driving lessons in Winterthur with a dedicated city page and fixed series of dates for the basic course.
Rapperswil
Motorcycle driving lessons and basic course in the Rapperswil area — dates on the basic course overview.
Zug
Motorcycle driving lessons and basic course in Zug — dates bookable via the central basic course overview.
Luzern
Motorcycle driving lessons and basic course in Luzern — dates bookable via the central basic course overview.
Driving lessons everywhere
A unrestricted driving lessons can be booked individually at all locations — we'll clarify the meeting point after the booking.
Frequently asked questions about Category A unrestricted
What am I allowed to ride with Category A unrestricted?
Is there still a direct entry into Category A unrestricted?
How do I move from A35 to A unrestricted?
What does «two years of clean driving record» mean?
May I ride alone with the A unrestricted learner's permit?
How long is the A unrestricted learner's permit valid?
Which motorcycle do I need for the A unrestricted test?
I obtained A35 before 2021 — do I have to take another test?
How long does the A unrestricted practical test take?
Do I need another motorcycle basic course for A unrestricted?
What is the earliest I can obtain Category A unrestricted?
Is a driving lesson before the A unrestricted test worthwhile?
Where does DriveLab offer A unrestricted driving lessons?
What should I write in the comment field when booking?
Ready for A unrestricted?
Book a motorcycle driving lesson online in Zürich, Winterthur, Rapperswil, Zug or Luzern and note in the comment that you're going for Category A unrestricted — we'll prepare you specifically for the more powerful motorcycle and the test.
Legal basis: Ordinance on the Admission of Persons and Vehicles to Road Traffic (VZV, SR 741.51) in conjunction with the OPERA-3 revision of the driving license rules (in force since 01.01.2021) and the ASTRA directive on obtaining the motorcycle categories. Binding information on the upgrade in your individual case is provided by the cantonal Road Traffic Office of your canton of residence.
Last review of this page: 2026-05-17.