Costa de Almería

Changes affecting car and motorcycle licencing will be enforced from November Changes affecting car and motorcycle licencing will be enforced from November
THE Spanish Government has approved the creation of a new licence for motorbikes up to 500cc, the A2 licence, which will be available only to drivers over the age of 18.
To obtain the licence, which is half way between the A1 licence (for motorbikes up to 125cc) and the A licence (for motorbikes of more than 500cc) applicants will be required to pass two exams, one theoretical and one practical, although, if they already have an A1 licence, they will be able to obtain it be taking an aptitude and behaviour test.
If a driver is over 20 years old and has had an A1 licence for more than two years, the new A2 licence can be obtained automatically.
Once in possession of this licence, if a driver wants to obtain the A licence for high cylinder-capacity motorbikes, he or she has to be over 20 years old and have had the A2 licence for over two years, as well as participating in a training course.
The initial licence for motorcycles has changed and will now be known as AM, as of 2010.
 It will be available only to applicants over 15 years old.
Car driving licences have also been changed to adapt to European standards and will all be valid for 10 years, until the age of 65, and five years for anyone above that age.
Most of these changes will begin to be enforced in November this year.