A2 licence in Portugal: what you can ride

The question almost always arrives the same way: I have an A2 licence, can I rent that big bike I saw on Instagram? The short answer is that it depends on two numbers, the power in kilowatts and the weight of the bike, and not on engine size, which is what most people look at first. This guide explains the rule as the IMT describes it, shows what fits inside it and what doesn't, and translates it all into motorcycles and scooters you can actually rent in Lisbon.

In short:

• The A2 licence allows motorcycles up to 35 kW, with a power-to-weight ratio below 0.2 kW/kg.
• To get the A2 you must be 18 or older, and enrolling in a driving school is mandatory.
• With 2 years of A2 and at age 20, you can move up to category A without a theory test.
• In Sobreda, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (32 kW) costs €73.40 per day in October 2026.
• You book with 30% of the price, and the rental includes 400 km per day.

What the A2 category rule says

The IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes, Portugal's mobility and transport authority) describes category A2 in an official answer to frequently asked questions: motorcycles with a power output of no more than 35 kW, a power-to-weight ratio below 0.2 kW/kg, and not derived from a version with more than double their maximum power. That makes three conditions, and all three must be met at the same time. If you want to read the original text, you can check the IMT answer on moving from A2 to category A, which repeats the definition.

Notice what isn't on the list: engine size. A 650 cc bike can be A2 if it is restricted or designed for it, and a 400 cc bike can fail the rule if it is very light and very strong. What counts is how much power there is for every kilo.

How to work out the 0.2 kW/kg

You divide the maximum power, in kW, by the weight of the bike. For a 161 kg bike, the 0.2 kW/kg limit gives 32.2 kW. The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 has 32 kW and, according to the listing on the site, 161 kg ready to ride. The division gives 0.199, in other words just barely under the limit. This is my own calculation, made with the data the listing publishes, and not a legal opinion, but it illustrates well how the rule works: more weight gives more margin, less weight tightens the squeeze.

The third criterion, the double-power one, exists to stop a 100 kW bike from simply being choked down to 35 kW and sold as an A2. If the original version has more than double, meaning more than 70 kW, the bike is out, even with a restrictor. In practice, anyone buying or renting an A2 bike should ask for confirmation that it is registered as such, and not rely only on the horsepower figure in the ad.

Who can get the A2 and how to move up to category A

According to the IMT, the general requirements for licences A, A1 and A2 are: physical and mental fitness, residing in Portugal, not serving a driving ban or disqualification, and passing the exams. For the A2, the minimum age is 18. The A1, the 125 cc one, starts at 16 with written authorisation from whoever holds parental responsibility. Category A requires being 24, or 20 if you already have 2 years of holding category A2.

In terms of official costs, the IMT lists four fees paid through the driving school: €15 for the learner's licence, €15 for the theory test, €30 for the practical test and €30 for issuing the licence. The big part of the bill is the school, and that isn't fixed. For the total investment, see the breakdown of how much it costs to get a motorcycle licence in Portugal in 2026.

The progression has a shortcut that many people don't know about. With the A2, at 20 or 24, and provided you have 2 years of holding that category (not counting any time under a driving ban or disqualification), you can apply for category A with the theory test waived, under the self-proposal (autopropositura) scheme. This means the classic route, A2 first and A afterwards, saves you the theory exam at the second stage. The IMT page on motorcycle driving licences gathers the requirements, the documents for enrolment and the fees.

Which motorcycles and scooters you can rent with the A2 in Lisbon

Here comes the practical part. In the RENT.MOTO.PT catalogue, each listing states the licence category required. In October 2026, three models list "category A or A2". The rest require category A, or else A1 (or a B licence, if the rider is 25) in the case of the 125s. So if you hold an A2, you have three main candidates, with very different personalities. You can browse A2 licence motorcycles and other categories on the bikes page, and A2 licence scooters on the scooters page.

Model	Power	Weight	Price per day (October 2026)	Deposit
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401	32 kW / 44 hp	161 kg	€73.40	€600
Honda ADV 350	28.8 bhp	186 kg	€79.84	€800
BMW C 400 X	35 bhp	204 kg	€72.45	€900

Husqvarna Svartpilen 401: the naked bike with character

It is the most "motorcycle" of the three. It has 373 cc, a 6-speed gearbox, an 835 mm seat and a 9.5-litre tank that gives a range of around 250 km. The listing itself warns that the seat is taller than it looks and that the range is short. At 161 kg it is light, and that lightness is what makes it fun on the Estrada da Arrábida or in the mountain bends, but it is also what puts it at the edge of the power-to-weight ratio.

For anyone coming from a 125 and wanting to feel the difference, it is the most obvious step up: 44 hp against the 15 hp of a Yamaha MT-125, which costs €59.51 per day, but which also only requires A1. If you have an A2 and still feel unsure on open roads, you can start with the 125 and move up later, without wasting the day.

Honda ADV 350: the scooter that looks like an adventure bike

The ADV 350 has 330 cc and 28.8 bhp, which equals about 21 kW, well below the 35 kW ceiling. It weighs 186 kg, has ABS and is automatic. For someone with an A2 who wants to ride 80 or 100 km a day between city and road, with luggage and a passenger, it is probably the most comfortable choice in the catalogue. It costs €79.84 per day, with an €800 deposit.

The comparison with the Svartpilen is an honest one: the ADV 350 is slower and heavier, but much less tiring. After 300 km, you notice the difference.

BMW C 400 X: the urban middle ground

The C 400 X has 350 cc, 35 bhp and 204 kg, with ABS and automatic stability control, USB port included. It is the cheapest of the three per day, at €72.45, but the deposit is the highest, €900. Think of it as the scooter for someone who rides around Lisbon every day and occasionally leaves the city, and the listing confirms that vocation: it is big, stable and protected from the wind.

What the A2 doesn't let you rent

It pays to be clear here, because this is where disappointment at the counter comes from. The Honda NC750X (43 kW, €100.43 per day), the Kawasaki Vulcan SE Tourer (44.7 kW, €95.79) and the KTM SMC 690 R (50 kW, €95.80) all require category A according to the listing. The Honda Transalp 750 has 67.5 kW, almost double the A2 limit, and also requires A, at €110.35 per day. Prices vary with the season and it is always the listing of each model that counts.

There is another rule that doesn't depend on the licence: the rental requires "adequate motorcycle riding experience". Having the paper is no substitute for riding. If you got your A2 two weeks ago and have never left the driving school, the Svartpilen on the road with a crosswind can be more demanding than it looks.

And what about the B licence, does it work?

For the 125s, the listing on the site asks for "category A1, or B if the rider is 25". This applies to the Yamaha MT-125, the Honda PCX 125 (€45.77 per day in October 2026) and the other 125s in the catalogue. The IMT, for its part, has a ruling on teaching subcategory A1 for B licence holders under 25. For the exact conditions for riding a 125 on a B licence, check the IMT page on motorcycles instead of relying on what you've been told.

Rental terms that matter if you have an A2

The terms are the same for all models. You book with 30% of the price, and the remainder is paid at pick-up. Each day includes 400 km, and every extra kilometre costs €0.35. The price includes 23% VAT, third-party liability insurance, roadside assistance, a rider's helmet and a padlock.

The deposit, which depends on the model (€600 on the Svartpilen), is not a payment. It is a pre-authorisation on your credit card, returned within 5 working days, and it only becomes a charge if there is damage, missing fuel, unpaid tolls or fines. Pick-up is at the shop in Sobreda, every day between 09:00 and 19:00. Delivery to your home or the airport is a paid service, charged separately.

A concrete example: three days with the Svartpilen in October 2026 cost €220.20 (3 x €73.40), with 1,200 km included. There is no long-rental discount, so the daily price is the same on day 1 and on day 7. For anyone who wants to test before buying an A2 bike, it is a cheap way to find out whether the bike suits you.

Which one to choose, in practice

If you ride solo, like bends and want to feel the bike, the Svartpilen 401. If you cover distance, carry luggage or a passenger, or simply don't want to change gears, the ADV 350. If your day is mostly city with the odd weekend getaway, the C 400 X. The price difference between the three is small, €7.39 between the cheapest and the most expensive, so the decision is made by use and not by budget.

One criterion that helps: seat height. The Svartpilen's is 835 mm, which can be a problem for anyone under 1.70 m. If you have doubts, try sitting on a similar bike before booking.

Frequently asked questions

With an A2 licence, can I ride any 35 kW motorcycle?

Not necessarily. Besides the 35 kW limit, the bike must have less than 0.2 kW/kg and cannot be derived from a version with more than double that power, according to the IMT.

What is the minimum age for the A2 licence?

18 or older, according to the IMT. Category A1 starts at 16, and category A at 24, or at 20 with 2 years of A2.

Do I need to take a theory exam to move from A2 to A?

No, if you are 20 or 24 and have 2 years of holding category A2, the IMT provides for the theory test to be waived under the self-proposal scheme. The practical test is still mandatory.

What do I need to bring to pick up the bike?

The listings state an ID card or passport, the driving licence for the required category and a credit or debit card for the deposit hold. The terms and conditions specify that the deposit is processed on a physical credit card in the name of the contract holder, so bring that card and check the available limit before you arrive.