Guide · 2026
Motorcycle, scooter and e-scooter licence in Switzerland: the 2026 guide
Switzerland has its own system of categories for two-wheelers — different from the EU's, and often poorly explained. E-scooters capped at 20 km/h, category M from age 14, A1 for 125s, restricted A at 35 kW as a mandatory step towards big-displacement bikes: here are the rules as set out in the official texts (VTS/OETV, VZV/OAC, FEDRO), together with the matching Chinese-designed models for each category. Indicative and carefully verified — but in case of doubt, the information on admin.ch prevails.
E-scooter: 20 km/h and precise rules
Under Swiss law, the e-scooter is a "light moped" (Art. 18 let. b OETV): a maximum speed of 20 km/h in purely electric mode and a motor limited to 500 W. Models sold legally in Switzerland — Xiaomi "CH-Edition", the Segway-Ninebot "D" series, NIU KQi — are capped at 20 km/h, unlike the 25 km/h European versions, which are not road-legal in Switzerland.
Age and licence: from age 16, no licence is required; between 14 and 16, a category M licence is required (source: FEDRO list of regulations, astra.admin.ch, and the city of Geneva, geneve.ch). Neither a licence plate nor a registration certificate is required, and a helmet is not mandatory — but is strongly recommended.
Where to ride: the same rules as bicycles (Art. 42 para. 4 VRV/OCR) — a cycle path is mandatory where one exists (Art. 33 para. 1 SSV/OSR), otherwise the roadway, never the pavement. Required equipment: two independent brakes, a bell, fixed white lighting at the front and red at the rear, reflectors.
Category M: entering the scene from age 14
The category M licence (mopeds) can be obtained from age 14 with a theory exam. It covers classic mopeds: 30 km/h in purely motor-driven mode, 45 km/h with pedal assistance, motor power up to 1000 W (Art. 18 let. a OETV).
It's also the category covering the urban electric scooters capped at 25 km/h sold by Yadea or Ecooter: between 14 and 16, a category M licence is required; from age 16, these "moped-class" machines are ridden according to the rules applicable to their sub-category — check the exact type approval of the model with the seller, as it determines the applicable regime.
Category A1: the key to 125s and electric scooters
The category A1 licence can be obtained from age 16 and authorises motorcycles and scooters up to 125 cc and 11 kW. Since the reform that took effect in 2021, the mandatory basic practical training has increased to 12 hours (source: BPA/bfu.ch and Swiss driving schools).
This is the leading category of the Chinese market: the Zontes 125 GK (CHF 3,990), QJ Motor SRT 125 DX (CHF 3,990) and Kove NK 125R (CHF 3,990) fall into it on the combustion side. On the electric side, NIU's 45–100 km/h scooters (NQiX 150 from CHF 3,290) and Vmoto's Super Soco models also belong to this category — the importer states the exact category on each product sheet.
Restricted category A (35 kW), then category A: the motorcycle track
From age 18, the restricted category A licence authorises motorcycles up to 35 kW with a power-to-weight ratio of at most 0.20 kW/kg. This tier, aligned with the European A2 category since 2021, has become a mandatory step: direct access to the unrestricted category A licence (formerly possible from age 25) was abolished on 1 January 2021.
The unrestricted category A licence is obtained after 2 years of clean riding practice in the restricted category A. Good news for the budget: the Chinese line-up covers exactly this segment — the CFMoto 450NK (34.5 kW, CHF 5,290), Zontes 350 R (29 kW, CHF 5,390), Kove 450 Rally (31 kW, CHF 8,990) or the Voge 625R in its 35 kW version (CHF 6,690) for restricted category A; the CFMoto 800MT and 1000MT-X, Voge 900DSX, Zontes 703 RR or QJ SRK 800 RR for the full category A licence.
Customs: Switzerland's advantage on Chinese two-wheelers
Since 1 January 2024, Switzerland has abolished all industrial customs duties — the measure covers chapters 25 to 97 of the customs tariff, including chapter 87 (vehicles, including motorcycles and scooters) (source: FOCBS, bazg.admin.ch, and SECO). A two-wheeler manufactured in China therefore incurs only Swiss VAT of 8.1% on import.
This contrasts with the European Union, which has applied anti-dumping duties of 10.3% to 70.1% and countervailing duties of 3.9% to 17.2% on electric bicycles manufactured in China since 2019, extended in January 2025 for a further five years (source: European Commission, policy.trade.ec.europa.eu). Chinese motorcycles and e-scooters are not covered by this measure — but the EU-China trade climate remains volatile, whereas Swiss policy is stable and duty-free.
Which Chinese two-wheeler for which licence: the dashboard
No licence needed (from age 16): 20 km/h e-scooters — Xiaomi E-Scooter 6 from CHF 399, Segway-Ninebot F3 D, NIU KQi3 (price on request). Between 14 and 16: the same models with a category M licence.
Category A1 licence (from age 16): combustion 125s from CHF 3,990 (Zontes, QJ Motor, Kove) and electric scooters from NIU from CHF 3,290, Ecooter from CHF 3,350.
Restricted category A licence (from age 18): CFMoto 450NK, Zontes 350 R/GK, Kove 450 Rally and 500X, Voge 625R and SR4 Max 350. Category A licence: CFMoto 675SR-R up to 1000MT-X, Voge 800/900, Zontes 703 RR, QJ Motor 700/800 — all priced between CHF 7,690 and CHF 9,990, whereas established competitors often exceed CHF 12,000.
Our comparison tool lists every model with its licence category, its Swiss price verified with the official importer, and a direct link to test-ride or buy it.