Punishment and fine for riding a motorcycle without a license: law, requirements and rules

What are the fines for riding a motorcycle?

The order of fines and the category of punishment are determined by the type of offense. Depending on this, in addition to a monetary penalty, the motorcycle owner may be limited in his driving privileges for a certain period, and the vehicle may be confiscated and sent to a penalty area.

In some cases, a resolution can be drawn up remotely (for example, when speeding is exceeded and this fact is recorded by CCTV cameras). In this case, notification of the fine will be sent by mail. You can also check traffic police fines using your driver’s license on the official portal.

What a punishment

The Administrative Code provides only penalties for driving vehicles without the required category.

It is not true that the driver is completely deprived of his driving license.

Self-Responsibility

The fine for driving without a category ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles. (Part 1, Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

The punishment is assigned by the head of the territorial traffic police and he decides on a specific case what amount of the fine to determine.

If it was, say, only driving a car, then the amount of the punishment will be about 5,000 rubles.

When the culprit resisted the actions of the traffic police and, in addition, was intoxicated or committed a repeated violation, then the amount may be closer to 15,000 rubles.

Responsibility for the other driver

A separate penalty is provided for the owner of a vehicle who transfers a car/motorcycle to a driver without the required permit. The fine for the owner will be 30,000 rubles.
(Part 3 of Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). The driver himself will also be fined.

This article is unpopular, since it stipulates that the car owner must be clearly aware of the absence of a category. It is to know, and not to assume or guess. Considering that almost every adult has a license, it is understood that the person who is entrusted with the steering wheel has the right to drive the vehicle. The exception is the transfer of a truck or bus.

Additional measures

The matter is not limited to monetary recovery.

Traffic police officers suspend an incompetent driver from driving (Article 27.12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation), for which a special resolution is issued. And the transport is detained, driven by a tow truck to the impound lot (Article 27.13 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

The owner can pick up the car by paying the cost of towing and storage.

Before the tow truck starts moving, you can stop detaining the vehicle if the reasons are eliminated. As a rule, this is the timely appearance of the owner with his rights or another person who has a power of attorney for management and is included in the insurance (or insurance with an unlimited list).

For driving without category A

Driving a motorcycle can only be carried out with a valid driving license of category A, A1 or M, in accordance with the type of bike. For riding a motorcycle without a license, the offender will face a fine. The amount of the penalty depends on the seriousness of the offense.

If the driver simply does not have a driver’s license with him, the state traffic inspector will issue a decree in the amount of 500 rubles. Moreover, in some cases, the inspector may limit himself to a verbal warning. And if in a short time someone can deliver a driver’s license, they will be able to completely avoid punishment.

If you don’t have a driver’s license at all, the offender will face serious punishment. For driving without category A, a driver who has never formally studied the theory and practice of driving will be fined 5-15 thousand rubles. Fine in the amount of 30 thousand rubles. or a 15-day arrest awaits a motorcycle owner who, for some reason, was deprived of his driver’s license, but got back behind the wheel of a motorcycle.

Who can drive a motorcycle without a license?

Well, after listing all the violations and fines, it is worth considering cases when citizens can still drive a motorcycle without a driver’s license. There will be no violation only in cases where the motorcyclist is driving with a licensed instructor. For educational purposes, you can move around not only in specially designated areas, but also around the city.

For driving without license plates

Using a vehicle that is not equipped with a license plate is a serious offense, since in this case the vehicle cannot be identified. For riding a motorcycle without license plates, the offender is subject to a fine of 5 thousand rubles or a restriction of rights for a period of 1 to 3 months.

For unreadable (heavily dirty) or incorrectly assigned license plates, the owner of the bike will be fined 500 rubles or receive a warning.

Motorcyclists have the right to ride without license plates only for the first ten days after purchasing the vehicle. During this period, they must register and obtain license plates from the traffic police.

Classification of motor vehicles

To determine the category that may be required to drive specific vehicles, it is necessary to pay attention to the special classification.

Among the main types of motor vehicles are the following:

• Classic motorcycle. These are the ones that were produced on the territory of the Russian Federation and are purchased for personal use in everyday life;
• Tourers. These are types of motorcycles that are ideal for tourism and travel. This includes any technique that is convenient enough for the specified purpose;
• Sportbike. The name speaks for itself. However, sportbikes are also designed for riding on regular roads. For participation in professional racing or motorcycle shows, they are significantly modified to suit the requirements of a specific situation;
• Motor scooters or scooters. This is a subspecies of vehicles that also require obtaining rights, but of a completely separate type. They belong to light types of motor vehicles, and therefore certain requirements are put forward to be able to control them;
• Choppers. This includes classic-style vehicles that have been modified in a special way. However, at the core these are classic motorcycles.

There are other subcategories of motorcycles, but they can be included in those listed. However, for the division by type of permit to drive motorcycles, the previous classification has no practical significance.

To do this, you can divide the technique as follows:

• lungs. Engine capacity is expected to be up to 125 cc, power up to 11 kW;
• two-wheelers with or without a trailer, or four-wheelers weighing up to 400 kg. in equipped form.

Each of the listed types of motor vehicles has its own type of license. To obtain each of them, you must pass certain examination tests and medical clearance.

For driving underage

In accordance with the Federal Law “On Road Safety”, the earliest age at which a person can obtain the right to drive a vehicle is 16 years old. In this case, we are talking about category M licenses, which give the right to drive scooters and mopeds.

You can start studying theory and practice in driving courses as early as adolescence, but a minor will not be able to obtain a license - a fine will be issued for riding a motorcycle before the specified age. Moreover, since the young offender has not reached the age of majority, it will not be he himself who will be fined, but the person who handed over the vehicle into his hands, namely the owner of the motorcycle. The fine is quite impressive and amounts to 30 thousand rubles.

Legal driving without documents

Despite all of the above, there is one possibility where riding a motorcycle without a license will be completely legal and will not be punished in any way.

Reference. From the same part 1 of Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offences, it can be understood that it does not apply to training driving, which means a driver without a license of the required category will not be punished.

But what can be considered a training ride? The phrase itself implies that a person is just learning to ride a motorcycle. The traffic rules contain a summary of points characterizing training driving. And these are the following points:

• Training is carried out in closed areas/autodromes. Driving on the road is allowed only under the supervision of an instructor, ideally one who knows and follows all traffic rules.
• The student has with him a document confirming the right to learn driving for this category.
• The student is at least sixteen years old.

Which motorcycles do not require a license?

Currently, to drive these vehicles you need a category A license. You can get them upon reaching the age of majority, in Russia this is 18 years. A license of category A1, which allows you to drive two-wheeled vehicles V up to 125 cm3, as well as a license of category M, which allows you to drive scooters and mopeds, can be obtained 2 years earlier - already at the age of 16.

What is the violation?

Each category and subcategory has its own type/composition of transport.

The violation is determined by a simple comparison of the data on the category of the car (indicated as a separate line in the STS) and the information on the driver’s driver’s license. If there is a discrepancy, then a violation is evident.

Many people think that if you have access to a more complex type of transport, then the simpler one can be controlled by default (without additional permissions). This is not true.

For example , the driver has only one permit - to drive buses (“D”). He was stopped by traffic police while he was driving a motorcycle. A fine for riding a motorcycle without category “A” cannot be avoided.

The exception is traveling on a moped or scooter. It is enough to have any category of license (even if there is no “M” itself).

Another exception is a training ride, organized in a car with appropriate symbols and equipment, as well as under the competent supervision of a mentor.

But not everything is so simple. There are many more controversial situations.

Driving with an old-style license

Certificates issued in the past (before 2014) reflect a limited number of categories.

• So in the samples from 2011 to 2014 there are “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “BE”, “CE”, “DE”, “tram”, “trolleybus”.
• In the rights of earlier periods, “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E” were generally indicated.

However, these certificates can be fully used at the present time (if they have not expired). Most of the questions are with a combination of subcategories that were not indicated in the old rights. Now there are rules for the so-called absorption of subcategories by categories:

• if there is “A”, then you can control “A1” and “B1” (with a motorcycle seat and handlebars);
• if there is a “B”, then it is allowed to drive a vehicle of class “B1” (except for motorcycles);
• “C” also allows you to control class “C1”;
• "D" includes the right to "D1";
• "CE" also on "C1E";
• "D" - to "D1E".

This rule also applies to new certificates. That is, if somehow the main category is open, but there is no related subcategory, then it is still considered that the driver has the right to drive the corresponding vehicle in both the main category and the subcategory.

Driving with a trailer

Driving with a trailer without a category is not always prosecuted. It will not be a violation for passenger vehicles (“B”) if:

• trailer weighing less than 750 kg;
• more than 750 kg, but the total weight of the vehicle with trailer is less than 3.5 tons.

The situation is similar with trucks and buses. There is no need for a separate license permit (a “C” or “D” is sufficient, respectively) when a trailer weighing no more than 750 kg is attached to the vehicle.

Driving with an automatic transmission

In licenses valid since 2014, on the reverse side in section “12” they can make notes about the right to drive a car with an automatic transmission “AT”. This means that the car owner can only drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

For example , a driver has permission to drive a car and his license contains o. But in fact, he drives a passenger vehicle with a manual transmission. This fact is tantamount to driving without category B. Therefore, traffic police officers can impose a fine for driving without a special license.

The manual transmission is designated either “MS” or not designated at all. At the same time, those who are allowed to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission have the right to drive a car with an automatic transmission. But not the other way around.

Driving a car with a modified design without legalization in the traffic police

More often this question concerns category D. Some are engaged in the conversion of minibuses, transferring them to the class of cars or trucks. That is, they reduce the number of seats to 8 units in the hope that the type of machine will automatically change. During inspections, they try to convince traffic police inspectors that a “D” permit is not needed, since there are no more than 8 seats.

But this is not enough. After actually changing the car, you need to undergo an auto technical examination, collect a package of documents and submit an application to the traffic police. And only when changes are made to the STS, will the vehicle be assigned a new category.

Cross

Cross bikes are a special type of two-wheeled equipment designed for motocross. Such motorcycles are not equipped with lighting equipment, and the special rubber does not provide sufficient grip on the road surface.

Cross bikes are the only two-wheeled vehicles that can be driven without a license. But taking into account the specifics of the vehicle, it is prohibited to use it on public roads. You can get a fine for riding such a motorcycle. Motocross bikes must be delivered to the tracks by special transport.

Motorcycle ownership

Some owners of two-wheeled vehicles are interested in the question: do they need a motorcycle license if they do not plan to go on public roads? Rights are not needed in this case. But it is worth making some clarifications.

If a person does not have a license, then he can sell his vehicle, give it as a gift and carry out other transactions with it. But he will no longer be able to register it or go abroad with it.

If a person has already purchased a new bike and is just planning to get a license, it is not recommended to ride it on the roadway. This may result in the impossibility of issuing rights. Data on all violations are stored in the traffic police database. At the MREO, before taking the exam, all future drivers are checked against this database for the absence of offenses. If a person has previously been held accountable for driving a motorcycle without documents, the inspectorate may refuse to issue him a license.

Good to know

In addition to the fines and other sanctions mentioned above, one should not forget about such a point as ensuring punishment. That is, after it turns out that the driver of the motorcycle does not have the appropriate license with him, the citizen will no longer be able to accept the fine and move on as if nothing had happened. Depending on the circumstances, events can develop in two ways:

1. A representative of the authorized bodies calls a tow truck, and the vehicle is sent to the impound lot. All associated costs are borne by the owner of the vehicle.
2. The owner of a two-wheeled vehicle assures the traffic police officer that his license will now be delivered to him (if it physically exists) or a person will arrive (usually a friend or relative of the violator) who, according to the law, has access to control this vehicle (he has a certificate and is registered in insurance). One of the listed points is fulfilled, and there is no need to call a tow truck.

Where can you drive without getting a fine for not having category A?

There are a number of places that do not belong to the category of public roads. In accordance with the traffic rules, it is allowed to ride motorcycles on:

• forest clearings;
• a fenced area that is privately owned;
• rural dirt roads that were spontaneously laid by local residents (not municipal authorities);
• specialized motodromes;
• training grounds belonging to motorcycle schools;
• technological roads as part of a production enterprise.

Fine for driving without a license without deprivation

In these cases, no one will be able to fine the motorcyclist. Paragraph 21 of the traffic rules also stipulates other cases when it is allowed to drive a motorcycle without the appropriate category, including for minors.

Important! The legislation provides for fines for the lack of category E for cars with trailers, but a motorized stroller is not one of them, so an open category A is sufficient.

Presentation of rights

How to behave correctly when a violation is detected

Considering that the punishment is imposed not by the court, but by a traffic police official, there will not be a thorough and meticulous investigation. Therefore, you need to be careful when recording a violation. In order to prevent mistakes that will be used against you.

Since the amount of the fine includes a “fork”, your behavior can influence the size of the sanction.

If you are sure that the traffic police officer is mistaken or acts unlawfully, then you need to show tough opposition: do not agree with anything, demand clarification from him, attract independent witnesses, film what is happening on camera, etc.

Often other similar violations can be passed off as a misdemeanor:

• leaving your driver's license at home;
• management in the absence of documents for the car.

You need to be on alert, as other violations are less serious.

When the truth is not on your side, it is better not to allow conflict. But don’t allow permissiveness either. For example, a traffic police officer does not have the right to:

• pick up a driver's license;
• seize documents for the car;
• demand immediate payment of the fine;
• confiscate personal items found in the car, etc.

It is important to resolve the issue of vehicle detention. You need to call the owner of the car or a friend who can be trusted to drive the vehicle as quickly as possible. If the car is not taken to the impound lot, you will be able to avoid unnecessary expenses and bureaucratic fuss.

Procedure for issuing fines

The resolution is issued by traffic police officers on the spot. After registration, the culprit must sign in the appropriate column.

From the moment the document is served, the driver has 60 days to pay off the debt or appeal the decision.

If this is not done, the amount will be doubled.

All data is entered into a single register; failure to pay a fine can lead to:

• ban on traveling outside the state;
• restrictions on movement within the country;
• inability to drive vehicles legally.

If the offender is stopped again, the vehicle will be impounded and another decision will be issued with the maximum amount provided.

Minor driving

How to pay a fine for driving without a category

You can pay off the fine:

• At a bank branch. You must have the order with you. The operator will provide the recipient's details. All that remains is to enter your personal data correctly and pay the money. It is better to keep the receipt.
• In the personal account of a bank client. Many banks have a service with this built-in function. You need to go to the appropriate section, fill out the form with the details, indicate the card or account from which the amount should be debited.
• At an ATM or terminal. If there is such an option in the menu, then you can use it. When a payment is made through an ATM, the funds are debited from the card. You will have to pay in cash at the terminal.
• On the site. This service also makes it possible to use a personal account, the list of services of which includes payment of traffic police fines. You will need to fill out a form with details and indicate the source (bank card or account).

Attention! To use personal accounts of banks or the State Services portal, you must be a citizen of the Russian Federation. The situation with ATMs is identical. A resident of another country who has been fined in Russia needs to come to the nearest branch of any bank with a resolution and deposit money into the cash register.

Motorcycle - rights to it and lack thereof

A motorcycle is a vehicle that requires a Category A driver’s license to operate. You can take the driving test at the age of 16.

A motorcycle is a type of bike with an engine capacity of less than 125 cubic centimeters.

A few words about insurance - compulsory motor liability insurance for this type of transport is the same mandatory document as for cars, but if the motorcycle is not intended to be used on public roads, then obtaining a motor vehicle license, although mandatory, is also urgent. By the way, insurance companies do not greet motorcyclists particularly cordially, since compulsory motor liability insurance for this type of vehicle is not profitable - the risk of an insured event is many times higher, and the compensation is clearly no less. Moreover, after an accident, the vehicle may well need to be replaced rather than repaired. And in this case, we are not talking about “three kopecks” payments.