- EU Driving Licence Reform 2025: Digital licences, Europe-wide penalty points and stricter rules for novice riders
- France: Extreme speeding is now a criminal offence — including for foreign motorcyclists
- US legislation: Bill H.R. 3385 threatens autocycle classification, Supreme Court overturns tariffs
- Mandatory motorcycle inspections, equipment regulations and international developments
Motorcycle law affects every rider, yet it rarely gets the systematic coverage it deserves. From EU regulations reshaping driving licences and vehicle inspections to country-specific crackdowns in France, landmark court rulings and shifting political landscapes — the legal environment for motorcyclists is constantly evolving.
This page brings together all major legal and political developments relevant to motorcyclists: EU-wide regulations, national legislation in key riding destinations, international court decisions and the advocacy work of rider organisations fighting for your rights.
What’s Changing Across Europe
EU directives affect every motorcyclist on the continent — often before riders even hear about them.
The Big EU Driving Licence Reform
The European Union adopted a comprehensive driving licence reform in 2025. Digital driving licences, a Europe-wide penalty point system, mutual recognition of licence suspensions and significantly stricter rules for novice riders are among the key changes. Implementation into national law is required by 2029 at the latest, but many provisions may take effect earlier.
▸ EU Driving Licence Reform: What Changes for Motorcyclists
Digital licences, cross-border penalty points, B196 recognition and new restrictions for novice riders — the complete overview.
Mandatory Motorcycle Inspections: Is the EU Pushing for PTI?
The debate over mandatory periodic technical inspections for motorcycles resurfaces regularly in the EU. However, the data tells a clear story: technical defects account for less than two percent of all motorcycle accidents. Despite this, the topic keeps returning to the political agenda.
▸ EU Motorcycle Inspection Debate: Doubts About Safety Benefits
Why FEMA and national rider associations oppose mandatory PTI and what alternatives they propose.
Equipment Requirements: What’s Mandatory Where
Helmets, high-visibility vests, gloves, first-aid kits — requirements vary considerably across Europe. Touring riders crossing multiple borders need to know the differences.
▸ Motorcycle Travel in Europe: Equipment Requirements 2025 — All Countries at a Glance
Country-by-country breakdown from Albania to Cyprus: what’s mandatory, what’s recommended and where the most common pitfalls lie.
Spain: The Airbag Debate
Various media outlets reported that Spain’s traffic authority DGT was allegedly planning to make airbags mandatory for motorcyclists from 2026. These claims have been proven false — no EU country currently requires airbag vests.
▸ Motorcycle Airbags in Spain: Not Mandatory
Current status, background information and why FEMA supports affordability over legislation.
France: What Every Rider Needs to Know
France is one of Europe’s most popular motorcycle touring destinations. It’s also tightening its traffic laws more aggressively than almost any other country.
Speeding Is Now a Criminal Offence
Since late 2025, exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h in France is no longer a simple traffic violation — it’s a criminal offence. Penalties include up to three months in prison and fines of up to EUR 3,750. For repeat offenders, penalties double. Foreign riders are equally affected: imprisonment is possible if you’re still on French soil when caught.
▸ France: Extreme Speeding Now a Criminal Offence
What the new legislation means in practice and why foreign motorcyclists need to pay particular attention.
Speed Cameras Now Automatically Check Insurance
Since February 2026, French radar devices automatically verify whether a vehicle caught speeding by more than 50 km/h has valid liability insurance. Riding without insurance in France carries fines of up to EUR 3,750, potential vehicle confiscation and a driving ban.
▸ France: Speed Cameras Automatically Check Insurance Coverage
569,000 uninsured vehicles on French roads — how the automated system works and what riders risk.
Lane Filtering: Legal in France, Banned in Germany
France legalised lane filtering nationwide in January 2025 under clearly defined conditions. The road was long: a five-year trial initially led to a ban in 2021 before the final legalisation. Meanwhile in Germany, filtering remains illegal with penalties starting at EUR 240, two penalty points and a one-month driving ban.
▸ Lane Filtering Now Officially Permitted Throughout France
Full details on the new regulation: where, how fast, which vehicles — and the contrast with Germany.
France Abolishes Low-Emission Zones (ZFE)
In April 2026, the French National Assembly and Senate passed the abolition of the Zones à Faibles Émissions (ZFE). These low-emission zones previously barred older motorcycles without a Crit-Air sticker from city centres such as Paris, Lyon or Grenoble. The Constitutional Council could, however, still strike down the rule.
▸ ZFE Abolition: France Scraps Low-Emission Zones in Parliament
How parliament voted, what role the Constitutional Council plays and what it actually means for motorcyclists.
United States
From federal legislation to Supreme Court rulings — developments in the US that affect motorcyclists globally.
Motorcycle Definition Under Threat
Bill H.R. 3385 proposes to update the federal definition of “motorcycle” in the Code of Federal Regulations. If passed, autocycles — three-wheeled enclosed vehicles currently registered as motorcycles — would no longer qualify. The Motorcycle Industry Council warns this could create a regulatory vacuum affecting tens of thousands of existing registrations.
▸ US Motorcycle Definition: Bill H.R. 3385 Threatens Autocycles
The two sides of the debate, the MIC’s opposition and what it means for manufacturers and riders.
Supreme Court Overturns Tariffs
▸ Supreme Court Rules Against Tariff Policy — Impact on Motorcycle Imports
A 6-3 ruling against the administration’s tariff powers. What it means for Kawasaki, Ducati and other importers.
International Developments
Switzerland: Racing Ban Overturned After 67 Years
Both chambers of the Swiss parliament voted to lift the historic ban on circuit racing that had been in place since a fatal accident at Le Mans in 1955. While no permanent race circuits currently exist in Switzerland, the decision opens the door for future developments.
▸ Switzerland’s Racing Ban Overturned
The background, the parliamentary process and what comes next.
Netherlands: Hells Angels Banned
▸ Hells Angels Banned in the Netherlands
Utrecht court rules the MC endangers public order — ban applies to the worldwide organisation.
United Kingdom: Insurance Law and Policy Change
▸ James May in Court: When an Uninsured Classic Motorcycle Becomes a Legal Problem
Continuous Insurance Enforcement: Why simply owning an unregistered vehicle without insurance is a criminal offence in the UK – and how it can catch collectors off guard.
▸ NMC Calls for Recognition of Motorcycles as Sustainable Transport
The National Motorcyclists Council demands a paradigm shift in UK transport policy: better data, infrastructure investment and equal treatment for riders.
▸ British Motorcycle Heritage Under Pressure: Organisations Demand Protective Measures
VMCC and NMC publish joint policy paper: 400,000 classics, £1.6 billion economic contribution – and growing threats from fuel policy and environmental regulations.
Superbike Road Racing: Europe-Wide Ban from 2026
The FIM has decided that international road races in Europe will no longer be sanctioned from the 2026 season. The IRRC has also removed the Superbike class from its programme. A newly founded European Road Racing Series is attempting to fill the gap.
▸ Superbike Road Racing Facing Extinction in Europe
What the ban means for Hengelo, Chimay, Horice and the wider road racing community.
Who’s Fighting for Your Rights?
Behind the scenes, organisations like FEMA, BVDM and national rider associations advocate for motorcyclists’ interests.
When new legislation or riding bans are proposed, it’s typically rider associations that push back first. The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) represents riders at EU level, while national organisations fight local battles from court challenges to infrastructure improvements.
▸ EU Motorcycle PTI: Why the Safety Debate Is a Lobbying Question
FEMA and national associations argue with data: technical defects cause fewer than 2% of motorcycle accidents.
▸ Motorcycle Associations Demand a Seat at the Table: FIM Europe, FEMA and NMC Publish 2026 Position Paper
77 organisations present 17 demands on electrification, licensing, infrastructure and guardrails.
▸ NMCU: Norway Focuses on Dialogue Instead of Age Limit
Four fatal accidents among under-18 A1 riders in 2024: Why NMCU prioritises prevention over raising the age and how FEMA’s Young Riders Initiative fits in.
Stay Up to Date
Motorcycle law is not a static topic. New rulings, legislative changes and political developments happen regularly. This page is updated whenever significant decisions are made.
Got a tip about a relevant ruling, legislative change or political development? Get in touch — we’re happy to cover it.
