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AIXAM, the European leader on the "no licence" car market, is compliant with French and European legislation concerning the manufacture and official approval of quadricycles.

AIXAM is a majority member of EQUAL, the European Quadricycle League, which is involved in quadricycle promotion throughout Europe.

AIXAM designs and manufactures "no licence" vehicles in line with the criteria laid down by the European regulations.

Directive 2002/24/EC, gradually replaced by European Regulation 168/2013/EU, governs the manufacture and European approval of quadricycles.

The European definitions are applied in France through Article R311-1 of the French Highway Code.

Light quadricycles
or "no licence" cars

APPROVAL

  • Light quadricycles are assimilated with mopeds and may or may not be driven without a driving licence, depending on the legislation in effect in the different European countries.

  • Depending on its use, it is sometimes referred to as a light car, a no-licence or no-permit car (VSP in French for Voiture Sans Permis) or a microcar.

DRIVING A "NO LICENCE" VEHICLE (LIGHT QUADRICYCLE) IN FRANCE

Articles R211-1, R211-2 et seq. of the French Highway Code and the Ministerial Order of 10/11/2014 define the usage requirements.

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To summarise:

  • Motorised light quadricycle drivers must have a minimum age of 14 years.

  • The BSR road safety certificate became the AM licence on 19th January 2013 and includes a moped and light quadricycle provision. The Moped provision on the AM licence authorises the holder to drive light quadricycles.

  • Those born before the 1st of January 1988 do not require a road safety certificate (BSR or "Brevet de Sécurité Routière" or AM licence) nor a driving licence to drive a "licence-free" car in France.

  • Those born on or after the 1st of January 1988 must hold a road safety certificate (BSR) issued before 19/01/2013 or an AM licence (issued from 19/01/2013 onwards).

  • Drivers with a valid motorcycle or car licence are authorised to drive a light quadricycle.

The AM licence includes BOTH a THEORETICAL and practical training, however IT does not include a driving test:

THEORY COMPONENT: REQUIRES ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATES:

  • ASSR 1: awarded in year 8 (School Road Safety Certificate - level 1)
  • ASSR 2: awarded in year 10 (School Road Safety Certificate - level 2)
  • ASR: (Road Safety Certificate) awarded by adult training centres.

PRACTICAL COMPONENT: REQUIRES 8 HOURS OF TRAINING AT A DRIVING SCHOOL, WITHOUT A DRIVING TEST


This takes place on a moped or light quadricycle and in two half-day sessions.

AM licence training can take place in a "licence-free" car provided by the customer and insured for the 8 hours of the training session.
AM licence holders with the light quadricycle provision cannot drive a moped. However, AM licence holders with the moped provision can drive a light quadricycle.

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Heavy quadricycles or TQMs
(motorised tricycles and quadricycles)

APPROVAL

  • Heavy quadricycles must be driven with either a category A or B licence, depending on the legislation in effect in the different European countries.

  • Depending on its use, it is sometimes referred to as a heavy car or a motorised tricycle or quadricycle.
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DRIVING A HEAVY QUADRICYCLE IN FRANCE (TQM - MOTORISED TRICYCLE AND QUADRICYCLE)

Articles R211-4, R221-5 et seq. of the French Highway Code and the Ministerial Orders in effect define the usage requirements.

To summarise:

  • Motorised heavy quadricycle drivers must have a minimum age of 16 years.
  • A B1 licence is dedicated to heavy quadricycles. The training and the test take place in a heavy quadricycle. The examiner can be in a following vehicle in contact via a radio link (as with motorcycle licences).

  • As equivalent to the B1 licence, anyone holding one of the following licences is authorised to drive a heavy quadricycle: A, A1, A2, A3, A4, AT, AL, B, C, D and licences prior to the 1st of April 1958.

    B1 LICENCES ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
  • Drivers must be aged 16 or over,
  • Drivers must have an ASSR 2 or ASR road safety certificate
  • Obtaining the B1 licence ("Highway Code" + at least 20 h of practical training at a driving school + 40-minute driving test under normal road conditions, as with B licences).

Regulation comparison


Former regulation 2002/24/ECNew Regulation 168/2013/EU
Category
L6eL6eBP
Maximum speed
45 km/h45 km/h
Maximum power
4 kW (5.4hp)6kW (8.15hp)
Unladen weight
350kg (without fuel or accessories) 425kg (with fuel)


RF

NB : les articles du Code de la Route sont consultables sur Légifrance : https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCode.do;?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006074228