What licence do I need for the Can-Am Ryker and Spyder?

What licence do I need for the Can-Am Ryker and Spyder?

One of the most common questions before buying a Can-Am Ryker or Spyder is: do I need a motorcycle licence for it?

Germany has an important special rule here. The Ryker and Spyder are three-wheeled motor vehicles, so different licensing rules apply than for a classic motorcycle.

Can I ride the Can-Am Ryker and Spyder on a car licence?

Yes. With the German licence class B, three-wheeled motor vehicles may in principle be driven within Germany. For vehicles with an engine output of more than 15 kW, however, one important condition applies: the rider must be at least 21 years old.

As the more powerful Can-Am Ryker and Spyder models can be above this limit, this age limit is particularly important.

In short: class B + at least 21 years old allows you to ride three-wheeled motor vehicles with more than 15 kW in Germany.

Do I need a motorcycle licence?

If you meet the class B requirements, you do not need a motorcycle licence as well to ride a corresponding Ryker or Spyder in Germany.

Three-wheeled motor vehicles with more than 15 kW also fall under licence class A in principle. The minimum age for these three-wheeled vehicles within class A is likewise 21.

Can I ride a Ryker or Spyder at 18 with class B?

Here you need to look at the engine output of the specific vehicle.

The special class B rule only allows three-wheeled motor vehicles with more than 15 kW from the age of 21.

So for a correspondingly powerful Ryker or Spyder, a normal car licence is not yet enough at 18.

Does class B also apply abroad?

This is a particularly important point.

The German rule under which class B entitles you to drive such three-wheeled motor vehicles applies expressly within Germany.

If you want to take a Ryker or Spyder abroad, you should therefore check before setting off which licensing rules apply in the country concerned. The German entitlement should not automatically be assumed to carry over to other countries.

Does the age of my car licence matter?

With older licences, additional grandfathering rules (Besitzstandsregelungen) and Schlüsselzahlen (the code numbers entered on the licence) may be relevant.

So if in doubt, don't just look at the issue date of the licence card. What matters is which licence classes and, where applicable, Schlüsselzahlen you actually hold.

Does the rule apply equally to the Ryker and Spyder?

Legally, what matters is not the model name but the vehicle class and engine output of the specific vehicle.

With older or used vehicles in particular, you should therefore check the vehicle documents to see how the specific vehicle is classified.

Conclusion

The Can-Am Ryker and Spyder have one decisive advantage over classic motorcycles: in Germany, three-wheeled motor vehicles can also be ridden with licence class B.

If the engine output is more than 15 kW, the rider must be at least 21 years old. This extension of class B, however, applies expressly only within Germany.

If you want to ride your Ryker or Spyder abroad or hold an older licence, you should check the licensing rules that apply to you in advance.

Not sure which vehicle suits you? Go to the buying guide