Women in Iran May Soon Gain the Right to Obtain Motorcycle Licenses

A proposed bill would revise the note to Article 20 of the Law on Traffic Violations, thereby enabling women to obtain motorcycle licenses.

For decades, women in Iran have sought equal rights under the law, particularly in areas of personal freedom, mobility, and public participation. The latest development in this broader struggle for equality is an initiative to legally recognize women’s right to ride motorcycles and obtain licenses.

Iranian women have long challenged restrictions on their basic personal freedoms. This includes the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which was sparked by the killing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini after she was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Since the large-scale protests of 2022, Iranian women have been increasingly defying the compulsory hijab law in their daily lives, particularly as the government appears both unwilling and unable to enforce it in a consistent manner. Iranian women have also successfully challenged restrictions against them in other areas, such as gaining the right to enter stadiums, something that was prohibited for many years.

Kazem Delkhosh, Deputy for Parliamentary Affairs in the Iranian presidency, has announced the submission of a bill to parliament aimed at amending motorcycle driving regulations. This bill would revise the note to Article 20 of the Law on Traffic Violations, thereby enabling women to obtain motorcycle licenses. Currently, Article 20 states that all general traffic laws apply to motorcycles. However, this article as currently written specifically grants the authority to issue motorcycle licenses to men only, leaving women excluded from the licensing process. As a result, women who ride motorcycles do so without legal recognition, and insurance companies, in turn, refuse to cover damages from accidents involving unlicensed female riders, creating serious financial risks for all parties involved. Delkhosh emphasized that the absence of legal licensing for women riders not only endangers them but also poses significant risks to other motorists, pedestrians, and society as a whole.

Despite the existing legal barriers, the number of women riding motorcycles in Iranian cities has grown, especially since the nationwide Woman, Life, Freedom protests. Such a trend has extended beyond Tehran; cities such as Yazd have also reported an increase in female riders. Officials, including Esmaeil Dehestani, Deputy Governor of Yazd, have acknowledged that women riding motorcycles without licenses create multiple legal, social, and financial complications. At the same time, senior government representatives, such as Zahra Behrooz Azar, Deputy for Women and Family Affairs, have publicly supported licensing for women, noting that if women are capable of flying airplanes, riding motorcycles should not be an issue.

Riding a motorcycle without a license is classified as a violation of traffic laws. Since the law only mentions “men” in the context of licensing, enforcement against women riders has often been arbitrary and inconsistent. In June 2025, the head of Iran’s Licensing Center reiterated that official parliamentary approval is required before women can legally obtain motorcycle licenses, underscoring that the police cannot act independently without legislative change. In addition, the Guardian Council must also approve the bill after parliament passes it in order for it to officially become law. The government of President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed openness to this reform, marking a possible turning point. If passed, the proposed amendment will not only resolve this complex legal vacuum but also reflect a broader shift in policy toward recognizing women’s rights in mobility and public life.

While barriers remain, the combination of public demand, visible acts of defiance, and shifting government attitudes suggests that incremental progress is underway. This development aligns with broader trends where women in Iran continue to challenge restrictive laws and push for greater freedom, despite systemic opposition.