To start your journey, you need a provisional Category A licence, either included in your full car licence or as part of a provisional licence. If you don’t already have a provisional driving licence you can apply online. The provisional licence can be applied for up to three months prior to your sixteenth birthday.
You must complete your Compulsory
Basic Training (often known as CBT) before you ride any moped, scooter or
motorcycle on the road. It’s not a motorcycle test, but a training course where
we assess your riding to make sure you have attained a safe standard of riding
and machine control, before we can issue you a DL196 certificate which shows
you have completed the training and enables you to ride as a learner for a two
year period.
If you have a full car licence
issued before 1st February 2001 you may ride a restricted 50cc moped on the
road without L plates (and carry a passenger) without taking your CBT, if you passed your car test after this date you must take CBT before riding a 50cc moped or up to 125 cc motorcycle on public roads.
However, if you have not ridden a motorcycle or scooter before, it is a good idea to complete CBT as a minimum to be safe on the roads.
What you can do now
You can ride a moped (either
scooter or motorcycle style) up to 50cc with a top speed of 45 km/h (around
28mph) with L plates after completing your CBT
What’s Next
Take your theory test. You must
pass a Motorcycle Theory Test, including a Hazard Perception Test, before
taking any Practical Motorcycle Test, even if you have a full car licence. The
Theory Test Pass Certificate is valid for 2 years.
However, if you have passed a two-part moped test or a lower category motorcycle test since 1st July 1996 you don’t need to take the theory test again.
If you have not gained a full motorcycle or moped licence two years after completing CBT, your DL196 certificate is no longer valid and you must repeat your CBT
You can ride a moped with L
plates after completing your CBT, or if you want you could opt for the new AM
licence by taking your theory test and then a practical test.
When you pass
You can ride a moped (either
scooter or motorcycle style) up to 50cc with a top speed of 45 km/h (around
28mph) without L plates and carry a passenger.
You can continue to ride your
moped as your AM licence does not expire after two years.
What’s Next
At 17 years or over you can elect
to take a motorcycle test and move up to a 125 cc machine.
At 17 you can take a 2-stage
practical test, after passing your CBT and theory tests, to get an A1 licence.
When you pass
This category will allow you to
ride a motorcycle or scooter up to 125cc (with maximum power of 11 KW) without
L plates, and to carry a passenger. You might find that passing a full
motorcycle test can also reduce your insurance costs.
What’s Next
After two years of holding an A1
motorcycle licence, you can take another practical test and if successful
qualify for an A2 Motorcycle Licence
At 19 can get an A2 Motorcycle
Licence allowing you to ride a motorcycle or scooter with power up to 35KW
(46.6 bhp) which will typically mean up to 500cc engine size, or a restricted
version of a bigger more powerful model.
There are two ways to qualify for
an A2 licence:
First if you have held an A1 Motorcycle Licence for 2 years, you can take another practical test.
Or second if you are 19 or older you can take the Direct Access route by completing your CBT and passing your Theory Test and Practical Tests.
When you pass
You are now allowed to ride any
A2 category motorbike or scooter without L plates and to carry a passenger.
What’s Next
After holding an A2 Motorcycle
Licence for 2 years, you can take another practical test and get an
unrestricted A Motorcycle licence
A – Unrestricted Motorcycle Licence (AGE: from 24+)
At 24 you can get an A Motorcycle Licence, allowing
you to ride any motorcycle or scooter of any size or power. There are two ways
to qualify for an A Motorcycle Licence:
One, if you have held an A2 Motorcycle Licence for 2 years, you can take another practical test.
If you haven’t held an A2 licence for two years and if you are aged 24 or over, you can take the Direct Access route to an A Licence by completing CBT, Theory tests and a practical test.
When you pass
You are now allowed to ride any motorbike or scooter
without L plates and to carry a passenger.
What’s Next
Passing your test should not be
the end of your training. Further bike training will help you ride more safely
and enjoy being in control of your motorcycle more – you’ll end up having more
fun this way!
