Motorcycle Licencing and the Law
The law relating to motorcycle and moped licences is complex. Let’s try to clarify things a bit.
Provisional Licences
Mopeds (motorcycle or scooter with an engine capacity of 50cc or less and a design speed of 50km/hour or less).
Anyone over the age of 16 can apply for a provisional licence to ride a moped displaying L-plates but that licence only becomes valid once you have a CBT certificate showing that you have completed the necessary training. You may not carry a pillion passenger.
Standard Motorcycle Licence
Anyone aged 17 or over may apply for a provisional licence to ride a standard motorcycle or scooter with a power output of up to 15kw. Most often these are 125cc machines. The same rules regarding L-plates, CBT certificates and carrying passengers apply as for moped riders.
Note that the restrictions and the requirement for a CBT certificate apply even if you have previously held a motorcycle licence and have allowed it to lapse. A provisional licence is not valid until a CBT certificate has been obtained.
CBT Validity
A CBT certificate is valid for a period of 2 years. You will be obliged to retake the training and obtain a new certificate if you have not taken and passed your riding test within that period.
Full Licences
You can obtain a full licence once you have satisfactorily completed a CBT, a theory test and modules 1 (off-road) and 2 (on-road) of the practical test. These Module tests must be taken in order. You can take your CBT and Theory Test in any order.
Note that the motorcycle theory test is different from the car theory test. One cannot be substituted for the other.
If you are over 17 and under 21 you must take your test on a motorcycle or scooter with a Cubic Capacity of 125cc or less. Once you have passed your test you will be restricted to a machine not exceeding 25KW or approx 33BHP After the two year qualifying period you are entitled to ride any motorcycle or scooter without any restrictions on power output/capacity HOWEVER you must send your licence away to have the restriction removed. Riders who have passed their test may carry pillion passengers and may ride on motorways.
If you are over 17, you may ride a motorcycle or scooter with a cubic Capacity of 125cc and a power output of less than 15 KW on public roads before you pass your driving test provided that you display L-plates. If you are over 21 you may ride a more powerful motorcycle on a provisional licence only while you are under the instruction of a Direct Access Scheme qualified Instructor
If you are over 21 you may take your practical test on a motorcycle or scooter with a power output of more than 35Kw (47bhp) and your licence will then be unrestricted. If you take your test on a low powered machine (<125cc, power output <11KW) your licence will be restricted to riding ‘light motorcycles’. If taken on a machine with a power output of between 11KW and 35KW, the same two year restriction applies as for younger riders.
We told you it was complicated! If you have any queries, your instructor will be able to advise on the fine print. Rest assured that we have suitable machines for all riders and all types of test.