Changes
to Motorcycle Licensing Rules
From 01 February 2001, motorcycle licensing rules are to be changed. All
new provisional licences showing motorcycle entitlement issued from that
date will be valid until the holder's 70th birthday.
Existing motorcycle provisional licence holders who do not pass a
motorcycle test before their provisional licence expires will not be
subject to the current 12 month wait before they can get new
entitlement.
You currently hold provisional licence entitlement
If your provisional motorcycle entitlement expires before then you will
have to apply for new entitlement from 01 February. You will not be
eligible to ride on the road between expiry of your current entitlement
and the issue of a new licence showing your entitlement. If your
provisional entitlement expires after that date, you will be able to
apply for a new one at any time from 01 February to maintain your riding
entitlement.
You have surrendered your provisional motorcycle entitlement
If you apply for your provisional entitlement to be reinstated after 01
February, you will be granted entitlement that will be valid until age
70.
Your previous entitlement has expired
As from 01 February 2001 you will be able to apply to have your
provisional motorcycle entitlement reinstated. That entitlement will be
valid until age 70.
Applying for Entitlement
You will need to complete form D1 available from post offices and send
it together with the fee and your driving license to DVLA.
DVLA is now only issuing photo card driving licences. If you do not have
photo card licence, you must apply for one using a D750 pack. The D750
packs are available from Post Offices and DVLA network of local offices
situated in major cities.
The D750 pack will include the relevant information required to complete
the form, details about the fee and the documents needed to confirm your
identity.
Compulsory Basic Training for Motorcyclists
and Moped Riders
This information will help you have a safe and enjoyable motorcycling
career. The starting point for learners is the Compulsory Basic Training
(CBT) course, which was introduced in 1990 to help reduce the very high
accident rate among inexperienced motorcyclists. 
The course is conducted by training
organisations that have been approved by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).
All learner motorcycle and learner moped riders must complete a CBT
course before riding on the road.
Also, with effect from 1 February 2001, all new car drivers wanting to
validate the full moped entitlement granted with their full car licence,
must complete a CBT course.
CBT courses can only be provided by
Approved Training Bodies (ATBs). To gain this approval ATBs must have
Instructors who have successfully completed a 2-day assessment by DSA
examiners
Sites approved by DSA for the off-road
training aspects of the course Most ATBs offer the loan of machines and
helmets for the course.
The CBT course syllabus includes five elements that have to be completed
in sequence:
Element A - Introduction.
Element B - Practical on-site training.
Element C - Practical on-site riding.
Element D - Practical on-road training.
Element E - Practical on-road riding.
When you have satisfactorily completed
all five elements you will be issued with a Certificate of Completion of
Training (DL196).
This is a legal document which serves to validate the relevant
entitlements on the driving licence. It is important that the holder of
a DL196 certificate considers the following points:
All DL196 certificates issued before 1 February 2001 are valid for 3
years from the date of issue.
A DL196 certificate issued after 1 February 2001 validating a
provisional moped or provisional motorcycle entitlement lasts for 2
years. 
CBT will have to be re-taken if both
theory/practical tests are not passed within the 2-year certificate
life.
A DL196 certificate validating a full moped entitlement is not subject
to expiry. You do not have to take CBT again if you hold a full
motorcycle licence and wish to obtain a licence for another category of
motorcycle.
With effect from the 1 February 2001 riders completing their CBT course
on a moped with more than 2 wheels or who use a motorcycle/sidecar
combination will be restricted to riding those machines as a learner.
The motorcycle entitlement on provisional
motorcycle licences issued before 1 February 2001 expires after 2 years.
The law has now changed and holders of these licences can apply to have
the licence replaced with one that will include provisional motorcycle
entitlement valid to age 70.
Replacement licences should be applied
for from DVLA using the normal application forms (available from Post
Offices).
Once you have your Certificate (DL 196) you are advised to take
additional training to pass your tests and qualify for a full motorcycle
or moped licence.
CBT must be completed before riding on
the road by all learner riders (and moped riders using a full car
licence gained after 1 February 2001) who are resident on mainland Great
Britain, islands that are connected to the mainland by a road, and the
following islands: Wight, North Uist, Lewis, South Uist, Harris,
Benbecula, mainland Orkney and mainland Shetland. Residents of all other
islands will be exempt from the need to take CBT, but only if riding on
roads which are on an exempt island. 
Theory Test
You will need to pass a Theory Test before taking a practical test for a
moped or motorcycle.
You do not need to take a Theory Test if you have passed a moped test
since 1 July 1996.
The Theory Test Pass Certificate is valid for 2 years. The practical
test must be passed within this period otherwise the Theory Test will
have to be taken again.
Full Motorcycle
Licence Options
There are 2 types of full motorcycle licence to aim for:
A light motorcycle licence (A1) which restricts riders to any bike up to
125cc and a power output of 11kW.
The practical test must be taken on a
bike of between 75cc and 125cc.
A standard motorcycle licence (A) is obtained if the practical test is
taken on a bike of over 120cc but not more than 125cc and capable of at
least 100km per hour.
After passing the standard motorcycle
practical test you will be restricted for 2 years to riding a bike of up
to 25kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW/kg. After this you
may ride any size of bike.
Direct &
Accelerated Access
However, riders age 21 or over, or those who reach 21 before their
2-year restriction ends, have other options.
Direct Access
After taking CBT and the Theory Test the practical test may be taken
on a motorcycle with a power output of at least 35kW. A pass allows you
to ride any size of bike. All or part of the CBT course may be taken on
either a learner bike or a large bike. You may practise for the
practical test on bikes larger than the learner bike specification
provided:
you are accompanied at all times by an approved instructor on another
bike and in radio contact
you wear fluorescent or reflective clothing and follow all other
provisional licence restrictions.
Accelerated
Access
Riders who reach the age of 21, while still within the 2-year period
where they are restricted to maximum 25kW machines, but who wish to ride
larger bikes need to pass a further test on a motorcycle of at least
35kW. They may practise on bikes over 25kW under the same practice
conditions for Direct Access riders. You will revert to learner status
while practising (on a motorcycle greater than 25kW) although test
failure will not affect your existing licence.
Sidecars
Learners who wish to ride with a sidecar can practise on a combination
with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW/kg. On obtaining a
standard licence, you will be restricted to a combination with the same
power/weight ratio for 2 years. At age 21 learners may, only within
Direct or Accelerated Access, practise on a larger combination. But the
test must be taken on a solo bike (although physically disabled riders
can use a combination).
Examples
1kg = 2.2 lbs; 100kmh = 62 mph (approx); 1bhp = 0.75kW
14.6bhp = 11kW; 33bhp = 25kW; 46.6bhp = 35kW; bhp = brake horse power
Mopeds and
Motorcycles
A moped is a motorcycle that has the following features:
Maximum Design speed not exceeding 50kmh (approx. 31mph).
An engine capacity no greater than 50cc.
Can be moved by pedals, if the moped was first used before 1 August
1977.A learner motorcycle has the following features:
Engine up to 125cc.
Power output not exceeding 11kW.Licences
Full Car Licence
If you have a full car licence, you are automatically entitled to
ride a moped without L-Plates although if the licence relates to a car
test passed on or after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a CBT
course and obtain a DL196 Certificate to validate your entitlement.
Your full car licence also gives you provisional motorcycle entitlement
for learner machines (up to 125cc) i.e. you may ride a motorcycle as a
learner with L-Plates and NO pillion passengers or motorway use after
completing CBT.
Provisional
moped
You can only hold this if you are at least 16 years old. It entitles
you to ride a moped on the road as a learner with L-Plates and NO
pillion passengers or motorway use. Your provisional licence is only
valid when you have the DL 196 Certificate issued on completion of CBT
by an ATB. A CBT certificate obtained on a moped is also valid for
motorcycles once the rider has reached the age of 17 years and has the
necessary licence.
Full moped
licence
A full moped licence automatically gives you provisional motorcycle
entitlement. However, you must be at least 17 years old to take up the
provisional entitlement.
Provisional
motorcycle licence
You can only hold this licence if
you are at least 17 years old. It entitles you to ride a moped or a
learner motorcycle (up to 125cc) as a learner with L-Plates. You MUST
NOT carry pillion passengers or use motorways.
The motorcycle entitlement on provisional motorcycle licences issued
before 1 February 2001 expires after 2 years. The law has now changed
and holders of these licences can apply to have the licence replaced
with one that will include provisional motorcycle entitlement valid to
age 70. Replacement licences should be applied for from DVLA using the
normal application forms (available from Post Offices).
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