Driving licence

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999

A Government approved flow chart is available here

All persons in charge of a motorcycle in a public place in the UK must be in possession of a valid driving licence allowing them to ride that category of motorcycle.

The table below shows the minimum ages at which mopeds and motorcycles may be ridden.

Category	Description	Minimum age
P	Mopeds with an engine size of up to 50 cc and a maximum speed of up to 50 km/h	16
A1	Light motorcycles with an engine size of up to 125 cc and a power output of up to 11 kW (14.6 bhp)	17
A	Medium-sized motorcycles up to 25 kW (33 bhp) and a power to weight ratio of up to 0.16 kW/kg	17
A	Motorcycles with a sidecar and a power to weight ratio of up to 0.16 kW/kg	17
A	Any size motorcycle, with or without a sidecar if you have completed the large motorcycle Direct Access Scheme	21*

*You can ride a large motorcycle at any age two years after passing a test on a medium-sized motorcycle.

Provisional Licence

Apply online or with form D1 available from DVLA or Post Office.
- Fee is £50
If you want to ride a moped or motorcycle unsupervised on public roads you must complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT).
You don't have to take CBT if you have:
- A full moped licence from passing a full moped test after 1 December 1990.
- A full motorcycle licence for one category and want to upgrade to another.
- If you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001 you don't need to complete a CBT course to ride a moped only.

You can then ride on the public road, with L plates for up to two years.

Full motorcycle licence, under 21yrs old

The practical test must be taken on a motorcycle of between 75 cc and 125 cc. There are two types of full motorcycle licence:
- A light motorcycle licence (A1), which restricts riders to any motorcycle up to 125 cc and a power output of 11 kW
- A standard motorcycle licence (A), is obtained if the practical test is taken on a motorcycle of over 120 cc but not more than 125 cc and capable of at least 100 kilometres per hour (61 mph)
- After passing the standard motorcycle practical test, you will be restricted for two years to riding a motorcycle of up to 25 kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. After this you may ride any size of motorcycle.

Full motorcycle licence, over 21yrs old

Riders age 21 or over, or those who reach 21 within their two year restriction have the Direct Access or Accelerated Access options available.
To obtain a licence to ride any sized motorcycle you must:
- Have successfully completed a CBT course.
- Pass a theory test, if required to do so.

Exempted if:

Already hold a full A1 motorcycle licence
Already hold a full moped licence, if gained after 1/7/96
Pass a practical test on a motorcycle with power output of at least 35 kW
Once the above has been completed, any motorcycle can be ridden.

OFFENCES

It is an offence to ride a motorcycle in a public place without the correct licence.
- Driving without a valid licence will in most cases invalidate any insurance policy leading to the more serious offence of driving without insurance.

PENALTIES

No Licence, 3-6 points, max £1,000.00 fine, discretionary disqualification.
No Insurance, 6-8 points, max £5,000.00 fine, discretionary disqualification.
Fixed penalty notice £200 fine and 6 points endorsed on licence.