|
The law on Motorcycle testing
and licensing changed in January '97, introducing new
classes of tests and licences and was changed again in
February 2001, briefly the rules are now : -
All moped and motorcycle
provisional licence holders (including full car as
provisional) must, by law, hold a current DL196 (CBT)
certificate, showing they have completed the Compulsory
Basic Training course before riding on the road.(a
Provisional Licence isn't valid without a CBT
certificate).
A provisional moped licence
(Group P) can be held from 16 years old and isn't time
limited.
But remember if you de-restrict your moped,
it's then legally a motorcycle.
A provisional motorcycle
licence (Group A) can be held from 17 years
old.
Those issued before 1st Feb 2001 were time
limited to 2 yrs. from date of issue; whilst those
issued from 1st Feb 2001 are valid to age 70. If yours
will, or has lapsed under the old rules you can now
apply to have this restored immediately.
If applying for a provisional
car licence, be sure to tick the box asking for
motorcycle also. Otherwise you may have to re-apply -
and pay - again.
Remember on a provisional
licence / entitlement you must display L plates and no
pillion passengers or motorway use!
Back
to top
A full moped licence
automatically gives you a motorcycle provisional but you
must be over 17.
A full car licence automatically
gives you a motorcycle provisional.
Full car licences issued
before 1st Feb 2001 automatically gave you a full moped
licence. You could ride without L plates,
even endanger a passenger all without taking any
training but we recommend you do. Training is
essential.
Car licences issued after 1st
Feb. 2001 now only give a moped entitlement. You need a
CBT as well but that CBT is presently valid for the life
of your car licence (but only for a moped).
If you pass your car test
after 1st Feb. 2001, do a CBT, then send both
certificates to DVLA and get the full moped entitlement
on your licence.
Compulsory Basic Training
(CBT) :-
Can only be carried out with Approved
Training Bodies using qualified Instructors, all
regulated by the Driving Standards Agency and the course
content laid down by law.
DL 196 (CBT) certificates
issued before 1st Feb 2001 were valid for 3 years from
date of issue.
Certificates issued from 1st Feb. 2001
are only valid for 2 years.
The CBT will have to be
re-taken if both theory and practical tests haven't been
passed before expiry.
A CBT obtained on a moped is
also valid for motorcycle (at 17 yrs. old).
If you
passed a full moped test after 1st Dec 1990, you don't
need a CBT for motorcycle.
Residents on some remote
islands are exempt from CBT (but only on those islands).
Check with DVLA / DSA if you think your location may be
exempt.
If you do your CBT on a
motorcycle with sidecar or a moped with more than 2
wheels; your provisional entitlement will be restricted
to that same type of vehicle.
You can do a CBT using a
motorcycle & sidecar combination or other 3 wheeler
but, if you do, then your CBT will be qualified and only
valid for 3 wheelers
Back
to top
As above, CBT training can
only be carried out by Approved Training Bodies and
Instructors.
For up to 125cc learner
bikes, you can teach yourself and/or be taught by a
mate; it's quite legal as long as your mate isn't paid
anything. If he/she takes any money then that's
"professional instruction" and the Instructor must be
qualified (ask to see his DSA licence).
For Direct Access, you are
only allowed on road if accompanied by a qualified
Instructor, on another motorcycle and in radio contact
at all times. So professional training is the only route
here.
Back
to top
You will probably have to
pass the Theory Test before taking a practical test for
a moped or motorcycle.
A full car licence does NOT
exempt you from the Theory Test anymore.
The theory test is not
required if you have passed a two part moped test or a
lower category motorcycle test since 1st July 1996. It
can be taken before you take a CBT but it must be a
Motorcycle theory test, even if you have just sat the
Car theory test.
The Theory Test Pass
Certificate is valid for 2 years.
The pass mark is 43 out of 50
multiple-choice questions. You get 57 minutes to do it, results will be given on the day. The test uses a touch-screen
computer but the questions can be read to you on
earphones and you may ask for an extended special needs
test if necessary.
From October 2002, they
added a hazard perception test as well, video clips and testing 'Hazard Perception'.
Get a Theory Test Quiz Book
(approx. £7) from your bookseller, or better a
recommended CD-Rom (approx £14) as
the format of the test is not as straight-forward as you
might think. The top resource here is the DVLA's own free online mock test.
Contact the Booking Centre online, or find phone numbers, at DVLA The fee is £20.50
Test Times usually 9.00am to 4.15pm
Mon. to Fri.
Sometimes to 6.15pm Evenings.
9.00am to 12.15pm
Saturdays.
Any tranining school will be happy to test and help you with your knowledge for the Theory Test.
Back
to top
Moped Is, by law :-Max. 31
mph, 50 cc, age 16 or over and you need :-
A
provisional Moped entitlement
A Compulsory Basic
Training certificate
Then ride with "L"
plates
Pass Theory Test
Pass Moped test
Ride
without "L" plates and even carry a pillion
passenger
But remember if you de-restrict your moped,
it's then legally a motorcycle (see Top
tips/misc/de-restrict mopeds)
A1 "Light Motorcycle" Is, by
law :-Max. 125 cc, 11kW / 14.6 Bhp, age 17 or over and
you need :-
A provisional Motorcycle entitlement
A
CBT certificate (unless you've already passed a moped
test, see above)
Then ride with "L" plates
Pass
Theory Test (unless you already hold moped licence from
1st July 1996, see above)
Pass your test on a machine
between 75 & 125 cc.
Ride without "L" plates and
carry a pillion passenger but only bikes up to 125cc and
11kW
A2 "Standard Motorcycle" Is,
by law 25kW / 33 Bhp & Power/Weight ratio below
16kW/kg, age
17 or over and you need :-
A
provisional Motorcycle entitlement
A CBT certificate
(unless you've already passed a moped or A1 test, see
above)
Then ride with "L" plates on machines up to
125cc and up to 11 kW only,
Pass Theory Test (unless
you've already passed moped or A1 test, see
above)
Pass your test on a machine between 120 &
125 cc, capable of at least 62 mph.
Ride without "L"
plates and carry a pillion passenger on any bike but you
are restricted to a 33 Bhp machine for 2 years; after
that, you're free to ride any bike, there's no
re-test.
A "Direct Access" Is, by law
Over 35kW / 46 Bhp, age 21 or over and you need :-
A
provisional Motorcycle entitlement
A CBT certificate
(unless you've already passed a moped, A1 or A2 test,
see above)
Pass Theory Test (unless you've already
passed a moped, A1 or A2 test, see above)
Learn only
with an approved Instructor, in radio contact, on a
machine over 35kW / 46.6Bhp.
Pass your test on a
machine over 46.6 Bhp.
Ride any bike you want
straight way, without "L" plates and carry a pillion
passenger.
A "Accelerated Access" (A2
licence holders, reaching 21 but before their 2 year
restriction ends)
Learn only under controlled
instruction, with "L" plates, all as for Direct
Access.
A test failure won't affect your existing
licence.
The Practical Test costs £51 (£60 on Saturdays and evenings).
Back
to top
Learners can practise with a
sidecar combination (same Bhp rules apply) but must take
their test on a solo machine (excepting disabled
riders). Again the same (restricted licence) and other
rules apply. Disabled riders will then have their
entitlement restricted to combinations.
They've complicated it
haven't they. Contact NABD or your local Training Company for support and information
Back
to top
Without going through all the
road traffic acts, here's a brief synopsis:-
You must
hold a full licence for the machine you're riding, wear
a safety helmet etc.
Your Bike must be adapted to
carry a pillion (a rear seat and passenger
footrests).
Your pillion must wear a safety helmet,
sit astride the machine facing forward (side-saddle is
illegal).
There's no legal age required
for riding pillion but he/she must big enough to hold
on, sat astride with feet on the foot pegs (so there is
a size limit) and able to fully understand the detailed
instruction you will surely give.
Back
to top
|
