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What Motorbike Can I Ride in the UK? Your Guide

Before you can ride a bike in the UK, you’ll need to make sure you have the correct licence for it. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What motorbike can I ride in the UK?” you’ll find that the answer may not be as straightforward as you’d hoped.

In this article, we’ll break down the different motorcycle licence types available in the UK, so you know exactly what you can and cannot do with each one. We’ll also show you how to get a full motorbike licence earlier than usual, along with a short discussion on whether your car licence (if you have one) means anything when riding a bike.

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A quick note about CBT and driving licence

Before we start, let’s talk about the role of Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and a driving licence when trying to get a motorcycle licence.

CBT is a mandatory training course you must take before you can start learning how to ride a moped or a bike on public roads. Completing the course grants you a certificate, proving that you’ve learned the basics and are ready to practice for your full test. A CBT certificate is valid for two years, after which you must pass a motorcycle licence test or retake the training.

In most cases, not having a valid CBT certificate will prevent you from obtaining a motorcycle licence. There are a few exceptions to this, which we’ll discuss later in this article.

However, it’s important to remember that you can’t do your CBT without a provisional or full car licence. Make sure you have a car driving licence first before signing up for a CBT course, or you won’t be able to do anything.

How do I know what motorbike I can ride?

Now that we’ve discussed the importance of having a valid CBT and a driving licence, let’s talk about the different motorcycle licences available.

The DVLA has set specific rules on what motorbike cc levels you can operate on which licence, so let’s examine each one in detail.

AM mopeds licence

A valid AM mopeds licence allows you to ride a 50cc moped without L plates on public roads, as long as its power output is under 4kw. You’re also allowed to have a pillion passenger with you.

To get started, you must:

  • Be at least 16 years old
  • Have a full or provisional licence and a valid Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate.
    • If you have a full car licence gained before February 2001, you can go straight to riding a moped without L plates.

Once you have your CBT, whether you need to sit the tests or not depends on the driving licence you have:

  • If you have a valid full driving licence that you gained after February 2001, you can ride a moped without having to sit the tests.
  • If you have a provisional licence, you must pass the theory and practical tests (on a 50cc moped) before you can ride a moped without L plates.

Source: Gov.uk

A1 light motorcycle licence

The A1 licence allows you to ride any scooter or motorbike up to 125cc and a maximum power output of 11kW without L plates and with a pillion passenger. To get the A1 licence, you must:

  • Be 17 or older
  • Have a full or provisional driving licence and a valid CBT
  • Pass a motorcycle theory test
  • Pass a two-part practical test on a bike between 120-125cc and under 11 kW.

A2 motorcycle licence

The A2 licence lets you ride any motorcycle without any restrictions, as long as it’s not over 35kW. To get this licence, you must:

  • Be 19 or older
  • Have a full A1 licence or a driving licence with motorcycle entitlement
    • If you’ve had your A1 licence for over two years, you only need to pass a two-part practical test on a bike that’s at least 245cc and between 20-35kW
    • If you’ve had your A1 licence for less than two years, you must pass a motorcycle theory test and a two-part practical test on a bike that’s at least 245cc and between 20-35kW
    • If you have a driving licence, you must have a CBT, then pass a theory test and pass a two-part practical test on a bike that’s at least 245cc and between 20-35kW

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Category A motorcycle licence

The Category A motorcycle licence lets you ride any type of bike (including powerful motorcycles) without restrictions, regardless of engine size and power output. There are two different ways to obtain this licence: the progressive route and the direct access route.

Between 21 and 23 years old

This route is called the “progressive route”. Young riders can do this if they’ve progressed through the bike licences early. If this applies to you, here are the requirements for a full category A licence:

  • Hold an A2 licence for over two years.
  • Sit a two-part practical test on a motorbike with at least 595cc, 50kW, and a minimum kerb weight of 180kg.

If you’re 24 or older This route is called the “direct access route” because this is how new riders with some or no previous riding experience can obtain a category A licence. The requirements are:

  • If you have an A2 licence for at least two years, you can take a two-part practical test on a motorbike with at least 595cc, 50kW, and a minimum kerb weight of 180kg—no need for a CBT or theory test.
  • If you have an A2 licence for less than two years, you must take a theory and two-part practical motorcycle test—no need for a CBT.
  • If you hold a full A1 licence, you must take a theory and two-part practical motorcycle test—no need for a CBT.
  • If you don’t hold an A1 or A2 licence, you must have a CBT first. Then, you must take a theory and two-part practical motorcycle test.
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What motorbike can I ride with a full car driving licence?

If you gained your full car licence before February 2001, you can ride a 50cc moped without L plates or a CBT. You also won’t need to take the theory and practical tests. But you'll need a CBT if you want to ride a bigger bike—up to 125cc and with L plates.

However, if your driving licence was issued after February 2001, you must take a CBT course to ride a scooter or motorbike up to 125cc and with L plates.

If you want to ride a bike larger than 125cc, you must take the tests to gain the necessary licence—regardless of when you earned your car driving licence.

A note about riding a bike on offshore islands

You don’t need a CBT to ride a bike on most offshore islands as long as you have a full car driving licence.

However, these islands still require riders to have a CBT:

  • The Isle of Wight
  • South Uist
  • North Uist
  • Benbecula
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Mainland Orkney
  • Mainland Shetland
  • Any other island connected to mainland Great Britain by road

Source: Gov.uk

Is CBT the same as a motorcycle licence?

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Even though having a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate entitles you to ride a moped (if you’re 16), a scooter, or a motorbike up to 125cc (if you’re 17 or over), it’s not quite the same as a motorcycle licence. Rather, it’s the first step of your motorcycle licence journey—you can’t obtain a motorcycle licence without getting a CBT first.

The purpose of a CBT is to allow you to practice for your full motorbike licence test with enough riding experience. Aside from the engine size limit, CBT holders must also use L plates (D in Wales) when riding—a limitation that full licence holders don’t have.

Lastly, a CBT is only good for two years, so you must pass your licence test within that time frame. Otherwise, you’ll have to retake the training.

However, there are some instances where you don’t need the CBT:

  • You passed your car driving test before the 1st of February 2001 and want to ride a moped
  • You have a full moped licence after passing a test on or after the 1st of December 1990 and want to ride a motorcycle
  • You already hold a full motorbike licence from one category and want to upgrade to the next one
  • You live and ride on some offshore islands
  • Want to trial an e-scooter

Source: Gov.uk

How much does a motorcycle licence cost?

Getting a motorcycle licence involves several costs:

  • £34 for a provisional driving licence if applying online
    • £43 if applying by post
  • About £150 for the CBT course
    • The training school sets the price, so you may be able to find a cheaper (or more expensive) course.
  • £23 for the theory test
  • £15.50 for the off-road riding test
  • £75 for the on-road riding test on weekdays
    • £88.50 if taking the test during the evening, weekend, or bank holiday

Taking motorcycle riding lessons for additional training will add more to your costs. Because the prices differ depending on the provider and the lesson you want, expect at least an additional £1,000 for advanced courses per licence type.

What tests do I need for a motorcycle licence?

Aside from having a valid CBT licence (when applicable), there are three sets of tests you must pass:

  • Theory test
  • “Module 1” Off-road riding test
  • “Module 2” On-road riding test

If you have an A1 light motorcycle or A2 licence and have held it for more than two years, you don’t have to take the theory test—you just need to pass the riding tests. Otherwise, you must have a valid theory test certificate before taking the riding tests.

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has published a flowchart guide to help you determine the steps needed to obtain or upgrade your motorcycle licence.

In summary: what motorbike can I ride?

Riding motorbikes in the UK requires specific licences depending on your experience and the bike’s size, so let’s quickly recap each one:

  • You can ride a moped, scooter, or motorcycle up to 125cc with L plates using a valid car driving licence and CBT
  • You can ride a moped up to 50cc and 4kW with an AM licence
  • You can ride any motorcycle up to 125cc and 11 kW with an A1 light motorcycle licence
  • You can ride any motorcycle not exceeding 35kW with an A2 light motorcycle licence
  • You can ride a motorcycle of any size with a Category A motorcycle licence

If you want to earn any type of motorcycle licence, remember that you must have a valid driving licence (full or provisional), complete a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course, and meet the minimum age requirement. From there, you can start practising so you can take the theory and practical riding tests.

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