What Motorcycle Can I Ride? - A Guide To Motorcycle Licence Categories
By Phil West
Freelance motorcycle journalist, former editor of Bike & What Bike?, ex-Road Test Editor MCN, author of six books and now in need of a holiday.
29.08.2023
So you’re thinking about getting on two wheels? Congratulations, whether it’s for commuting or just for fun, you’ve made a fantastic decision. What you need to know now is what type of motorbike can you ride and what licence will you need?
Getting on the road on a bike is easier than in a car, but getting a full licence is a little more complex. That’s because there’s more to learn, which is also why riding a bike is so much more rewarding. Don’t see it as hassle, instead, be glad of the chance to learn to ride safely from enthusiastic experts. What kind of test you take will depend on both your age and the size of the motorcycle you wish to be licensed to ride. Find your age below to check out your options.
What Motorcycle Can I Ride? - A Guide To Motorcycle Licence Categories
So, you’re thinking about getting on two wheels? Congratulations, whether it’s for commuting or just for fun, you’ve made a fantastic decision. What you need to know now is what type of motorbike you can ride and what licence you will need?
Getting on the road on a bike is easier than in a car, but getting a full licence is a little more complex. That’s because there’s more to learn, which is also why riding a bike is so much more rewarding. Don’t see it as hassle, instead, be glad of the chance to learn to ride safely from enthusiastic experts. What kind of test you take will depend on both your age and the size of the motorcycle you wish to be licensed to ride. Find your age below to check out your options.
What motorcycle can I ride at 16?
After getting your provisional licence (£34 online) from the DVLA you need to do your Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) which takes 1-2 days. Then you can ride a 50cc AM category moped restricted to 45kph/28mph. You can’t take pillions and need L-plates but at least you have some freedom. There are also now a large number of electric scooters, and some motorcycles, that meet the AM classification and are accordingly restricted to 45kph/28mph. Should you wish, you can progress to take the two-part practical test, but you will still be restricted to 50cc and 28mph although you can take a pillion and dump the L-plates – though most riders would consider this a bit of a waste of time.
What motorcycle can I ride at 17 or over?
If you successfully take your CBT at the age of 17 (or passed it on a moped at 16) you can ride a 125cc (A1 class/11kW (15bhp) bike on L-plates with no pillion. Take your theory test and two part practical and on a new A1 licence you can ride a 125cc bike with no L-plates. Before 2013, you could have ridden 33bhp bike at this stage, but since 2013, you are restricted to a 125cc bike until you are 19 years old.
Again, there are also now a large number of electric scooters and motorcycles, that meet the A1 classification while some, such as Zero’s DS 14.4, have the advantage of meeting the A1 requirement of 11kW ‘continuous’ power, but are actually capable of more, in this case 23kW at peak, meaning it’s one of the best performing A1 bikes available.
What motorcycle can I ride at 19 or over?
Unless you already have an A1 licence you need the CBT, theory test and the two-part practical test, which will give you an A2 licence. Do this and you can ride any bike of up to 35kW/46.6bhp (with a power/weight ratio of no more than 0.266bhp/kg) without L-plates and carry passengers. You can also ride a restricted version of a bike that makes more power providing the original output isn’t more than 93bhp and the final power/weight ratio isn’t greater than 0.266bhp/kg. Most manufacturers sell A2 versions of some of their bigger bikes.
Again, there are also now plenty of electric scooters and motorcycles that also meet the A2 classification such as Zero’s DSR 14.4 and BMW’s new CE 04.
If you already have an A1 licence and are 19 years old or more, you can take the practical test and upgrade to an A2 licence. After two years, or on reaching 24 years old, you can opt to take a Full Category A test and ride bikes of any capacity or power output. Previously this extra restriction didn’t exist, and you could have ridden anything you liked after taking the practical test at 17 and doing your two years' probation on a 33bhp bike. So, while you can gain a full licence, at 21 years old, the only way to do it is by taking you A1, A2 and A tests.
What motorcycle can I ride at 24 or over?
Previously Direct Access (which means you turn up, pass your test and ride away on anything you like) could be done at 21 years old. This is no longer possible and instead you must be 24 years old or older. As before, CBT gets you on a 125cc bike with L-plates and no pillions. Theory and two-part practical now gains you an A licence via direct access. Off you go, enjoy any bike you like. If you have an A2 licence and are over 24 or have held the A2 for two years you can take the practical test and also ride anything you like. If you have an A1 you can go straight to an A unrestricted licence if you’re over 24.
What happens when I pass my CBT?
Experiencing the open road for the first time
That moment when... you've passed your CBT and get out on a bike for the first time.
What category is a full motorcycle licence?
A full motorcycle licence is Category A and you need to be at least 24 years old to get one. Depending on your age, there are three other categories of motorcycle licence you might hold. AM is the licence you get if you do your CBT aged 16. An A1 licence is what you get if you pass CBT, theory test and the two-part practical test between ages 17-19 and an A2 licence is what you get passing CBT, theory and both practical tests between 19-24 years of age.
How much does a motorcycle licence cost?
Costs vary depending on the part of the country you are in, time of year (winter is cheaper) and how many lessons you need. Typically (in mid-2023) CBT costs around £175, training costs somewhere between £100-200 per day (expect to need around five full days), the theory test is £23, module 1 practical is £15.50 and module 2 is £75. You’ll probably need some bike-hire too, meaning a probable cost of between £1000-£1500 to get a full licence.
That’s a lot of money at one go, but comparable to the cost of a couple of skiing holidays (where all you’ll learn is how to fall down a mountain in the company of drunken stockbrokers), and therefore a bargain that will improve your life forever.
What motorcycle can I ride with a full car licence?
If you passed your car test before 1st February 2001 you can ride a moped (50cc, restricted to 28mph) on a car licence without doing Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). But any other motorcycle needs CBT. If you passed your car test after 2001, you’ll need CBT for a moped too. You can’t ride any other two-wheeled motorcycle on a car licence without CBT, but there are some three-wheeled scooters that can be driven on a car licence if you are over 21 because the front wheels are wide enough apart (they must be at least 420mm apart) to class as a powered tricycle.
What is the Motorcycle Theory test?
The motorcycle theory test is a separate test from the car theory test and, as you would expect, the questions are tailored more towards riding a bike and carrying a pillion.
The test comprises two sections:
the multiple-choice test, where you will need to answer fifty questions in fifty-seven minutes, and
the hazard perception test, where you will be shown fourteen video clips and you will be required to spot the hazard (or hazards) as they develop.
Multiple-choice questions are a mixture of fact checking and common sense and, especially if you've been riding for some time or have a full car licence, shouldn't pose much of a problem. You can even take a practice test on the Government Website.
The questions are based information contained in 3 books which should be studied prior to taking the test:
To pass the theory test, you will need to score at least 43/50 on the multiple-choice questions, and at least 44/75 on the hazard perception test.
Once you pass the theory test, you'll be given a pass certificate that you will need to book your riding test. The theory test pass certificate is valid for 2 years from issue.
If you fail the theory test, your results paper which highlights the areas that need more work. You will need to resit the whole test again (even if you passed one of the two sections) and tests can be rebooked no earlier than 3 working days from your fail date.
How do I book a Motorcycle Theory Test?
You must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the last 12 months to book and all bookings can be made via the Gov.uk site. You will need your valid UK licence number, an e-mail address and your credit or debit card details.
How much is the Motorcycle Theory Test
At time of writing (Aug '23) it's just £23 to book the motorcycle theory test (the same as the car test), but always check on the Gov.uk site to be sure.
Beware of third-party sites which will offer to make the booking on your behalf and often promise free 'retests'. These sites often charge more (around £46) to cover their 'admin' charges and promise more than they can deliver. Our advice is to avoid them at all costs, and stay on Gov.uk as detailed above.
Honda School of Motorcycling
BikeSocial sent an experienced 125cc rider to review the Honda School of Motorcycling for their Full Licence training and tests.
Where can I do my motorcycle test?
Finding your local motorcycle training school is easy, simply click the link to find your nearest.
In summary – bike, age and licence needed:
Now you know how and where to get your bike licence, check out some cheap learner legal bikes and A2 licence-friendly bikes here.
Steps to getting a motorcycle licence
How to get a motorcycle licence
From CBT to A1 to A2 to A
