Motorcycle Entitlement with Full Car Licence

[Madscanner]

I've just had a look at gov.uk sub-site "View your driving licence information" which tells me - in the section titled "vehicles you can provisionally drive" - that I can drive any size motorbike with or without sidecar (information which does not appear on my photocard licence or paper counterpart). My licence was issued in 1986.

I am just curious what, if any practical issues there are around using a motorcycle at the moment. I assume I will require CBT(not in the practical sense, but in the legal sense), but would I have to display L-Plates?

All a bit hypothetical, as I don't own a motorbike, at the moment, but...

I've had a skeg at both the DVLA and DSSA websites, but my situation doesn't seem to be catered for in the information posted.

[jcelee]

You should be able to ride a 50cc without L plates.
125cc will require CBT (and L plates)
>125cc will require DAS pass (Theory test, Mod 1 car park, Mod 2 road tests) on a 600cc bike

[Madscanner]

jcelee said:

You should be able to ride a 50cc without L plates.
125cc will require CBT (and L plates)
>125cc will require DAS pass (Theory test, Mod 1 car park, Mod 2 road tests) on a 600cc bike

My licence says nothing about mopeds (although I understand that to be a general entitlement) - just surprised / amused that I can go out and get, say, a YZF-R1 and have the provisional entitlement to ride it...

[AndiSun]

Madscanner said:

My licence says nothing about mopeds (although I understand that to be a general entitlement) - just surprised / amused that I can go out and get, say, a YZF-R1 and have the provisional entitlement to ride it...

You don't. Refer to above reply.

[Madscanner]

AndiSun said:

You don't. Refer to above reply.

If the provisional entitlement is clearly stated on my driver licence record, then how do I not have the provisional entitlement?

[Snifflytooth]

You will survive freefalling 10,000 ft without a parachute, make sure you land head first.



Don't believe everything you read on the interweb, even if it's on an official site.

The above post is what is required, nothing less nothing more - in fact there is more, you need a bike related Theory Test as well.

edit to add: woops, the Theory Test is mentioned

[Tall_Paul]

You do have the provional entitlement to ride a bike over 125cc, but you can't just buy one and ride it. Like driving a car under a provisional, there are certain limitations. In a car, you have to have a full licence holder as a passenger. On a bike, you have to be accompanied by an instructor and in radio contact with them, plus (I think) you have to be wearing hi-viz. Basically that means you can only ride a big bike (whether that's a 500cc or 1000cc bike) when on a course with an instructor.

https://www.gov.uk/rules-motorcyclists-83-to-88/mo...

If you want to learn to ride motorcycles larger than 125 cc and with a power output over 11 kW, you MUST meet the minimum age requirements, satisfactorily complete a CBT course and be accompanied by an approved instructor on another motorcycle in radio contact.

To obtain your full moped or motorcycle licence you MUST pass a motorcycle theory test and modules 1 and 2 practical tests on a two-wheeled motorcycle.

Edited by Tall_Paul on Wednesday 25th March 16:28

Edited by Tall_Paul on Wednesday 25th March 16:29

[WinstonWolf]

Madscanner said:

AndiSun said:

You don't. Refer to above reply.

If the provisional entitlement is clearly stated on my driver licence record, then how do I not have the provisional entitlement?

You do by way of grandfather rights, but it's been capacity limited for a bloomin eternity.

[Madscanner]

Tall_Paul said:

https://www.gov.uk/rules-motorcyclists-83-to-88/mo...

Thanks.

Edited by Madscanner on Wednesday 25th March 16:53

[DJP]

Quick question:

When I passed my car test (in 1987) my full car license automatically became a provisional motorcycle license (without time limt).

Would this still apply today and would I need to pass a CBT?

(Academic question only as I already have a full bike license).

[LoonR1]

You would still need a CBT

[Nigel Worc's]

LoonR1 said:

You would still need a CBT

I see people write this, but I don't understand it.

I like many others have a motorcycle licence from before things became silly.

I never had any lessons, or tuition of any kind, I rode around the block, did an emergency stop, answered three questions from the highway code, my examiner was on foot, and hey presto I can ride anything I like.

I didn't ride from about 1986 until about 2011.

I have never done a CBT, never done a theory test of any kind.

So, if I can use my licence of 1980 without restriction, how come the OP can't use his licence (albeit provisional) of 1986 ?

People can still use their minibus and 7.5 ton lorry licences issued to us all in those times, what is so different about motorcycle entitlements ?

[vonhosen]

Nigel Worc's said:

LoonR1 said:

You would still need a CBT

I see people write this, but I don't understand it.

I like many others have a motorcycle licence from before things became silly.

I never had any lessons, or tuition of any kind, I rode around the block, did an emergency stop, answered three questions from the highway code, my examiner was on foot, and hey presto I can ride anything I like.

I didn't ride from about 1986 until about 2011.

I have never done a CBT, never done a theory test of any kind.

So, if I can use my licence of 1980 without restriction, how come the OP can't use his licence (albeit provisional) of 1986 ?

People can still use their minibus and 7.5 ton lorry licences issued to us all in those times, what is so different about motorcycle entitlements ?

Because the law changed.

You can't use your mini bus licence (gained under grandfather rights) in the same way as someone who passes the D1 test now either. You can't use it for hire/reward, they can.
If you want to use it for hire/reward you need to do the test.

[WinstonWolf]

vonhosen said:

Nigel Worc's said:

LoonR1 said:

You would still need a CBT

I see people write this, but I don't understand it.

I like many others have a motorcycle licence from before things became silly.

I never had any lessons, or tuition of any kind, I rode around the block, did an emergency stop, answered three questions from the highway code, my examiner was on foot, and hey presto I can ride anything I like.

I didn't ride from about 1986 until about 2011.

I have never done a CBT, never done a theory test of any kind.

So, if I can use my licence of 1980 without restriction, how come the OP can't use his licence (albeit provisional) of 1986 ?

People can still use their minibus and 7.5 ton lorry licences issued to us all in those times, what is so different about motorcycle entitlements ?

Because the law changed.

You can't use your mini bus licence (gained under grandfather rights) in the same way as someone who passes the D1 test now either. You can't use it for hire/reward, they can.
If you want to use it for hire/reward you need to do the test.

Just to clarify, on an old (1985) entitlement I thought I could drive a hired 11 seater with a trailer?

I'm not likely to do it, but the wording hire made me

[LoonR1]

WinstonWolf said:

Just to clarify, on an old (1985) entitlement I thought I could drive a hired 11 seater with a trailer?

I'm not likely to do it, but the wording hire made me

No idea on the trailer bit, but "hired" is very different to "for hire". One is where you've paid to use the minibus, the other is where people are paying you for the journey.

[WinstonWolf]

LoonR1 said:

WinstonWolf said:

Just to clarify, on an old (1985) entitlement I thought I could drive a hired 11 seater with a trailer?

I'm not likely to do it, but the wording hire made me

No idea on the trailer bit, but "hired" is very different to "for hire". One is where you've paid to use the minibus, the other is where people are paying you for the journey.

Ah, good point

Just checked online

You can drive Passenger Carrying Vehicles with a minimum of 9 and maximum of 16 passenger seats, and a driver, with a trailer over 750kg

You can drive vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg carrying no more than 8 passengers and a driver with a trailer weighing more than 750kg and combined weight of vehicle and trailer can't be over 12,000kg

I feel the need to hire something big

[LoonR1]

10 years ago I moved house and hired a Luton van. The previous hirer didn't return it, so they gave me what I'd call a truck, basically one step down from an HGV. It was brilliant to drive and gripped like hell. Mental how good they are.

My grandad was a truck driver and he used to stand up with both feet on the brakes pulling the wheel with both hands to get round a corner.

I can't believe they let me just drive one though having never done before or since.

[WinstonWolf]

Yup, two tests and I can ride or drive pretty much anything up to a PSV/HGV. I guess there are some benefits to having grey hair

[apguy]

Passed my car test in 1987 at 17 years old.

This meant that in my 30's when motor-racing I owned a 7.5ton Bedford lorry with a 20foot body and hydraulic lift that carried the race car. Behind the lorry I towed a 14foot caravan (less than 750kg) as the over night accommodation and breakfast wagon.

So, having never taken a lorry or trailer test I was totally legally driving 8 and quarter tons worth of lorry and trailer with a combined length in excess of 40 feet As it wasn't for hire-reward, no requirement for a tacho either.

Got to love the old licence entitlements!

[Iang84]

Its all mental I passed my car test just after the 2001 cut off and have done taken my bike and C test so I'm perfectly legal to drive a 40ft long 100ton crane truck but I'm not allowed to drive a 9 seater minibus or use a car to tow a trailer over 750kg