What will my current licence entitle me to ride?

[MorganP104]

Hi,

I was idly wondering what (if any) motorcycles/mopeds I can ride on my current car licence (I passed in May 1994).

My understanding is that those (like me) who passed their driving test before January 1997 are entitled to drive/ride a wider variety of vehicles than those who passed after January 1997.

I did a fair amount of Googling before starting this thread, but the more I searched, the more conflicting information I found. Some places say I can ride a moped (50cc or less, 50kph or less) without CBT, and other places say that I can ride larger motorcycles (larger than 50cc, more than 50kph top speed).

I'm guessing that either way, I'd need L-plates, and then take some sort of a test at a later date... But I'm not sure, hence this thread.

Good bikers of PH, I am in your hands. Educate me!

[nyxster]

50cc only limited to 30 mph as is.

125cc / 15 bhp max with a CBT & L plates

Anything more than 15bhp / 125cc you'll need a full bike license.

[Pica-Pica]

See here and check the coding on your licence

https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories

[MorganP104]

nyxster said:

50cc only limited to 30 mph as is.

125cc / 15 bhp max with a CBT & L plates

Anything more than 15bhp / 125cc you'll need a full bike license.

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you.

[nyxster]

MorganP104 said:

nyxster said:

50cc only limited to 30 mph as is.

125cc / 15 bhp max with a CBT & L plates

Anything more than 15bhp / 125cc you'll need a full bike license.

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you.

np - the precise wording is:

You passed your driving test before 1 February 2001. You can ride a moped (up to 50cc) without L plates. You don't need to take a CBT course or take the full moped test. You must take CBT if you want to ride anything larger than a 50cc moped.

So your choice is
50cc moped, no L plates on your current car license - really only useful if you plan to stay in a city on 30mph roads.

125cc moped or geared bike - take the CBT - you can then ride on a 125 WITH L plates for up to 2 years, you can then extend it every 2 years by doing another CBT course. Cost is about 100 - 125 quid and takes a day.

Beyond L plates

You'll need to do the full motorcycle theory test (which will be valid for 2 years.)

To take the full Cat A unrestricted license test (mod 2) you need:
A valid provisional A catagory license (you have)
A valid CBT pass certificate
A valid motorcycle theory test pass
A Mod 1 pass certificate

Then you take the mod 2 test and can ride a bike of any bike capacity and power with no
L plates.

TBH there really is no point in not doing the CBT even if you just want to ride a scootay - its not an actual test with pass/fail but you do need to show you can ride safely. A 125 will get you up to 60 mph (eventually) and there is a bigger choice of 125 bikes and scooters than 50ccs.

if you don't want the stigma of L plates then you can do a (typically) 5 day beginner CBT to test DAS course to get a full license. You need to get your theory test done first though as there can be a waiting list for test slots and you can't take Mod 1 without it.

So depends what bike you want to ride - really for the cost (500-750) and time (a week or less) its worth just getting a full A license, 125's become very tedious after a while and with L plates you'll quickly grow tired of the muppetry who feel they have to get past you at any cost.

[CAPP0]

If you do decide to stick with the 50cc option, just make absolutely sure you don't buy one of those 50cc bikes or scooters which has had the very simple and cheap modification to make it go faster done, whatever you do.

[phatmanace]

I too rode a 50cc with my pre '97 car license. Then did CBT to a 125, finally did my DAS a few years ago.

... slight weirdness that, IIRC, you can carry a pillion on your 50 with zero training, but when you've done your CBT (and are arguably more qualified), you can't until you have done your full bike test.

[brrapp]

My son did his CBT in 2010 at 16, he passed his car test in 2012 within 2 years of doing the CBT. He reckons this lets him ride a 125 on L-plates indefinitely without doing a new CBT every 2 years. I disagree, yes for a moped, but not a 125. Which of us is right?

[phatmanace]

brrapp said:

My son did his CBT in 2010 at 16, he passed his car test in 2012 within 2 years of doing the CBT. He reckons this lets him ride a 125 on L-plates indefinitely without doing a new CBT every 2 years. I disagree, yes for a moped, but not a 125. Which of us is right?

you are correct. He needs to do CBT every 2 years.

[phatmanace]

phatmanace said:

you are correct. He needs to do CBT every 2 years.

2 other things..

1. People seem to have a slight 'concerns/fear' over doing their DAS. I did - I think I did 3 lots of CBT's before my instructor said "this is silly, just come and do your DAS' - I did and it was such a weight off my mind. initially I didn't particularly want a bigger bike (honest!) - just didn't want to keep going back to do the test. Then my 125 fell apart and I replaced it with a 650...
2. I beleive there was some talk of moving the CBT to be a yearly thing - to encourage people to do their DAS.

[brrapp]

phatmanace said:

brrapp said:

My son did his CBT in 2010 at 16, he passed his car test in 2012 within 2 years of doing the CBT. He reckons this lets him ride a 125 on L-plates indefinitely without doing a new CBT every 2 years. I disagree, yes for a moped, but not a 125. Which of us is right?

you are correct. He needs to do CBT every 2 years.

I've spoken to him and he reminded me that he did a full moped test when he was 16. Although it only entitles him to ride an automatic moped without l-plates, he says because of it (and not the car test), he doesn't need to repeat the CBT every 2 years, I think he might be right.

[nyxster]

brrapp said:

phatmanace said:

brrapp said:

My son did his CBT in 2010 at 16, he passed his car test in 2012 within 2 years of doing the CBT. He reckons this lets him ride a 125 on L-plates indefinitely without doing a new CBT every 2 years. I disagree, yes for a moped, but not a 125. Which of us is right?

you are correct. He needs to do CBT every 2 years.

I've spoken to him and he reminded me that he did a full moped test when he was 16. Although it only entitles him to ride an automatic moped without l-plates, he says because of it (and not the car test), he doesn't need to repeat the CBT every 2 years, I think he might be right.

AM catagory:

AM Motorcycle Licence

Aged 16 or over: Moped Licence

You can ride a moped with L plates after completing your CBT, or if you want you could opt for the new AM licence by taking your theory test and then a practical test. This will allow you to ride a moped (either scooter or motorcycle style) up to 50cc with a top speed of 45 km/h (around 28mph) without L plates, and to carry a passenger.

Even if you decide not to get your full moped licence and just ride with L plates after your CBT, we recommend that you do further training after CBT to improve your riding skills and your road sense.