Driving licence restriction codes

[hahithestevieboy]

I have just had a look on the gov.uk website at my driving licence.

For category A, my full licence says there is a restriction 79(tri) restricting my licence to a tricycle but on the .gov website that restriction is not there.

This implies that the website thinks that I have a full motorbike licence and my actual licence thinks not.

Is this just a bug in the system or what? What motorcycle can I actually ride? BTW - full car licence since '92.

I also cant tell whether or not I need to do a CBT and theory test to ride a 125 on the road or if I can ride something slightly bigger?

[scarble]

This might help:
https://www.gov.uk/cbt-compulsory-basic-training/c...
But notice it is for a 50 not a 125.

Edited by scarble on Monday 17th August 13:53

[ging84]

I noticed the same thing a few months back and it is still like it now, I was kind of tempted to apply for a new photo card see if that also came though saying I had an unrestricted organ donor licence. But ignoring the missing code which is probably a website error, you can ride a moped as a fully licenced rider, but you need a current cbt for your provisional bike licence which is restricted to 125s under a certain power unless supervised by an instructor.

[hahithestevieboy]

scarble said:

This might help:
https://www.gov.uk/cbt-compulsory-basic-training/c...
But notice it is for a 50 not a 125.

Edited by scarble on Monday 17th August 13:53

Read that - clear that I effectively have a "full licence" for a moped but the website where the government shows all your driving licence details (including points and entitlements) effectively says I have a full motorbike licence as well whereas that should be a full motorbike licence for a trike only. It's a wierd one. I've been thinking of doing direct access to see what riding a bike is like but have been wondering if i'm actually allowed to ride something more powerful than a learner restricted (11hp) 125 in the meantime as was the case back in the day....

[Slidingpillar]

You passed your car driving test before 19 January 2013 and up till then, three wheelers were classed as cars with one wheel less.

Then the idiotic 3rd European Driving Licence directive took effect, and classed them as motorbikes with one wheel more. The current driving licence you have just reflects the grandfathering of your existing rights.

Under the daft EU originated rules, a full motorbike licence (and no car test) now qualifies one to drive my 1930 Morgan with its steering wheel.

The directive was originally far more sensible, but some nameless idiot modified it in the committee stages and believe it or not, sessions are nor recorded, so we don't know who the idiot is.

[scarble]

hahithestevieboy said:

Read that - clear that I effectively have a "full licence" for a moped but the website where the government shows all your driving licence details (including points and entitlements) effectively says I have a full motorbike licence as well whereas that should be a full motorbike licence for a trike only. It's a wierd one. I've been thinking of doing direct access to see what riding a bike is like but have been wondering if i'm actually allowed to ride something more powerful than a learner restricted (11hp) 125 in the meantime as was the case back in the day....

By all means, try it and let us know how many points/metal plates you get.

[Joeguard1990]

There has been countless threads on this exact topic. You don't have a full motorcycle licence for free.

[ianrb]

Slidingpillar said:

You passed your car driving test before 19 January 2013 and up till then, three wheelers were classed as cars with one wheel less.

Then the idiotic 3rd European Driving Licence directive took effect, and classed them as motorbikes with one wheel more. The current driving licence you have just reflects the grandfathering of your existing rights.

Under the daft EU originated rules, a full motorbike licence (and no car test) now qualifies one to drive my 1930 Morgan with its steering wheel.

The directive was originally far more sensible, but some nameless idiot modified it in the committee stages and believe it or not, sessions are nor recorded, so we don't know who the idiot is.

Wasn't that always the case, but to drive a 3 wheel car, e.g. a Reliant Robin, on a bike license you had to block off the reverse gear? Whereas to drive a Reliant Robin with a functioning reverse gear you needed a car license.

[Slidingpillar]

ianrb said:

Wasn't that always the case, but to drive a 3 wheel car, e.g. a Reliant Robin, on a bike license you had to block off the reverse gear? Whereas to drive a Reliant Robin with a functioning reverse gear you needed a car license.

There certainly was a period of history when this was true, I know folk who passed both the motorcycle and car tests in the same three wheeler. I think the motorcycle test pass in a three wheeler bit was removed years ago, certainly when I bought my three wheeler in 1995 it was not the case (I actually asked...).

The attraction to three wheelers though was the age requirement. Until 1972, you could get a bike licence at 16, so one could drive about in a Reliant with a blanked off reverse, whereas to drive a Mini, you needed to be 17 (as now).

[hahithestevieboy]

Joeguard1990 said:

There has been countless threads on this exact topic. You don't have a full motorcycle licence for free.

Obviously not - but was wondering if the DVLA thought I did or if there was a bug in their website....

[hahithestevieboy]

scarble said:

By all means, try it and let us know how many points/metal plates you get.

OK. I'll let you know from my hospital bed if I'm still alive.

Seriously though - years back when I originally got my licence (in the isle of man) if you had your car licence over a certain time and you were over a certain age you could drive something like a 35hp bike on your own on L plates. Is there no similar scheme now? Presumably i'm only allowed to drive a 35KW bike with an instructor present?