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The law on Motorcycle testing
and licensing changed in January '97, introducing new
classes of tests and licences and was changed again
in February 2001, briefly the rules are now : -
All moped and motorcycle
provisional licence holders (including full car as provisional)
must, by law, hold a current DL196 (CBT) certificate,
showing they have completed the Compulsory Basic Training
course before riding on the road.(a Provisional Licence
isn't valid without a CBT certificate).
A provisional moped licence
(Group P) can be held from 16 years old and isn't time
limited.
But remember if you de-restrict your moped, it's then
legally a motorcycle (see Top tips/misc/de-restricting
mopeds)
A provisional motorcycle
licence (Group A) can be held from 17 years old.
Those issued before 1st Feb 2001 were time limited to
2 yrs. from date of issue; whilst those issued from
1st Feb 2001 are valid to age 70. If yours will, or
has lapsed under the old rules you can now apply to
have this restored immediately.
If applying for a provisional
car licence, be sure to tick the box asking for motorcycle
also. Otherwise you may have to re-apply - and pay -
again.
Remember on a provisional
licence / entitlement you must display L plates and
no pillion passengers or motorway use!
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A full moped licence automatically
gives you a motorcycle provisional but you must be over
17.
A full car licence automatically gives you a motorcycle
provisional.
Full car licences issued
before 1st Feb 2001 automatically gave you a full moped
licence (how mad !). You could ride without L plates,
even endanger a passenger all without taking any training
but we recommend you do. Training is essential.
Car licences issued after
1st Feb. 2001 now only give a moped entitlement. You
need a CBT as well but that CBT is presently valid for
the life of your car licence (but only for a moped).
If you pass your car test
after 1st Feb. 2001, do a CBT, then send both certificates
to DVLA and get the full moped entitlement on your licence.
Compulsory Basic Training
(CBT) :-
Can only be carried out with Approved Training Bodies
using qualified Instructors, all regulated by the Driving
Standards Agency and the course content laid down by
law. (See Training/CBT))
We provide the bikes, helmets etc., try before you buy
!
DL 196 (CBT) certificates
issued before 1st Feb 2001 were valid for 3 years from
date of issue (and are now out of date).
Certificates issued from 1st Feb. 2001 are only valid
for 2 years.
The CBT will have to be re-taken
if both theory and practical tests haven't been passed
before expiry.
A CBT obtained on a moped
is also valid for motorcycle (at 17 yrs. old).
If you passed a full moped test after 1st Dec 1990,
you don't need a CBT for motorcycle.
Residents on some remote
islands are exempt from CBT (but only on those islands).
Check with DVLA / DSA if you think your location may
be exempt.
If you do your CBT on a motorcycle
with sidecar or a moped with more than 2 wheels; your
provisional entitlement will be restricted to that same
type of vehicle.
You can do a CBT using a
motorcycle & sidecar combination or other 3 wheeler
but, if you do, then your CBT will be qualified and
only valid for 3 wheelers
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As above, CBT training can
only be carried out by Approved Training Bodies and
Instructors.
For up to 125cc learner bikes,
you can teach yourself and/or be taught by a mate; it's
quite legal as long as your mate isn't paid anything.
If he/she takes any money then that's "professional
instruction" and the Instructor must be qualified
(ask to see his DSA licence).
For Direct Access, you are
only allowed on road if accompanied by a qualified Instructor,
on another motorcycle and in radio contact at all times.
So professional training is the only route here.
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You will probably have to
pass the Theory Test before taking a practical test
for a moped or motorcycle.
A full car licence does NOT
exempt you from the Theory Test anymore.
The theory test is not required
if you have passed a two part moped test or a lower
category motorcycle test since 1st July 1996. It can
be taken before you take a CBT but it must be a Motorcycle
theory test, even if you have just sat the Car theory
test.
The Theory Test Pass Certificate
is valid for 2 years.
The test uses a touch-screen
computer but the questions can be read to you on earphones
and you may ask for an extended special needs test if
necessary. The pass mark is 43 out of 50 multiple-choice
questions. Allow an hour from start to finish, results
will be given on the day.
From October 2002, they've
added a hazard perception test as well. It's video clips
each containing at least one "hazard", max.
2 and you're expected to click when you would react.
Get a Theory Test Quiz Book
(approx. £7) from your bookseller, or better still
a recommended CD-Rom (approx £14 or only £10
from us) as the format of the test is not as straight-forward
as you might think.
Kent's Theory Test Centres
are: - Canterbury, Chatham or Sidcup
Hastings, Eastbourne and Croydon are also available.
Call the Booking Centre on
0870 0101 372
Or book on the net (go to our links page and it's one
click from there).
Test Times 9.00am to 4.15pm
Mon. to Fri.
to 6.15pm Evenings.
9.00am to 12.15pm Saturdays.
You are welcome to call us
and arrange to test your knowledge on our computer simulation,
or book a CBT course and have a go at the end of your
CBT. We can then assess you for your test course and
you will be better prepared for your Theory Test.
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Moped Is, by law :-Max. 31
mph, 50 cc, age 16 or over and you need :-
A provisional Moped entitlement
A Compulsory Basic Training certificate
Then ride with "L" plates
Pass Theory Test
Pass Moped test
Ride without "L" plates and even carry a pillion
passenger
But remember if you de-restrict your moped, it's then
legally a motorcycle (see Top tips/misc/de-restrict
mopeds)
A1 "Light Motorcycle"
Is, by law :-Max. 125 cc, 11kW / 14.6 Bhp, age 17 or
over and you need :-
A provisional Motorcycle entitlement
A CBT certificate (unless you've already passed a moped
test, see above)
Then ride with "L" plates
Pass Theory Test (unless you already hold moped licence
from 1st July 1996, see above)
Pass your test on a machine between 75 & 125 cc.
Ride without "L" plates and carry a pillion
passenger but only bikes up to 125cc and 11kW
A2 "Standard Motorcycle"
Is, by law 25kW / 33 Bhp & Power/Weight ratio below
16kW/kg, age
17 or over and you need :-
A provisional Motorcycle entitlement
A CBT certificate (unless you've already passed a moped
or A1 test, see above)
Then ride with "L" plates on machines up to
125cc and up to 11 kW only,
Pass Theory Test (unless you've already passed moped
or A1 test, see above)
Pass your test on a machine between 120 & 125 cc,
capable of at least 62 mph.
Ride without "L" plates and carry a pillion
passenger on any bike but you are restricted to a 33
Bhp machine for 2 years; after that, you're free to
ride any bike, there's no re-test.
A "Direct Access"
Is, by law Over 35kW / 46 Bhp, age 21 or over and you
need :-
A provisional Motorcycle entitlement
A CBT certificate (unless you've already passed a moped,
A1 or A2 test, see above)
Pass Theory Test (unless you've already passed a moped,
A1 or A2 test, see above)
Learn only with an approved Instructor, in radio contact,
on a machine over 35kW / 46.6Bhp.
Pass your test on a machine over 46.6 Bhp.
Ride any bike you want straight way, without "L"
plates and carry a pillion passenger.
A "Accelerated Access"
(A2 licence holders, reaching 21 but before their 2
year restriction ends)
Learn only under controlled instruction, with "L"
plates, all as for Direct Access.
A test failure won't affect your existing licence.
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Learners can practise with
a sidecar combination (same Bhp rules apply) but must
take their test on a solo machine (excepting disabled
riders). Again the same (restricted licence) and other
rules apply. Disabled riders will then have their entitlement
restricted to combinations.
They've complicated it haven't
they. Don't worry, talk to us and we'll get you through
it.
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When riding a moped or motorbike,
we all know that a safety helmet must be worn but there's
a little bit more than that. Legally :-
1 The strap must be done up.
2 It must fit properly. How many times have you seen
a kiddie riding pillion with granddad's helmet on!
3 It must be an approved safety helmet. It'll either
display a BS6658 sticker on the outside, or an EC approval
mark somewhere inside. Only BS 6658 types A & B
or EC Regulation 22 type 05 series are legal in the
UK.
The new EC marks have caused
a bit of confusion. These are now sewn inside the helmet
(often to the strap) The EC mark is a circle with an
E inside and number giving the country of origin (for
example E6 is Belgium) then you'll se a long number
which must begin with 05
We've seen 04 and 03 series in the UK already. Not only
are they illegal but they're not good enough, so don't
be ripped off.
Remember, not complying with
the above is the same offence as not wearing one.
The DETR has published advice
(DETR/VSE6 Oct 2000) that states "…you can
wear other types of helmet which could reasonably be
expected to give……….should seek confirmation
from the supplier that the helmet does offer a similar
or greater level of protection." This is interesting;
previously we were told that your helmet had to display
the kite-mark which shouldn't be removed. Now surely,
even if the sticker has been removed it still meets
this criteria. They do qualify their advice with the
disclaimer that their opinion hasn't been tested by
the courts, though.
Passengers in a side-car
don't need to wear a helmet if the sides of the car
are over 18inches / 457mm high, neither does a Sikh
who is wearing a turban and of course no-one needs a
helmet to push the bike on foot (but you do if you freewheel
on it).
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A visor (or goggles) aren't
a legal requirement but if you do have them, then the
law applies. Legally :-
1 It must be an approved visor / goggle It'll either
have a BS4110 mark or the new EC Regulation 22 type
05 mark (see helmet law for details on EC marks).
The EC visors often have a removable sticker showing
the approval and of course you'll peel it off. So how're
the plod going to deal with that then?
2 It may also be tinted and will be marked something
like CP50. That's a 50% tint and is the darkest you're
allowed by law. Even then, it'll be marked "for
daylight use only" and is a nick-able offence after
lighting up time.
Lets settle this once and
for all Dark, mirrored etc. visors are illegal, wear
sunglasses instead. Anyone caught selling them risks
a £1000 fine for each one in his stock.
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Learners must display L plates,
we know that but the full requirement is :-
They must be BS plates, you can't make your own.
They must be full size; cut down plates aren't legal
and yet we've seen even Dealers delivering bikes like
that.
They must be front and rear facing, not stuck on the
mudguard facing the sky.
It's 2 points on your licence
for the front, another 2 points for the rear and how
easy to spot ?
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More on this in Top Tips/Tyres
Motorcycle tyres must legally have at least 1mm of tread
depth, continuously across 75% of the tyre. That's pretty
silly though; the minimum recommended is 2mm. Would
you believe that there is no minimum tread for a moped
tyre, only that it's visible ! Shall we just say that's
a health risk.
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Without going through all
the road traffic acts, here's a brief synopsis:-
You must hold a full licence for the machine you're
riding, wear a safety helmet etc.
Your Bike must be adapted to carry a pillion (a rear
seat and passenger footrests).
Your pillion must wear a safety helmet, sit astride
the machine facing forward (side-saddle is illegal).
There's no legal age required
for riding pillion but he/she must big enough to hold
on, sat astride with feet on the foot pegs (so there
is a size limit) and able to fully understand the detailed
instruction you will surely give.
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