The driving licence rules, vehicle categories and age limits for learning to ride a motorbike or moped changed on the 19 January 2013.
If you want to ride a motorbike or moped you first need a driving licence with the provisional entitlement
for the category of your choice and complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT).
Once youve completed CBT you have 2 years to pass the theory test and both practical tests or youll have to re-do CBT.Bike categories, ages and licence requirements
| Licence category | Vehicles you can ride | Requirements for licence | Minimum age |
|---|
| AM | Mopeds with speed range of 25 km/h to 45 km/h | Compulsory basic training (CBT), theory test, practical test on all powered 2-wheeled moped | 16 |
| AM | Small 3-wheelers (up to 50 cc and below 4 Kilowatt) | Compulsory basic training (CBT),
theory test, practical test | 16 |
| AM | Light quadricycles (weighing under 350 kg, top speed 45 km/h) | Compulsory basic training (CBT), theory test, practical test |
16 |
| Q | Same as AM plus 2 or 3-wheeled mopeds with top speed of 25 km/h | Granted with AM | 16 |
| A1 | Small motorbikes up to 11 kW (and a power-to-weight ratio not more than 0.1 kW per kg)
and 125 cc | Compulsory basic training (CBT), theory test, practical test | 17 |
| A1 | Motor tricycles with a power output not more than 15 kW | Compulsory basic training
(CBT), theory test, practical test | 17 |
| A2 | Medium motorbikes up to 35 kW (and a power-to-weight ratio not more than 0.2 kW per kg), bike mustn’t be derived from vehicle
more than twice its power | Direct access - theory and practical; staged access - 2 years experience on A1 motorbike and a further practical test | 19 |
| A | Motorbikes unlimited in size/power,
with or without a sidecar, and motor tricycles with power output over 15 kW | Direct access - CBT theory and practical (you must be at least 24 years old); Staged access route
- held an A2 licence for a minimum of 2 years - practical test (21 or over) | 24 (direct) or 21 (staged access) |