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A provisional licence is the first step towards riding a motorbike or moped on public roads. You then need to complete compulsory basic training (CBT) to get a certificate. The same DVLA provisional licence covers cars, motorbikes and mopeds, while motorcycle categories have different minimum ages.
What is a provisional motorcycle licence?
There is no separate ‘provisional motorcycle licence’ to buy. One DVLA provisional driving licence covers a car, motorbike, moped or other vehicle.
How do you apply for a provisional licence, and what does it cost?
Apply to DVLA for your first provisional driving licence. You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres and have had permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days.
- Online: £34.
- By post: £43 using form D1, available from most Post Offices. Send the form with a cheque or postal order.
Your licence should arrive within one week if you apply online. It may take longer if DVLA need to make additional checks.
How old do you have to be?
You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old to apply for your provisional licence. The motorcycle categories have these minimum ages:
- AM: 16, for a two-wheeler with a maximum speed of up to 45 km/h.
- A1: 17, for a motorcycle up to 125cc and not over 11kW.
- A2: 19, for a motorcycle not over 35kW.
- A: 21 under progressive access or 24 under direct access, for any motorcycle.
Can you ride on the road with just a provisional licence?
No. A provisional licence alone does not allow you to ride a motorcycle or moped on public roads. You must satisfactorily complete compulsory basic training (CBT) before riding on your provisional licence, as set out in Highway Code Annex 2.
What can you ride once you have added CBT?
Once you have satisfactorily completed CBT, you can ride unaccompanied on public roads within these limits:
- Mopeds: you must be at least 16 and hold a provisional moped licence. You can ride a two-wheeled moped with a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28mph), with L plates.
- Motorcycles: from age 17, with a provisional motorcycle licence, you can ride a motorcycle up to 125cc with a power output not exceeding 11kW, with L plates.
You can ride under CBT for up to two years before you must pass your test. This two-year limit applies to riding under CBT, not to the life of your provisional licence.
Until you have passed your test, you must not carry a pillion passenger or pull a trailer. Learner motorcycle and moped riders are not allowed on motorways.
What if you already hold a full car licence?
For riding a moped, the date you passed your car driving test matters:
- Before 1 February 2001: you are qualified to ride a moped without L plates. Completing CBT before riding on the road is recommended.
- After 1 February 2001: you must complete CBT before riding a moped on the road.
For the full picture on car licences and CBT, see our guide on whether you need a CBT if you already have a car licence.
What if your licence was issued outside Great Britain?
If you hold a full EU driving licence, you must either exchange it for a GB licence or register it with DVLA using form D9 before you can take a CBT course.
How do you go from a provisional to a full licence?
CBT is training, not a pass-or-fail test. On successful completion, you receive a certificate of completion, sometimes called a DL196.
To learn on a motorcycle over 125cc and over 11kW, you must:
- Meet the minimum age.
- Have completed CBT.
- Be accompanied by an approved instructor on another motorcycle, in radio contact.
To obtain a full moped or motorcycle licence, you must pass a motorcycle theory test and both practical tests: module 1 and module 2.
For a comparison of A1, A2 and full category A licences, and what each route costs and takes, see our guides on how to get a motorbike licence in the UK and what a full motorbike licence really costs and how long it takes.
Where can you train in London and Hertfordshire?
At Universal Motorcycle Training, we operate seven centres across London and Hertfordshire: Alperton, Croydon, Dagenham, Edgware, Eltham, Hoddesdon and Wimbledon. Courses run seven days a week at every centre.
Our course options include:
- CBT Standard: from £205.
- CBT Renewal: from £205.
- Executive one-to-one CBT: £550.
- Introduction to Motorcycling: a two-hour session for £125.
On the day of your course, bring your original valid UK photocard licence. We do not accept copies or photographs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a provisional motorcycle licence cost?
Your first DVLA provisional driving licence costs £34 online or £43 by post using form D1. There is no separate provisional motorcycle licence to buy.
How long does a provisional licence take to arrive?
Your licence should arrive within one week if you apply online. It may take longer if DVLA need to make additional checks.
Can you ride a 125 on a provisional licence?
Not with the licence alone. From age 17, once you have satisfactorily completed CBT, you can ride unaccompanied on public roads on a motorcycle up to 125cc and not over 11kW, with L plates, for up to two years.
Do you need a provisional licence before you book CBT?
Yes, you must hold a provisional motorcycle or moped licence before taking CBT. Bring your original valid UK photocard licence on the course day, as copies or photographs are not accepted.
