Step One – Provisional Licence

To ride on a public road you need to get your provisional driving licence. You can do this on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

It currently costs £34 to apply online and you must be at least 15 years and 9 months old.

Step Two – CBT

The next step is to book your compulsory basic training (CBT). There are many places across the country you can do this. It is not a test that you pass or fail. After you have completed your CBT you can

• ride a moped if you’re 16 or over
• ride a motorcycle up to 125cc with a power output up to 11kW if you’re 17 and over

You must use L plates (L or D plates in Wales) and you cannot take a pillion rider. Your CBT lasts for 2 years, so you must pass your full test within this time, or stop riding or do your CBT again.

You can be fined up to £1000 and receive 6 penalty points for riding without a valid CBT certificate.

You do not have to take CBT if you:

• want to ride a moped (up to 50cc) and you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001
• want to ride a motorcycle and have a full moped licence from passing a moped test since 1 December 1990
• have a full motorcycle licence for one category and want to upgrade to another
• live and ride on some offshore islands
• want to ride a trial e-scooter

You can find a local motorcycle training school here and book your CBT: https://www.gov.uk/find-motorcycle-training

Step Three – Theory Test

You may want to stick riding a 125 for a while to get used to riding a bike before going in for your full test, or you may want to go straight ahead. The motorcycle test is different to a car test in the sense that there are age restrictions and the practical test is in two parts. Before taking your practical test, you must complete the motorcycle theory test.

The theory test is completely separate to a car theory test, so even if you have passed your car test, you still need to take the motorcycle theory test. There are 2 parts, the multiple choice questions and a hazard perception test. You can take the theory test from 16 years old if you are learning to ride a moped, or 17 years old for a motorcycle.

You can book your theory test at https://www.gov.uk/book-theory-test

Step Four – Practical Test

After you’ve passed your theory test, you will need to pass the 2 modules for the practical test. Module 1 is an off-road test.

The test normally takes about 20 minutes and includes:

• wheeling the moped or motorcycle and using the stand
• riding a slalom and figure of 8
• a slow ride
• a U-turn
• cornering and a controlled stop
• cornering and an emergency stop
• cornering and hazard avoidance

For the hazard avoidance and emergency stop exercises you must ride at a minimum speed of:

• 19 mph on a moped
• 31 mph on a motorcycle

If you pass, the examiner will let you know what faults you made, if any, and give you a certificate. You must take the certificate to your Module 2 test.

If you don’t pass, you’ll have to book a Module 1 test again.

You must pass Module 1 before you can take the Module 2 test.

The module 2 test normally takes about 40 minutes and includes:

• an eyesight check
• ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions
• road riding
• independent riding

If you pass your test the examiner will:

• tell you what faults you made, if any
• give you a pass certificate
• ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically – give the examiner your provisional licence if you want to do this

You can start riding without L plates straight away when you’ve passed your test. You do not need to wait for your full licence to arrive.

If you don’t pass, you will have to redo your Module 2 test at least 10 working days away.

You can book your practical test at https://www.gov.uk/book-driving-test

Once you have passed your CBT or full motorcycle test, welcome to the world of motorcycling!