What motorbike can I ride with a full car licence?

If you hold a full UK car licence, you may be wondering whether you can ride certain motorcycles without taking any further tests.

Below, we explain what your car licence allows you to ride, what the restrictions are, and when you might need training or additional qualifications.

Can you ride a motorbike on a car licence?

You can ride a moped with a car licence, but it depends on when you passed your test.

If you passed your driving test on or after 1 February 2001

To ride a moped, you’ll need to either:

• Pass your car driving test and then complete a compulsory basic training (CBT) course
• Complete a CBT course and then pass your car driving test within two years

You’ll then be able to ride a moped (up to 50cc) without L plates. You won’t need to take the full moped test, and you can ride your moped for as long as your car driving licence lasts.

If you passed your driving test before 1 February 2001

You can ride a moped without L plates, and you won’t need to take a CBT course or take the full moped test.

However, you can only ride a moped that’s up to 50cc. You’ll need to take a CBT if you want to ride anything larger than a 50cc moped.

What bikes can I ride with a full car licence in the UK?

If you have a full UK car driving licence, what you can ride depends on when your licence was issued and the engine size/power of the vehicle.

If you passed your car test before 1 February 2001:

• You can ride a 50cc moped without L plates. No CBT or full moped test is needed

If you passed your car test on or after 1 February 2001:

• You’ll need to complete a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before riding a moped or any larger bike
• Main bike categories for car licence holders

Mopeds (up to 50cc)

• Can be ridden with a car licence in certain cases, depending on test date. Once you’ve met the qualifying conditions, you can ride mopeds for as long as your car driving licence lasts

Motorcycles (up to 125cc with CBT)

• After completing a CBT, you can ride motorcycles up to 125cc, maximum 11kW (14.6bhp)
• Must display L plates
• Should not carry passengers
• Should not ride on motorways
• For motorcycles over 50cc, the CBT expires after 2 years. So, you’ll need to retake it if you want to continue riding under your CBT certificate

Trikes (three-wheeled motorcycles)

• Some trikes can be ridden on a car licence without CBT, especially wide-track touring models
• Narrow-track trikes (where the distance between the front wheels is less than 460mm) are treated as motorcycles, requiring CBT and the appropriate licence

What are the rules for the riding a moped on a car licence?

If you’re unsure, a moped is legally a bike that’s:

• Up to 50cc
• Designed with a maximum speed of 28mph (45km/h)

Whether you can ride a moped with a car licence comes down to when your car licence was issued;

• If you passed before 1 February 2001: You can ride a 50cc moped without L plates and without taking a CBT
• If you passed on or after 1 February 2001: You must complete a CBT before riding a moped

You must also:

• Be at least 16 years old to ride a motorbike
• Have valid insurance
• Tax the vehicle (if applicable)
• Wear an approved motorcycle helmet

Can you ride a trike on a car licence in the UK?    

A trike is a type of motorbike that’s built on a chassis with three wheels. They’re often used as touring bikes because of their added comfort and storage for longer rides.

In most cases, full UK car licence holders can ride motor tricycles without requiring a CBT. Motor tricycles with a power output up to 15kW can be ridden from age 17. If the tricycle has a power output over 15kW, you must be at least 24 via Direct Access, or 21 via Progressive Access.

That said, some three-wheeled vehicles with a narrow track width are classed as motorcycles rather than trikes.

Because classifications can vary depending on wheel spacing and design, it’s important to check how the vehicle is legally categorised before riding.

UK bike licence types explained  

If you’re thinking about moving beyond what your car licence permits, it helps to understand the main UK motorcycle licence categories. Each level increases the size and power of bike you can ride and removes certain restrictions.

• CBT (Compulsory Basic Training): A CBT is a mandatory one-day training course, and not a full licence. After completing it, you can ride a moped (from age 16) or a motorcycle up to 125cc (maximum 11kW) from age 17 with L plates for two years. You should not carry passengers or ride on motorways.
• A1 Licence: The A1 is a light motorcycle licence that allows you to ride bikes up to 125cc (maximum 11kW) without L plates. You can carry passengers and ride on motorways. The minimum age is 17.
• A2 Licence: The A2 licence allows you to ride motorcycles up to 35kW (around 47bhp), giving access to a wider range of mid-sized bikes. You can carry passengers and ride on motorways without L plates. The minimum age is 19.
• Full A Licence (Category A): A full A licence allows you to ride any motorcycle, regardless of engine size or power. There are no L plates required, and you can carry passengers and ride on motorways. The minimum age is 24 via Direct Access, or 21 via Progressive Access after holding an A2 licence for at least two years.

How progression works

There are two main routes to obtaining a full motorcycle licence in the UK:

• Direct Access: If you’re aged 24 or over, you may be able to complete your CBT, theory test, and practical tests to progress straight to a full Category A licence, which can allow you to ride any motorcycle.
• Progressive Access: If you’re under 24, you would typically start on an A1 or A2 licence and look to upgrade after holding it for at least two years. For example, it may be possible to move from an A2 to a full A licence at 21 through further testing.

Each step up may remove certain restrictions – potentially increasing the engine size you can ride, permitting motorway use, and allowing you to carry passengers.

If you’re considering riding larger bikes, touring, or covering longer distances, progressing beyond CBT may offer more flexibility in terms of where and what you can ride.

Should you upgrade from a car licence to a motorcycle licence?

Deciding whether to continue riding under a car licence (plus CBT) or progress to a full motorcycle licence often depends on how and where you plan to ride.

It may help to consider the following questions:

• Do you want to ride on motorways?
• Are you likely to want to carry a passenger?
• Are you planning longer journeys or touring?
• Do you want to ride larger, more powerful bikes?
• Are you willing to invest time and money in further training and testing?

Your answers can help indicate whether a CBT, A1/A2 licence, or a full A licence may be most suitable for you.

There are several potential benefits to progressing to a full motorcycle licence:

• Motorway access: You may be able to ride legally on faster roads
• Carry passengers: Full licence holders can take a pillion, where CBT riders should not
• Larger bikes: You may be able to access motorcycles of a wider range of sizes and power outputs
• Fewer restrictions: No L plates and more riding options
• Insurance considerations: Some insurers may offer different premiums for fully licensed riders
• Further training: Full tests are designed to help confirm you’re competent in real-world riding conditions

Explore specialist motorbike insurance with Devitt

Whatever stage you’re at with your licence, Devitt can help you find a suitable motorbike insurance policy. We have over 90 years of experience in the industry, so we’re well placed to help.

You can request a quote online or contact our team to find out more.

Disclaimer: The sole purpose of this article is to provide guidance on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication.

You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited trading as Devitt accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.

FP344-2026 05/03/2026