Here at the adflyer motors blog, we like to give you the latest news, advice and tips on everything motor-related. Seeing as we’ve already unravelled the mystery of how to get a licence for a scooter, we thought we’d help out those of you who want to ride something a little bit faster. Whether you’ve just bought a great new motorcycle or you’re still on the lookout for the perfect deal, you’ll need to get a motorcycle licence before you can even think about getting out on the road. So, what kind of motorcycle licence do you need, and how do you get it?
Anyone can apply for a motorcycle licence at 17, but you’ll need to get your hands on a provisional motorcycle licence first. You can pick up a provisional application form (form D1) at your local Post Office, or you could go online to order a form. If, however, you’re the proud owner of a full car driving licence, you’ll most likely already have provisional motorcycle entitlement, so there’s no need to fill out a pesky form!
Once you’ve got your provisional motorcycle licence sorted, you’re required by law to complete a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course. Don’t worry, this isn’t as scary as it sounds: you don’t have to have any prior motorcycle experience to complete the training, and it takes just one day to do. After you’ve passed your CBT, you’ll receive a DL196 certificate which is valid for two years. Make sure you get moving pretty quickly after you get this, because if you don’t pass your theory and practical tests within the two years you’ll have to start all over again.
Next, it’s time to take the motorcycle theory test which consists of a set of multiple choice questions and a hazard perception test. This test is designed to assess your knowledge of the theory behind riding motorcycles on the road, particularly in relation to the rules of the road and the best driving practices, so make sure you do your homework.
After the theory test comes the final hurdle: the practical motorcycle test. This test hopefully shouldn’t be as nerve-wracking as the practical test for car driving, as you won’t have to worry about the examiner being sat right next to you. Instead, the examiner will ask you a few safety questions before you ride on the road and perform a series of exercises whilst they look out for adherence to traffic laws, good observation skills and sufficient control on the road. If all goes well and you pass the practical test, there are three main ways to get a motorbike licence: the A1 Full Light Motorcycle Licence allows you to ride a motorbike with an engine capacity up to 125cc; the A2 Standard Motorcycle Licence restricts you to a light motorcycle for two years, after which you can ride a bike of any size under a full licence; and the Direct Access Scheme (DAS) for those over 21 to get a full motorcycle licence and ride any motorbike they want.
So there you have it! After all this, you’re hopefully feeling a lot less confused about how to go about getting a motorcycle licence and you’re ready to go out and find the perfect bike for you! When you’re shopping for your dream ride, take a look at adflyer’s motoring section for a huge range of motorcycles for sale, or if you don’t think motorbikes are for you, we’ve got plenty of fantastic listings for cars, scooters and even vans, so take a look today!
