What can you ride

Introduced back in 2013, the new licence restrictions and testing process for motorcyclists are surprisingly tricky to navigate. That’s because there are four separate categories, which intersect each other, depending on the age of the rider. To try and make it easier to understand, here’s a brief breakdown of what you can ride and which test you need to take to get your hands on a motorcycle licence.

The first category is the AM moped-only licence, which you can hold from the age of 16 (for now). Next is the A1 licence, which is open to 17-year-olds and restricts riders to 125cc machines, without L-plates. Then you can step up to the A2 licence, which restricts you to motorcycles of up to 35kW (47bhp) – from the age of 19.

It’s also worth noting that you must take your A2 test on a bike with more than 20kW (27bhp) of power. Finally, it’s the full A motorcycle licence, which is available for those aged 24 if choosing the direct access route, or from the age of 21 if you’ve progressed up through the categories and have held an A1 licence for two years.

For all tests you must first gain a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate, which ensures you can perform basic manoeuvres without falling off. With this, from age 17 you can ride a bike up to 125cc with L-plates. The next step is the theory test, similar to the car one, which is valid for two years after you’ve passed. You don’t need to retake this if you’re upgrading a full licence which is more than two years old.