Car Licence vs CBT

ChefBungle

Hi All,

Currently looking into getting a bike for my commute to work (125cc) to save a bit of cash, and was about to book my CBT this afternoon until I realised something odd about my driving licence.

Going onto the direct.gov.uk website and looking at the leaflet I got with my driving licence, I need to have a provisional entitlement for category A for riding a motorbike.

However, looking at my licence, there is no mention of category A on it - I have full entitlement for category B and B1 and provisional entitlement for categories f,k,l,n and p, but nothing about A at all?

I've looked around and can't seem to find a straight answer to this - I passed my test in July 1998 - can I go and do my CBT with what's on my licence currently or do I have to apply for a provisional category A first? I'm only interested in riding a 125cc bike for the time being.

Thanks in advance!

AnythingButChardonnay

ChefBungle wrote: »

Hi All,

Currently looking into getting a bike for my commute to work (125cc) to save a bit of cash, and was about to book my CBT this afternoon until I realised something odd about my driving licence.

Going onto the direct.gov.uk website and looking at the leaflet I got with my driving licence, I need to have a provisional entitlement for category A for riding a motorbike.

However, looking at my licence, there is no mention of category A on it - I have full entitlement for category B and B1 and provisional entitlement for categories f,k,l,n and p, but nothing about A at all?

I've looked around and can't seem to find a straight answer to this - I passed my test in July 1998 - can I go and do my CBT with what's on my licence currently or do I have to apply for a provisional category A first? I'm only interested in riding a 125cc bike for the time being.

Thanks in advance!

You have a new style photocard licence?

On the photocard itself only full categories are listed. You have full B, B1, f, k, l, n, p. The small letters don't mean they're provisional, but merely indicate that they are national categories. So you can drive tractors, ride-on mowers etc in this country only.

On the paper counterpart you should have provisional A, BE, GH. A being motorbike, BE being car+trailer, G being Tank and H being roadroller.

Hammyman

Post 1997 you need to go do a CBT and apply for Provisional Cat A entitlement if its not on the paper counterpart. Pre 1997, automatic entitlement to provisional Cat A was given when passing a car test.

AnythingButChardonnay

Hammyman wrote: »

Post 1997 you need to go do a CBT and apply for Provisional Cat A entitlement if its not on the paper counterpart. Pre 1997, automatic entitlement to provisional Cat A was given when passing a car test.

I don't think that's quite right. Most licences, especially post 97 ones, should have provisional cat. A included by default unless there's a specific medical reason not to.
If anything I think it's more likely that pre-97 licences might have the provisional A missed off, because I believe there was once a separate box you have to tick if you wanted it. Eventually the DVLA realised that it was pointless not just giving it to everyone.

Nowadays when you apply for an 'ordinary' driving licence you are applying for both car and motorbike, 'vocational' being bus/lorry (excluding C1 and D1 categories held by virtue of a pre-97 licence, which are classed as 'ordinary' from the DVLA's pov).

CBT is required for everyone learning to ride a motorbike, except for those who are upgrading their bike category (eg A1 to A, or A(automatic) to A). The only time where the date of obtaining the car licence is important is when it comes to moped, p, category held by virtue of holding a car licence. Pre Feb2001 car licences do not need CBT to validate the full moped category held, whereas post-Feb2001 car licence holders do.

The order is: Provisional bike category, then theory test and CBT (either order), then the practical modules.

All the OP needs to do is find the paper counterpart licence and check the provisional categories column for "A". It will almost certainly be there. If for some reason it's not then he'll need to contact the DVLA who will probably send him a form.

ChefBungle

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your replies. I've fished out my paper counterpart and category A is indeed on it - I thought the photocard would have had the same info on it.

CBT here I come! Although I might wait for the snow to melt first.......

:-)

patman99

OP, you could always buy a Piaggio MP3-400LT. It can be ridden on a full car license as it has twin front wheels, this also makes it incredibly stable in the wet/icey conditions.

kroome

well done you for going down the two wheeled route, best thing myself and my wife ever did, great transport and even more fun, and yes wait for the snow to clear it is no fun in the snow and hard to keep it rubber side down as I learnt one day...
good luck and safe riding, Karl

exup

a full car licence counts as a provisional for any other category -age dependant of course - which is why they don't bother putting it on the full licence details.
you will need to have a cbt certificate (DL196) to validate it though.
Good luck if you go for the CBT and feel free to ask any bike questions as there are quite a few bikers on here that won't be biased about size, style or model - A bike is a bike afterall no matter the type

Cool_Mint

You will NOT save money riding a motorcycle, sadly the days of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds being a cheap alternative to a car are long gone, the insurance for a bike is the same as for a car and the fuel costs aren't much different -scooters and mopeds are cheap on fuel but modern performance bikes guzzle more petrol than the low-revving machines of yesteryear.

exup

Cool_Mint wrote: »

You will NOT save money riding a motorcycle, sadly the days of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds being a cheap alternative to a car are long gone, the insurance for a bike is the same as for a car and the fuel costs aren't much different -scooters and mopeds are cheap on fuel but modern performance bikes guzzle more petrol than the low-revving machines of yesteryear.

a bike like a CG125 is going to cost alot less to run than any car. we don't have to all ride round on fireblade's

boyse7en

Cool_Mint wrote: »

You will NOT save money riding a motorcycle, sadly the days of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds being a cheap alternative to a car are long gone, the insurance for a bike is the same as for a car and the fuel costs aren't much different -scooters and mopeds are cheap on fuel but modern performance bikes guzzle more petrol than the low-revving machines of yesteryear.

Certainly if you pass your test and buy a Fireblade, then you will get stung for insurance, but small-capacity bikes are far cheaper to insure than a car. Some new scooters come with discount insurance deals for new riders - Kymco, for instance, d[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]o TPO cover from £149[/FONT] for[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 125cc riders aged between 17 and 24 years.

[/FONT]Even for higher-powered bikes, it need not be expensive.
My bike is 3 years old, performance of a high-powered car and costs me under £100 fully comp per year for insurance. Tax is £70 and I get an average on a 15 mile commute of 68mpg - more on a long steady motorway or A-road run.


OP go and do your CBT, see if you like it, and take it from there. If you've never ridden before, check out https://www.geton.co.uk and you can book a free test-ride (with instructions) at places all over the country.