Granddad Rights

Big_John_RHA · 4 May 2023 at 12:24PM

I have been looking at trying to get to work another way to reduce the amount of fuel I am using on a monthly basis, which is around £180 to £200 a month.

I have been looking at a Bike of some description and found the Yamaha Tricity 300 which is a three wheeled Trike and can be ridden on a car licence, and does not require a CBT. Fuel would be around £40 to £50 a month making a big saving, servicing costs, Road Tax and MOT's are also a lot cheaper,.

When it come to insurance it is very difficult to get a an affordable quote. I passed my driving test in Jan 1984 and now have what is know and Granddad rights. I have also taken CBT's and ridden bikes before the last one being a large electric scooter called a Vectrix 7 years ago.

On the front and rear of my licence it states I have an A Licence with 79(3) which means I am restricted to a trikes which a Yamaha Trricity. I understand that I cannot ride a two wheeled bike that requires a full bike licence. It does not say I don't have a bike licence just that I am restricted to trikes. So a full licence for trikes.

Can I state that I have a full bike licence when getting a quote for the Yamaha Tricity 300 that I have got as it is classed as a trike and that is what is stated on my licence. We would I stand legally. As we all know what insurance company's are like.

I got quotes through three comparison sites and the best quote was with Hastings Bike Insurance, I done this before I purchased the bike and was happy with the quote, I then purchased the bike, I went to take the insurance out only to be told they don't cover these bikes. So they give quotes for vehicles they don't even cover. This is another issues that I am taking further.

I am now trying to get insurance for the above bike but every insurance company says something different about my restrictions, some say it is classed as a provisional some say it is a bike licence with the restrictions, one company said it was only for mopeds.

A lot of insurance company's say I have to have a bike licence and then give highly inflated premiums. You can ride on a car licence but need a bike licence to insure it, that is not right and is It is a very grey area.

I am so annoyed about this, I’m not 16 years of age racing around town with my mates or a delivery rider weaving in and out of traffic, or a middle aged man with a mid life crises purchasing a super bike. I’m 59 years old and want to get to work a cheaper way,

I am also trying to get conformation from DVLA what it means in plain English.

Nearlyold · 4 May 2023 at 1:16PM

You can't say you have a full bike A* licence if you don't actually have one.

Have you tried Lexham Insurance, they partner with Yamaha and their website says unlike most brokers they offer insurance for car licence only riders on the Tricity 300.

Some brokers/insurers may be getting confused because the 300 version is classed as a trike but the 125 version is classed as a scooter, the latter requiring at least an active CBT.