Booking your CBT course

Book your CBT course directly with a motorcycle training school. The training school sets the course price. The price depends on where you do the training and if you bring your own moped or motorcycle. The training school can ask you to share your driving licence information with them before the course.

Preparing for your CBT course

Your trainer can stop your compulsory basic training ( CBT ) course if your basic knowledge of The Highway Code and traffic signs is not good enough for you to ride safely. You need to know: the main rules that apply to moped and motorcycle riders what other road users are likely to do You can be charged again to retake the course if your trainer stops your training because you are not prepared. You can buy the guide to learning to ride to help you prepare. You can also buy it from high street and online book shops.

What to take to your course

Take your UK driving licence to your training course. What you need to wear You must wear: a motorcycle helmet that meets British safety standards (unless you’re Sikh and wearing a turban) - check if the training school will provide one motorcycle boots or other sturdy footwear that supports and protects your ankles textile or leather motorcycle trousers or heavy denim trousers a textile or leather motorcycle jacket or a heavy denim jacket with several layers underneath motorcycle gloves Your course can be stopped and you can be charged to take it again if you do not wear suitable clothing. Using your own moped or motorcycle You cannot ride your own moped or motorcycle to the course unless you already have a CBT certificate - for example, if you’re taking CBT again before your current certificate expires. You can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to 6 penalty points for riding if you do not have a valid CBT certificate.

How the training works

The CBT course usually lasts a full day. It can take longer depending on how quickly you learn. There are 5 parts to the course: introduction and eyesight check on-site training on-site riding on-road training on-road riding The CBT course syllabus tells you more about what’s involved in each part. You move from one part to the next when your trainer is happy you’ve: learnt the theory shown the practical skills to a safe basic level On-road riding The on-road riding part must last at least 2 hours. Complain to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency ( DVSA ) if the trainer cuts this short. How many people you’ll train with You might train with other learners. There’s a maximum number of: 4 learners per trainer for on-site parts 2 learners per trainer for on-road parts Complain to DVSA if there are more learners than this. When you complete the course You’ll get a ‘certificate of completion’ (sometimes called a ‘DL196’) when you successfully complete the course. You can then ride a moped or motorcycle up to 125cc and with a power output of up to 11kW on the road with L plates (L or D plates in Wales). You must pass your theory test and full moped or motorcycle test within 2 years otherwise you’ll need to complete CBT again or stop riding.

If you have a car driving licence

You can ride a moped (up to 50cc) without L plates and without taking the moped test in some situations. You passed your driving test on or after 1 February 2001 You’ll get a full moped licence if you 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 can then ride a moped (up to 50cc) without L plates. You do not need to take the full moped test. You can ride mopeds for as long as your car driving licence lasts. You passed your driving test before 1 February 2001 You can ride a moped (up to 50cc) without L plates. You do not need to take a CBT course or take the full moped test. You must take CBT if you want to ride anything larger than a 50cc moped.

If you ride on offshore islands

You must take compulsory basic training ( CBT ) to ride in these places: the Isle of Wight South Uist North Uist Benbecula Harris Lewis mainland Orkney mainland Shetland any other island connected to mainland Great Britain by road You do not need to take CBT to ride on other offshore islands.

Complain about a CBT course

Get help from Citizens Advice if you want to complain about your motorcycle training school’s service, or get a refund from them. Standard of training Complain to the training school if you’re not happy with the standard of training you received, including if: the on-road riding part did not last at least 2 hours there were too many learners per trainer the conduct of an instructor was not professional the training (or training site) was unsafe You need to give: your trainer’s name and the training school name the address where you took the training the date and time you took the training details of why you’re not happy with the training If your complaint has not been resolved You can complain to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency ( DVSA ) if you have not been able to resolve the issue directly with the training school. Use the online form to complain to DVSA about a CBT course .

CBT motorcycle and moped training

Q: Who needs to take training

Compulsory basic training ( CBT ) is a course you usually have to take before you ride a moped or motorcycle on the road. The training makes sure you can ride safely on your own while you practise for your full moped or motorcycle test . CBT is not a test that you pass or fail. After you’ve completed CBT , you can ride a: moped if you’re 16 or over motorcycle up to 125cc and with a power output of up to 11kW if you’re 17 or over You must use L plates (L or D plates in Wales). You must pass your full moped or motorcycle test within 2 years, or you have to either take CBT again or stop riding. You can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to 6 penalty points for riding if you do not have a valid CBT certificate. When you do not need to take CBT You do not have to take CBT if you: want to ride a moped (up to 50cc) and you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001 want to ride a motorcycle and have a full moped licence from passing a moped test since 1 December 1990 have a full motorcycle licence for one category and want to upgrade to another live and ride on some offshore islands want to ride a trial e-scooter

Who needs to take training

Compulsory basic training (CBT) is a course you usually have to take before you ride a moped or motorcycle on the road.

The training makes sure you can ride safely on your own while you practise for your full moped or motorcycle test.

CBT is not a test that you pass or fail.

After you’ve completed CBT, you can ride a:

moped if you’re 16 or over
motorcycle up to 125cc and with a power output of up to 11kW if you’re 17 or over

You must use L plates (L or D plates in Wales).

You must pass your full moped or motorcycle test within 2 years, or you have to either take CBT again or stop riding.

You can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to 6 penalty points for riding if you do not have a valid CBT certificate.

When you do not need to take CBT

You do not have to take CBT if you:

want to ride a moped (up to 50cc) and you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001
want to ride a motorcycle and have a full moped licence from passing a moped test since 1 December 1990
have a full motorcycle licence for one category and want to upgrade to another
live and ride on some offshore islands
want to ride a trial e-scooter

View a printable version of the whole guide

CBT motorcycle and moped training

Who needs to take training

When you do not need to take CBT

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