Are you ready to ride?

Being able to ride a motorcycle is a fantastic skill: it can give you the freedom to go where you want, when you want.

Getting started

There are a few basic requirements to bear in mind before you start.

You must

hold a valid licence with provisional motorcycle entitlement for Great Britain or Northern Ireland
be able to read a new-style number plate from 20 metres away (with glasses or contact lenses if you need them)
make sure any motorcycle or moped you ride is roadworthy and properly taxed and insured
display L plates (L or D plates in Wales) on the front and rear of the vehicle where they can be clearly seen (until you have passed your test)

Learning to be a good motorcyclist

Good riding is not just about learning the rules of the road: your skill and your attitude as a rider are vital too, and you’ll keep learning and developing these over the years.

A good rider

is responsible for what they do while riding
concentrates on what they’re doing
anticipates what could happen around them
is patient with other road users
is confident about how to ride safely.

Buy: Official guide to learning to ride

The process of learning to ride, and the key riding skills you'll need.

Buy: Official Highway Code

2022 edition of the rules, an essential read for any road user.

What sort of motorcycle or moped do you want to ride?

The type of motorcycle licence you want to ride will also depend on how old you are, what sort of motorcycle or moped you own and what sort of licence you already have.

There are a few different routes you can take to get on the road. Use the information and links below to find out what you need to do:

16 years or over ride a moped (50 cc or less) – AM licence.
17 years or over ride a motorcycle up to 125 cc (max 11 kW) – A1 licence (light motorcycle).
19 years or over to ride a motorcycle up to 35 kW – A2 licence (medium motorcycle).
21 to 23 years to ride any size of motorcycle – A licence (progressive access only – must have A2 licence for 2 years).
24 years or over to ride any size of motorcycle – A licence