Motorcycling
Last reviewed: 23 July 2026
TL;DR
Compulsory basic training, or CBT, is the one day course that lets a learner ride a moped or motorcycle up to 125cc on L plates. The certificate, called a DL196, is valid for 2 years, after which it must be retaken unless a full licence has been gained. Typical cost is around £130 to £170.
What can be ridden at each age after CBT
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Source: GOV.UK, CBT courses
KEY FACTS
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What does a CBT involve?
The course runs across one day in 5 elements, from eyesight and controls through off road riding to a minimum 2 hour on road ride with radio contact to the instructor.
Element A covers the aims of the course and an eyesight check, reading a plate at 20 metres. Element B is practical familiarity with the machine: controls, stands, wheeling and starting. Element C teaches off road riding skills on the training site, from pulling away and stopping to U turns and emergency braking. Element D is a classroom briefing on road riding, and Element E is the road ride itself, a minimum of 2 hours in a group of no more than 2 riders per instructor with one way radio instruction.
Progression between elements depends on the instructor being satisfied, so a rider who struggles may be asked to return for another session, usually at a reduced fee, rather than completing in one day. That is not a failure in the test sense, simply training that needs more time, and it is common for complete novices on geared bikes.
How much does a CBT cost and what is included?
A CBT typically costs around £130 to £170 including bike and helmet hire, with London prices at the top of the range and own bike discounts common.
Pricing is set by each approved training body, and the quoted fee normally includes motorcycle hire, helmet and gloves where needed, and fuel. Riders bringing their own moped or motorcycle usually pay less, provided the machine is road legal, taxed and insured for the training. Sturdy clothing and boots are the rider responsibility, and schools can refuse training in shorts or trainers on safety grounds.
The certificate cost compares well against what it unlocks: 2 years of riding a 125cc machine on L plates, which for many commuters is transport in its own right rather than a step to a bigger bike. A lost DL196 can be replaced by the training body that issued it, for a small fee, and since 2024 records are also held digitally by DVSA.
What can be ridden after passing a CBT?
From 17 a CBT holder can ride a motorcycle up to 125cc and 11 kW on L plates, while 16 year olds are limited to a 50cc moped, in both cases without pillions or motorway use.
The L plate conditions are strict: plates front and rear, no motorways, no carrying passengers, and the CBT must be paired with a valid provisional or full licence. Insurance for learner riders prices heavily on age and postcode, and a 125 for a 17 year old in a city can cost more to insure than the bike itself, which makes running quotes before buying a machine the sensible order of operations.
A full car licence obtained before 1 February 2001 carries moped entitlement without CBT, a legacy right that survives, though training remains strongly advisable for anyone who has never ridden. Car licence holders from after that date need CBT like everyone else for mopeds and motorcycles alike.
What comes after CBT?
The routes to a full licence are the A1, A2 and A licence tests, each requiring the theory test plus a two module practical, with age and power thresholds at 17, 19 and 24.
An A1 licence at 17 covers 125cc machines without L plate restrictions, including pillions and motorways. A2 from age 19 covers bikes up to 35 kW, and the full A licence, available from 24 by direct access or 21 via progressive access after 2 years on A2, removes power limits entirely. All routes require the motorcycle theory test and the two part practical, module 1 off road and module 2 on road.
Riders who stay on L plates simply retake CBT every 2 years. That is legal indefinitely, but each renewal costs a fresh fee, and the restrictions never lift, which is why most regular riders take a full test within their first certificate life.
RELATED GUIDES |
DISCLAIMER This guide is for general information only and is not legal or financial advice. Rules, rates and processes are set by DVLA, DVSA and HM Treasury and can change. Always confirm current requirements on GOV.UK before acting. |
Frequently asked questions
Can a CBT be failed?
No. CBT is training with no test element, but the instructor must be satisfied at each stage, and a rider who needs more time is asked back for a further session rather than certified on the day.
How long does a CBT certificate last?
The DL196 certificate is valid for 2 years. After expiry the holder must retake CBT to keep riding on L plates, unless a full motorcycle licence has been passed.
What can a 16 year old ride after CBT?
A moped up to 50cc restricted to 45 km/h, on L plates, with no pillion passengers and no motorway riding.
Is a helmet provided on a CBT course?
Most training schools include helmet and glove hire in the fee, though riders are encouraged to bring their own properly fitting helmet where they have one.
Does a car licence remove the need for CBT?
Only full car licences issued before 1 February 2001 carry moped entitlement without CBT. All later licences require CBT before riding a moped or motorcycle on the road.
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