| Minimum ages and rules | | | | to Friday. |
| You can take your theory test once your provisional | | | | The driving part of your test lasts about 40 minutes. |
| licence becomes valid. | | | | Throughout the test, your examiner will be looking |
| Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your | | | | for overall safe standards of driving, including when |
| provisional licence can become valid is your 17th | | | | you are carrying out the set exercises. You can |
| birthday, however you can apply for the licence up | | | | make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 |
| to three months before your 17th birthday. | | | | or more results in failure). However, if you commit |
| So, if you apply for your provisional licence before | | | | one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test. |
| you are 17 you will still have to wait until your | | | | About motorcycle practical test |
| birthday before you can take your theory test. | | | | Minimum test vehicle requirements |
| Disability living allowance | | | | Any vehicle presented for use in a driving test must |
| If you are receiving disability living allowance at the | | | | meet minimum test vehicle standards. These |
| higher rate your provisional licence will come into | | | | standards are part of European Community legislation |
| effect when you are 16, but you can apply for it | | | | on driver licensing. Great Britain as a member of the |
| within three months of your 16th birthday. | | | | European Union is obliged to comply with these |
| Motorcyclists Direct access scheme | | | | requirements. Below are the minimum test vehicle |
| Direct access is a scheme, which allows a person | | | | requirements for mopeds and motorcycles. |
| over the age of 21 to avoid the two year/25 kW | | | | Minimum test vehicle requirements for mopeds |
| restriction by taking a test on a machine of at least | | | | A moped must have an engine capacity not |
| 35 kW (46.6 bhp). A pass allows you to ride any size | | | | exceeding 50 cc, and a maximum speed of 50 |
| of bike. Any instruction given on a machine that | | | | kilometres per hour (km/h), which is approximately |
| exceeds the normal learner motorcycle specification | | | | equivalent to 31 miles per hour (mph). If first used |
| must be supervised at all times by a certified | | | | before 1 August 1977, it must be equipped with |
| motorcycle instructor who should be in radio contact. | | | | pedals by which it can be propelled. |
| You should also wear fluorescent or reflective | | | | Minimum test vehicle requirements for motorcycles |
| clothing and follow all other provisional licence | | | | If your motorcycle is less than 75 cc it is not |
| restrictions. | | | | acceptable for the practical motorcycle test. If you |
| Accelerated access | | | | pass your practical test on a motorcycle with |
| Riders who reach the age of 21, while still within the | | | | automatic or semi-automatic transmission, this will be |
| two year period where they are restricted to | | | | recorded on your licence. Your full licence entitlement |
| maximum 25 kW (33 bhp) machines, but who wish to | | | | will be restricted to motorcycles in this category. |
| ride larger bikes need to pass a further test on a | | | | A light motorcycle (category A1) is defined as a solo |
| motorcycle of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). They may | | | | motorcycle between 75 and 125 cc, with a power |
| practise on bikes over 25 kW (33 bhp) under the | | | | output not exceeding 11 kilowatts (kW) (maximum |
| same practice conditions for direct access riders. You | | | | 14.6 brake horse power (bhp)). Please see note 1. |
| will revert to learner status while practising (on a | | | | A standard motorcycle (category A) is defined as a |
| motorcycle greater than 25 kW (33 bhp) although | | | | solo motorcycle between 121 and 125 cc, capable of |
| test failure will not affect your existing licence. | | | | exceeding 100 km/h (62.5 mph). Please note that the |
| Mopeds and tractors | | | | BMW C1 motorcycle is not a suitable machine for a |
| If you want to ride a moped you can take your | | | | practical test. Please see note 2. |
| theory test when you are 16, but again you must | | | | Vehicles used for the accelerated access and direct |
| make sure you have a valid provisional licence. If you | | | | access scheme can have an unspecified engine |
| are 16 and already have a provisional licence for an | | | | capacity of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp), with an |
| agricultural vehicle or a moped, this will give you | | | | unspecified speed. Please see note 3. |
| provisional entitlement to drive a car when you are | | | | The minimum test vehicle requirements for a |
| 17. | | | | motorcycle and side-car are the same, as the solo |
| Rules for learner drivers | | | | machines, but categories A and A1 must not exceed |
| Before you start to drive, you must: | | | | a power to weight ratio of 0.16 kW/kg. Passengers |
| • Hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great | | | | are not allowed to ride in the sidecar during the test. |
| Britain or Northern Ireland | | | | Only candidates with certain disabilities can use a |
| • Make sure that any vehicle you drive is | | | | motorcycle and side-car combination for the test. |
| roadworthy and properly taxed and insured | | | | The licence obtained as a result of this test will be |
| • If you want to practise your driving with an | | | | restricted to this combination of vehicle. |
| accompanying driver, the accompanying driver must | | | | Notes: |
| be over the age of 21 and must have held (and still | | | | A light motorcycle licence (category A1) will give you |
| hold) a full licence for three years. | | | | full licence entitlement to ride machines up to 125 cc |
| • As a learner driver, you must display 'L' plates | | | | with a power output of up to 11 kW. |
| ('L' or 'D' plates in Wales) in a conspicuous position on | | | | A standard motorcycle licence (category A) will |
| the front and rear of the vehicle you are driving. | | | | restrict you for a period of two years to riding |
| • You're limited to less powerful motorbikes. | | | | machines with a power output not exceeding 25 kW |
| Apply for provisional license | | | | and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. |
| If you have never held a driving licence before you | | | | After the two year period you may ride any |
| will need to apply for a provisional licence. You cannot | | | | motorcycle. |
| start to drive a car until your provisional driving | | | | If you are aged 21 or over you can take the test on |
| licence has been accepted and in your possession. | | | | a motorcycle with a power output of at least 35 kW |
| About driving theory test | | | | (46.6 bhp). If successful you can then ride any |
| Preparing for your theory test is essential if you | | | | motorcycle. |
| want to become a safe, responsible driver or rider. If | | | | The practical motorcycle test is made up of lots of |
| you are a learner driver, you must take and pass | | | | different elements, an eyesight test, vehicle safety |
| your theory test before you book your practical test. | | | | questions, a test of driving ability, a test of specific |
| The theory test is a computer based test and can | | | | manoeuvre and a question about riding with a |
| be taken at various tests centres around the | | | | passenger. |
| country. | | | | At the test centre you must present a valid |
| Passing your driving theory test is your first step | | | | certificate DL196 unless the test is being conducted |
| towards being a safe driver on the road. | | | | on one of the exempted islands. A rider who is |
| DSA driving theory test consists of two elements: | | | | upgrading a full moped licence obtained by passing a |
| A. Multiple choice questions | | | | two part test since December 1990 is exempt. |
| This section is designed to tests your understanding | | | | Vehicle safety check questions and eyesight test |
| of the theory behind driving. There is a 15-minute | | | | Before you actually start your practical riding test |
| practice session you can work through before | | | | you will be asked to read a number plate to prove |
| starting the tests. There are 50 randomly selected, | | | | you can meet the eyesight requirements. You will |
| multiple-choice questions and you need to get at | | | | also be asked two machine safety check questions |
| least 43 answers right to pass. | | | | before moving away. |
| B. Hazard Perception Test | | | | The practical test |
| This is the second section of the theory test and | | | | After the usual pre-test preliminaries e.g. licence and |
| must be passed at the same time. | | | | identification check the examiner will help the |
| Hazard perception test is conducted to test the | | | | candidate with the fitting of the radio and earpiece. |
| ability of learner drivers how they will respond to | | | | While accompanying the candidate to the machine |
| hazards on the road while driving. There are 14 | | | | the examiner will explain how the test will be |
| videos, each about a minute long. | | | | conducted and how the radio equipment works. |
| This section is designed to tests your awareness of | | | | The law requires anyone riding a motorcycle, scooter |
| potential hazards whilst driving. | | | | or moped, with or without sidecar, to wear |
| The videos feature various types of hazard, such as | | | | protective headgear securely fastened. The test |
| road conditions, vehicles and pedestrians. The earlier | | | | cannot therefore be conducted unless the candidate |
| you spot a hazard developing that may require the | | | | is wearing properly secured protective headgear. |
| driver to take some action, the higher the score. | | | | Note: |
| There are 15 scoreable hazards in the tests and | | | | An exemption to this requirement exists for |
| candidates can score up to 5 points on each hazard. | | | | followers of the Sikh religion if they are wearing a |
| The pass mark is 44 out of 75. | | | | turban. |
| Preparing for your theory test | | | | At the end of the test |
| We recommend you to study following - | | | | When the practical testis over, the examiner will tell |
| ? The Highway Code - | | | | you whether you passed or failed. You can request |
| The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone. | | | | feedback on your test from the examiner, who will |
| Its rules apply to all road users: drivers, motorcyclists, | | | | then go through your performance during the test. |
| cyclists, pedestrians as well as horse riders. It | | | | If you pass... |
| contains most up to date advice on road safety and | | | | If you pass and have a photocard driving licence |
| the laws, which apply to all road users. | | | | issued after 1 March 2004, the examiner will ask |
| ? Traffic signs - | | | | you,if you want your full driving licence issued to you |
| It is important to know road signs and markings that | | | | automatically. If you want to use this service, the |
| you are most likely to encounter. | | | | examiner will take your old licence off you, scan the |
| ? | | | | details and send them electronically to the Driver and |
| Driving Theory test questions - | | | | Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will then be |
| Is a set of latest questions published by DSA from | | | | given a pass certificate to prove you passed your |
| which the exam questions are taken. DSA may | | | | test. DVLA will then send you your new full licence |
| change questions time to time it is important that | | | | by post within three weeks of you passing your |
| you study the books where latest questions are | | | | practical test. |
| published. | | | | If you pass your test but do not want to use this |
| Preparing for hazard perception test - | | | | automatic service, or have a licence issued before 1 |
| It is best to practice hazard perception skills on the | | | | March 2004, you will be given a pass certificate by |
| computer if you have access to one. There are | | | | the examiner. On the back of the pass certificate it |
| many websites and PC-CD ROMs in the market, using | | | | tells you what you need to do next. This involves |
| which you can practice your hazard perceptions skills. | | | | sending your licence to DVLA who will then check |
| About car practical test | | | | your application and issue you with a new full licence. |
| The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is now able to | | | | Once you pass your standard motorcycle test you |
| offer tests outside the normal test times at a | | | | are restricted to machines of 25 kW (33 bhp) with a |
| number of test centres. This provides customers a | | | | power to weight ratio of 0.16 kW/kg for two years. |
| wider range of appointments over an extended | | | | If you fail... |
| working day. | | | | If you fail the test you should ask the examiner for |
| Practical tests are generally available at all permanent | | | | some feedback to help prepare yourself for your |
| test centres. Saturday and weekday evening tests, | | | | next test. Your driving report form will also show you |
| subject to resources being available, are offered at a | | | | where you made any mistakes. You must wait 10 |
| premium rate. Non premium rate tests are available at | | | | clear working days after your practical test before |
| various times between 7.30 am and 3.27 pm Monday | | | | you can book another one. |