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Highway Code

Highway Code, Annex 2. Motorcycle licence requirements (part 2)

Annex 2. Motorcycle licence requirements. A legal requirement (MUST / MUST NOT).

  • Annex 2. Motorcycle licence requirements
  • Legal requirement
  • OGL v3.0

What the rule says

Law · MUST

Category AM (moped) – minimum age 16

  • two-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28 mph)
  • three- or four-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed over 25 km/h (15.5 mph), up to 50 cc and with a power output not exceeding 4 kW. Category A1 – minimum age 17
  • motorcycles up to 125 cc, with a power output not exceeding 11 kW
  • tricycles with a power output not exceeding 15 kW. Category A2 – minimum age 19
  • motorcycles with a power output not exceeding 35 kW. Category A
  • any motorcycle (the minimum age you can obtain a category A licence is 21 under progressive access or 24 under direct access)
  • tricycles with a power output over 15 kW (minimum age 21). Progressive access is a process that allows a rider to take a higher-category practical test if they already have at least two years’ experience on a lower-category motorcycle. For example, if you have held a category A2 licence for a minimum of two years, you can take the category A practical test at age 21. There is no requirement to take another theory test. If you want to learn to ride motorcycles larger than 125 cc and with a power output over 11 kW, you MUST meet the minimum age requirements, satisfactorily complete a CBT course and be accompanied by an approved instructor on another motorcycle in radio contact. Law MV(DL)R regs 9 & 16(7), & RTA 1988 sect 97(3) To obtain your full moped or motorcycle licence you MUST pass a motorcycle theory test and modules 1 and 2 practical tests on a two-wheeled motorcycle. Law MV(DL)R reg 38 You MUST NOT carry a pillion passenger or pull a trailer until you have passed your test. Also see Rule 253 covering vehicles prohibited from motorways. Law MV(DL)R reg 16

Rule text reproduced verbatim from the official Highway Code (Crown copyright) under the Open Government Licence v3.0, see the attribution at the foot of this page.

In plain English

Stripped of the formal wording, this guidance comes down to one idea: category AM (moped) – minimum age 16 - two-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) - three- or four-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed over 25 km/h (15.5 mph), up to… Because it is written with “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, it carries the force of law, ignore it and you are committing an offence, not simply driving badly.

It belongs to the annex 2. motorcycle licence requirements part of the Code, the habits a confident, considerate driver builds until they are automatic. The aim is not to memorise the sentence word for word, but to understand the hazard it protects you from, so you apply it without having to think when it counts.

If you are learning, treat this rule as one piece of a connected set rather than an isolated fact. The related rules below sit in the same section and reinforce each other, reading them together is how the annex 2. motorcycle licence requirements part of the Code starts to feel like common sense rather than a list to revise.

Because this is a legal rule, the consequences of ignoring it reach beyond the test: a “MUST” or “MUST NOT” breach can mean a fixed penalty, points on your licence, or in serious cases prosecution. Either way, the safe move is to build the habit early, while a driving instructor can correct it, rather than relearning it under test pressure. That is exactly what the practice routes and coaching in the DriveRoutes app are designed to help with, turning the rules below into the way you naturally drive.

Why this rule matters on the road

Following this rule keeps your driving predictable and safe, which is what every other road user is relying on. It is one small part of the habit-set that, taken together, prevents the everyday mistakes that cause collisions.

Common faults examiners record

In the annex 2. motorcycle licence requirements part of the Code, the faults most often written on the marking sheet tend to be the same handful. Knowing them in advance is the quickest way to drive them out of your own habits:

  • Acting too late because the situation was read close rather than early.
  • Incomplete observation before committing to a manoeuvre.
  • An unsuitable speed for the road, the traffic or the conditions.

On the day

On the day, applying Highway Code, Annex 2. Motorcycle licence requirements (part 2) is about doing the safe, deliberate thing slightly earlier than feels necessary: read the situation in good time, observe fully, and act smoothly. The examiner is looking for planned driving, not perfection, and good habits formed in lessons carry you through.

Quick checklist

  • Read the situation early and plan your response.
  • Observe fully before you commit to anything.
  • Keep your speed suitable for the road and conditions.

More from Annex 2. Motorcycle licence requirements

Related Highway Code rules

Highway Code, Annex 2. Motorcycle licence requirements (part 2), your questions

Category AM (moped) – minimum age 16 - two-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) - three- or four-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed over 25 km/h (15.5 mph), up to… It is a legal requirement, it uses “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, so breaking it is a criminal offence that can mean a fine, penalty points, or disqualification.

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