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United Kingdom · Theory test

Motorcycle rider training courses

Motorcycle rider training courses for learners are run by approved training bodies (ATBs), schools authorised to give compulsory basic training (CBT) and direct access scheme (DAS) training through instructors certified by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). GOV.UK says you usually have to take CBT before you ride on the road, DAS training is for learning on a bike over 125cc and 11kW, and after your test DVSA’s enhanced rider scheme offers more.

  • 3 yearsFull A2 or A licence a DAS instructor needs
  • Half a dayLength of the DAS instructor assessment
  • 1 to 2 hoursUsual enhanced rider assessment ride
Where to study

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Who runs motorcycle rider training courses?

Every ATB must provide CBT, and any CBT or DAS course it runs must meet the legal requirements. Its instructors must be in radio contact with every trainee throughout on-road tuition. GOV.UK’s postcode finder lists training schools near you, and in Northern Ireland you check with the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) that an instructor is approved.

GOV.UK: Find a motorcycle or moped CBT course ↗What happens on a CBT course →

DAS training for bigger bikes

All provisional licence holders training on a motorbike over 125cc and 11kW must be trained by a qualified DAS instructor, who rides with you on another motorcycle in radio contact. A DAS instructor must:

  • Be 21 or over
  • Hold a full A2 or A motorcycle licence
  • Have passed DVSA’s assessment as a CBT instructor, then its DAS assessment
  • Have passed a criminal record check
A2 motorbike test →Direct access motorbike test →

Lessons, crash courses and intensive courses

GOV.UK says there’s no minimum number of lessons before you book and take the riding tests, so the length of any course is up to you and the school. What you need to reach is the standard in DVSA’s national standard for riding mopeds and motorcycles. DVSA’s Guide to Learning to Ride, £14.99 from its publisher, covers CBT and both riding tests.

After your test: the enhanced rider scheme

You need a full motorcycle licence. GOV.UK says it suits riders who have just passed, are coming back after a break, are moving to a more powerful bike or want to check their riding. A trainer assesses you on the road in these core modules:

  • A structured, planned approach to riding
  • Defensive riding and hazard awareness
  • Progress and use of speed
  • Overtaking and filtering
  • Bends and corners
  • Slow control
  • The right rider attitude

If you need no more training you get a DVSA certificate of competence straight away; otherwise you agree a training plan first. GOV.UK says most motorcycle insurers give a discount for the certificate.

GOV.UK: Enhanced rider scheme ↗

Complaints about a training course

For a refund or a problem with the service, GOV.UK points you to Citizens Advice. For the standard of CBT training, complain to the school first, then to DVSA with its online form if that doesn’t sort it.

Sources: GOV.UK · Safe Driving for Life and 7 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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