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Driving Standards Agency (DSA) HQ

The Driving Standards Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT) and is part of the Driver, Vehicle and Operator (DVO) group.

DSA’s aim is to promote road safety through improving driving standards by: testing drivers, motorcyclists and driving instructors fairly and efficiently through the theory test and practical driving test, maintaining the registers of approved driving instructors (ADIs) and Large Goods Vehicle Instructors, supervising training for learner motorcyclists.

They are a national organisation and have headquarters in Nottingham, an impressive training and publications centre in Bedfordshire, administrative centres in London, Newcastle, Cardiff, Birmingham and Edinburgh and over 400 practical driving test centres across Great Britain.

Contact Details

Address: Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GU

Tel. 0115 901 2500

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Bikes.asp

Choosing a certified motorcycle instructor

All learner motorcycle and learner moped riders must complete a compulsory basic training (CBT) course before riding on the road.

Only instructors certified by the Driving Standards Agency can teach CBT at an approved training body (ATB). ATBs must have instructors who have successfully completed a two day assessment and have sites approved by DSA for off-road training.

Improving Road Safety through the Multi Purpose Test Centre

Delivery of the new motorcycle test

Plans are in action to introduce new test centres called “Multi Purpose Test Centres” (MPTCs) are key to road safety, providing a safe environment in which to carry out the new and more demanding motorcycle exercises which will be included in the new practical test from 31 October.  

The primary benefit of these centres is one of road safety as these centres will allow the exercises to be taken away from the public road.  They will also allow certain car test exercises such as reverse parking to take place on-site and off-road. 

These new centres will provide modern and bespoke facilities to local people and the proposed developments have been designed to create modern and attractive buildings which will fit comfortably into the local environment. As the motorcycle test is all about demonstrating control and safe handling of motorcycles, the Agency does not anticipate or allow noisy revving and racing.

Development of the network: progress 

As at 24 July, DSA has acquired 44 MPTC sites with 66 planed, remembering that all other motorcycle test centres will be closed!. Of these, the DSA forecast that 38 will be operational by 31 October. 

Availability from 31 October 08

With around 50 operational sites (including the part-time VOSA sites), the DSA believe that from 31 October 08, around 75% of the GB population will be able to reach a bike test station in 45 minutes or less and 93% in under 60 minutes!

However, we are aware that excellent provision in some areas will not, in itself, lessen the impact upon candidates and trainers in those areas which will not be covered by either permanent or VOSA site provision, and it is recognised that the limited test slot availability at the VOSA sites is not ideal.  

At a recent meeting with representatives from the industry, it was agreed to consider the potential for the introduction of split motorcycle testing on an interim basis. The primary benefit of such an approach would be that testing could be delivered from more remote sites where urban test routes would not be available.

For general enquiries about the MPTC project, please contact

MultiPurpose.TestCentre@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

MPTC building (side-view).
 

MPTC near to the Borders

Edinburgh (Musselburgh) MPTC

Driving Test Centre

Newhailes Industrial Estate
Newhailes Road
Olivebank
Musselburgh
East Lothian
EH21 6SL

Kirkcaldy MPTC

Driving Test Centre

10 Randolph Place
Kirkcaldy
Fife
KY1 2YX

Carlisle

Driving Test Centre

Hill Crest Avenue
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA1 2QJ

Motorcycles you can ride

A moped has a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h (approx. 31 mph). It has an engine capacity no greater than 50 cc and can be moved by pedals, if first used before 1 August 1977. A learner motorcycle has an engine up to 125 cc and a power output not exceeding 11 kW

Full motorcycle licence

There are two types of full motorcycle licence:

• a light motorcycle licence (A1), which restricts riders to any bike up to 125 cc and a power output of 11 kW. The practical test must be taken on a bike of between 75 cc and 125 cc

• a standard motorcycle licence (A), is obtained if the practical test is taken on a bike of over 120 cc but not more than 125 cc and capable of at least 100 km/h per hour. After passing the standard motorcycle practical test, you will be restricted for two years (this is commonly known as an A2 licence) to riding a bike of up to 25 kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. After this you may ride any size of bike

Note:

The BMW C1 motorcycle is not a suitable machine for a practical test.

Direct and accelerated access

Riders age 21 or over, or those who reach 21 before their two year restriction ends, have other options.

Direct access

After taking CBT and the theory test, the practical test may be taken on a motorcycle with a power output of at least 35kW. A pass allows you to ride any size of bike. All or part of the CBT course may be taken on either a learner bike or a large bike. You may practice for the practical test on bikes larger than the learner bike specification provided:

• you are accompanied at all times by an approved instructor on another bike and in radio contact

• you wear fluorescent or reflective clothing and follow all other provisional licence restrictions

Accelerated access

Riders who reach the age of 21, while still within the two year period where they are restricted to maximum 25 kW machines, but who wish to ride larger bikes need to pass a further test on a motorcycle of at least 35 kW. They may practice on bikes over 25 kW under the same practice conditions for direct access riders. You will revert to learner status while practicing (on a motorcycle greater than 25 kW) although test failure will not affect your existing licence.

Sidecars

Learners who wish to ride with a sidecar can practice on a combination with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. On obtaining a standard licence, you will be restricted to a combination with the same power/weight ratio for two years. At age 21 learners may, only within direct or accelerated access, practice on a larger combination, but the test must be taken on a solo bike (although physically disabled riders can use a combination).

Information for moped riders

If you are 16 and want to ride a moped or scooter on the road you must have completed a compulsory basic training course to validate your provisional licence.

What is a moped?

A moped is a motorcycle that has the following features:

• maximum design speed not exceeding 50 kilometres per hour (km/h) (about 31 miles per hour (mph)

• an engine capacity no greater than 50 cc

• it can be moved by pedals, if the moped was first used before 1 September 1977

Moped provisional licences

You can only hold a provisional moped licence if you are at least 16 years old. It entitles you to ride a moped on the road as a learner with L-plates (D-plates in Wales) but you must not carry a pillion passenger or go on a motorway.

Your provisional licence is only valid when you have the DL 196 certificate issued on completion of compulsory basic training (CBT) by an approved training body (ATB).

A CBT certificate obtained on a moped is also valid for motorcycles once the rider has reached the age of 17 years and has the necessary licence.

If you want to ride a moped on the road without displaying L-plates you must take and pass a theory and practical driving test.

If you have a car licence...

If you obtained your full car licence before 1 February 2001 you are automatically entitled to ride a moped without L-plates (D-plates in Wales).

If you obtained a full car licence after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a CBT course and obtain a DL 196 certificate to validate your entitlement.

Motorcyclists

Direct access scheme

Direct access is a scheme which allows a person over the age of 21 to avoid the two year/25 kW restriction by taking a test on a machine of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). A pass allows you to ride any size of bike. Any instruction given on a machine that exceeds the normal learner motorcycle specification must be supervised at all times by a certified motorcycle instructor who should be in radio contact. You should also wear fluorescent or reflective clothing and follow all other provisional licence restrictions.

Accelerated access

Riders who reach the age of 21, while still within the two year period where they are restricted to maximum 25 kW (33 bhp) machines, but who wish to ride larger bikes need to pass a further test on a motorcycle of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). They may practice on bikes over 25 kW (33 bhp) under the same practice conditions for direct access riders. You will revert to learner status while practicing (on a motorcycle greater than 25 kW (33 bhp)) although test failure will not affect your existing licence.

Mopeds and tractors

If you want to ride a moped you can take your theory test when you are 16, but again you must make sure you have a valid provisional licence.

If you are 16 and already have a provisional licence for an agricultural vehicle or a moped, this will give you provisional entitlement to drive a car when you are 17.

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