To ride a motorcycle on the road you must have a provisional license. This requires you to:

• Be at least 17 years old (16 for a moped)
• Have a driving licence which allows you to ride motorcycles (catagory A)

That licence can be any of the following:

• A provisional driving licence with motorcycle entitlement
• Full car licence. This automatically provides provisional motorcycle entitlement
• Full motorcycle licence
• Full moped licence. This provides automatic provisional motorcycle entitlement if you're aged 17 years or over

Provisional motorcycle entitlement
This entitles learners to ride a motorcycle

• Up to 125cc
• With a maximum power output of 11kW

Learners who wish to ride a side-car outfit can do so with a power to weight ratio of not exceeding 0.16kW/kg.

With provisional motorcycle entitlement you must not

• Ride on motorways
• Carry a pillion passenger
• Ride without L-plates (or D-plates in Wales)

All new provisional licences showing motorcycle entitlement issued from that date are valid until the holder's 70th birthday.

How to get a licence
If you don't already have a licence with provisional motorcycle entitlement then collect a D1 form ( driving licence application ) and a D750 form ( photocard application ) from a Post Office or from DVLA ( 0870 240 0009 ). Complete the forms and send them to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre ( DVLC ) at Swansea. If you want to ride a motorcycle make sure you tick the 'with motorcycles' box or you will automatically get a provisional licence for a moped and car.