Grandfather Rights and CBT: What They Mean for Riding a Moped

"Grandfather rights" are an exemption that let some car licence holders ride a moped without completing any motorbike training.

Key takeaways:

• Grandfather rights (shown as a 'p' on your licence categories) apply if you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001
• It lets you ride a moped up to 50cc with no CBT certificate, and no L-plates
• They do not cover anything bigger than 50cc — a 125cc always needs CBT, regardless of your car licence date
  
  

What are grandfather rights for riding a moped?

Grandfather rights are an entitlement carried over from the driving licence rules that existed before CBT became compulsory for moped riders.

If you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001, you are eligible to legally ride a 50cc moped without ever taking CBT training, or any other kind of motorbike test. On your driving licence, this shows up as category 'p', at the bottom of your card licence.

It's a specific, dated cutoff - if you got your full car licence in the UK on 31 January 200, then category p is yours automatically. Pass it a day later, on 1 February 2001, and the rules that apply to every rider today apply to you as well.

Do grandfather rights mean I don't need a CBT?

Grandfather rights do mean you can skip CBT training, if you only want to ride a 50cc moped. If you passed your car test before 1 February 2001, you can get on a 50cc moped today with no CBT certificate, no L-plates, and no time limit on how long you can ride it for. It's essentially a permanent moped licence.

The moment you want anything with more power than 50cc, the standard rules apply. You'll need to first get CBT training, then follow the usual licence routes to a higher licence if you want one - there's no partial credit for having an older car licence. 

Can grandfather rights let me ride a 125cc without a CBT?

No - this is the single most common misunderstanding around category P. While taking a CBT would mean being able to ride up to a 125cc, grandfather rights only covers a 50cc moped. Anything above 50cc has always required CBT, regardless of when you passed your car test.

What if I passed my driving test after 1 February 2001?

If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 February 2001, you need to complete a CBT before riding small bikes, including a 50cc. Grandfather rights won't apply to you.

What's the next step if you want to ride more than a 50cc moped?

CBT training is the next step whether or not you hold grandfather rights. A CBT training day is a one-day course covering five DVSA-defined elements, from bike controls and on-site manoeuvres through to a two-hour minimum road ride, and it's what unlocks a 125cc motorcycle or scooter on UK roads, L-plates on, for up to two years.

If you're an older rider with a pre-2001 car licence who's been happily riding a 50cc for years and fancies stepping up to a 125cc, or even progressing to a full A1, A2 or A licence down the line, CBT training is  your starting point too.

Your existing category p doesn't shortcut any part of it, but it doesn't put you back at square one either  - knowing how to ride a bike will put you at an advantage on training day, making it more likely you'll get your CBT Certificate on the first try.