Compulsory Basic Training is the day almost every rider in Great Britain starts with. It is not a test, there is no examiner, and there is no pass mark — but it is also not a formality. It is a full day of training that ends only when your instructor is satisfied you can ride safely on the road on your own.
That last part is the bit people are surprised by. If you are not there by the end of the day, you do not fail; you come back and finish. Most riders complete it in one day. Some need a second.
What you need before you book
- A valid UK provisional or full driving licence with the correct provisional entitlement. Bring the photocard itself — schools have to see it, and a photo of it on your phone is not enough.
- To be at least 16 for a moped, or 17 for a motorcycle.
- To be able to read a number plate at 20 metres, with glasses or contact lenses if you wear them.
- Clothing you can ride in. Most schools lend a helmet, gloves and a hi-vis, but almost none lend boots. See our note on what to wear.
The five elements
A CBT is the same five elements everywhere in Great Britain, in the same order, because DVSA sets them. Your instructor cannot skip one, and they cannot move you on until you have done it properly.
Element A — introduction and eyesight
Paperwork, the eyesight check, and a conversation about the equipment you will need and why. Short, but it is where your licence gets checked, so a missing photocard ends the day here.
Element B — on-site training
The bike itself, off the road: the controls, the daily checks, how to get it on and off the stand, and how to wheel it around. If you have never sat on a motorcycle, this is where that happens.
Element C — on-site riding
Riding on the training area. Slow control, braking, changing gear if you are on a geared bike, U-turns, and figure-of-eight turns. This is the longest part of the morning for most people and it is the part that decides whether the afternoon happens.
Element D — on-road training
A classroom session on the road itself: the Highway Code as it applies to a motorcycle, road positioning, how to be seen, weather, and the specific hazards that catch riders out.
Element E — on-road riding
At least two hours of riding on public roads, in radio contact with your instructor behind you. Roundabouts, junctions, traffic lights, a stretch of faster road, and usually an emergency stop somewhere quiet.
What the certificate gets you
Finish all five elements and you are issued a DL196 certificate, valid for two years. With it, and a provisional licence, you can ride on the road — but with conditions:
- L plates front and rear (D plates are also valid in Wales).
- No passengers.
- No motorways.
- Engine size limited by your age and licence category — a 50cc moped at 16, up to 125cc at 17.
To drop those restrictions you need a full motorcycle licence, which means a theory test and the two practical modules. Our guide to the licence categories covers which one applies to you.
Do you have to do it twice?
If your two years run out and you have not passed a full test, yes — you take another CBT. There is no shortcut and no renewal discount as of right, though many schools price a repeat lower than a first because it is usually a shorter day. Some riders take a refresher deliberately after a long break off the bike, which is the same training without the deadline.
Course content is set by DVSA and is the same everywhere. Price, group size, the bikes available and what kit is lent are set by the school, so they are worth asking about before you book.