TL;DR — An A1 licence is the full motorcycle licence for 17-year-olds and above on bikes up to 125cc (11 kW / 14.8 bhp). To get it you need a CBT, a motorcycle theory test, then Module 1 and Module 2. Pass and you can ride a 125 without L-plates, carry a passenger and use motorways. On Your Bike in Warrington runs a complete A1 course — CBT, Mod 1 and Mod 2 training and tests, with the bike, helmet and jacket included and gloves and boots available to hire. Call or WhatsApp 01925 551 555 to book.
What is an A1 motorbike licence?
The A1 is the smallest of the three full motorcycle licence categories in the UK (A1, A2 and A). It lets you ride a light motorcycle with an engine up to 125cc and a maximum power output of 11 kW (about 14.8 bhp), with a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.1 kW/kg. It also covers three-wheelers up to 15 kW. Because it is a full licence rather than a CBT, the L-plate restrictions disappear: no more two-year expiry, you can take a pillion passenger and you are allowed on motorways.
A1, A2 and full A — the same four steps, a different bike
Every full motorcycle licence in the UK — A1, A2 and full A — is earned the same way: a CBT, the motorcycle theory test, Module 1 and Module 2. The training and the tests are the same four parts whichever category you go for. What changes is the bike you sit the tests on, and that decides what you are allowed to ride once you have passed: up to 125cc on an A1, up to 35 kW (47 bhp) on an A2, and anything at all on a full A.
Which one you can go for depends on your age. At 17 the A1 is the only full licence open to you, and you stay on it until you turn 19 — an A1 never automatically becomes an A2. To move up you sit Module 1 and Module 2 again on a bigger bike: an A2-size bike from 19, and a full-size bike for the unrestricted A licence from 24. If you have held the previous licence for at least two years you do not need to sit the theory test again (this is called progressive access), and it also lets you take the full A licence at 21 rather than 24 if you have held an A2 for two years. Riders who start at 24 or over can skip A1 and A2 altogether and go straight to a full A through Direct Access.
That makes the A1 the right choice for 17- and 18-year-olds who want to ride legally without L-plates or a CBT running out, and for anyone happy on a 125 who wants to carry a passenger or use the motorway.
If you are 19 or over and want a bigger bike, the A2 licence is the natural next step, and from 24 a Direct Access (DAS) course takes you straight to a full A licence — see our Direct Access courses in Warrington. Whichever you choose, the training and the bikes are the same family: our restricted training bikes are built exactly for A1 and A2 riders.
How to get an A1 licence — the four steps
1. Compulsory Basic Training (CBT)
Everyone starts with a CBT. It is a one-day course covering the basics of bike control off-road and a supervised ride on the road. Our one-day CBT in Warrington is £225 all-inclusive with the bike, helmet, jacket, fuel and insurance provided — gloves and boots can be hired when you book. Once you have your DL196 certificate you can ride a 125 on L-plates while you prepare for the rest.
2. Motorcycle theory test
Booked directly with the DVSA, the theory test has a multiple-choice section and a hazard-perception section. You need to pass it before you can book Module 1. The pass certificate is valid for two years, so aim to complete your practical tests within that window.
3. Module 1 (off-road)
Module 1 is the manoeuvres test on a DVSA test pad: slalom, figure of eight, slow ride, U-turn, cornering, emergency stop and the hazard-avoidance swerve. We coach every element on our own training ground at Thelwall before you go to the test centre, and you test on the same bike you trained on.
4. Module 2 (on-road)
Module 2 is around 40 minutes on the road with a DVSA examiner following on a bike, including a section of independent riding. You take it on the same bike you trained on and passed Module 1 on. Pass this and the A1 category goes straight onto your licence.
CBT vs A1 vs A2 vs A — what’s the difference?
| CBT | A1 licence | A2 licence | Full A licence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 + (50cc) or 17 + (125cc) | 17 + | 19 + | 24 + (or 21 after 2 years on A2) |
| Bike size (Maximum) | Up to 125cc / 11 kw (15 bhp) | Up to 125cc / 11 kw (15 bhp) | Up to 35 kW (47 bhp) | Any motorcycle — unrestricted |
| L-plates required ? | Yes (Front +Rear) | No | No | No |
| Passengers (pillion) ? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Motorways Allowed ? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Valid for | 2 years | Full licence | Full licence | Full licence |
| CBT Course Required ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Theory test Required ? | No | Yes | Yes — (No if you have held an A1 for 2 years) | Yes — (No if you have held an A2 for 2 years) |
| Module 1 ——(Mod 1)—— Off-road skills test | No | Yes, On 125cc bike | Yes, On 35 kW (47 bhp) | Yes, On a full-size bike |
| Module 2 ——(Mod 2)—— On-road test | No | Yes, On 125cc bike | Yes, On 35 kW (47 bhp) | Yes, On a full-size bike |
For a fuller comparison of every category, read which motorbike licence do I need? and CBT vs A1 vs A2 vs full A.
A1 licence course in Warrington
On Your Bike is a DVSA-approved, family-run motorcycle training school based at Thelwall Parish Hall, Bell Lane, Warrington WA4 2SX — ten minutes from the town centre and easy to reach from Lymm, Stockton Heath, Runcorn, Widnes and Wigan. We run a complete A1 licence course: your CBT, then Module 1 and Module 2 training and tests on our restricted training bikes — the same machines our A2 riders use — with the bike, helmet, jacket and insurance included, and gloves and boots available to hire when you book. Training is tailored to how much riding you have already done, and because you test on the bike you trained on, test day feels like another lesson.
Not sure whether A1, A2 or Direct Access is the right route for you? Give us a call on 01925 551 555 or WhatsApp us and we will talk it through — or book your CBT online to get started.
A1 licence FAQs
Can I ride a 125 without L-plates on an A1 licence?
Yes. Once the A1 category is on your licence you ride a 125 with no L-plates, can carry a passenger and can use motorways.
Do I still need a CBT if I want an A1?
Yes. CBT is the compulsory first step for every motorcycle licence in Great Britain, unless you already hold a full moped licence gained after 2001.
How long does an A1 licence take?
It depends on test availability in your area more than anything else. Most riders do their CBT in a day, pass the theory test within a few weeks, then take Module 1 and Module 2 as soon as slots allow. The tests themselves are short — Module 1 is about 20 minutes and Module 2 about 40.
How do I move up from A1 to A2, and then to a full A?
You do not need to sit the theory test again if you have held your A1 for at least two years (progressive access), but you do sit Module 1 and Module 2 again on an A2-size bike, and you must be 19 or over. If you have held the A1 for less than two years you take the theory test again as well.
Licence rules are set by the DVSA and DVLA and can change — always check the current requirements on GOV.UK before booking a test.