CoverMapCan you insure a motorbike as a learner?
Yes. Learner motorbike insurance is ordinary bike insurance for someone riding on a provisional licence. Bennetts describes young rider insurance as cover you can take out while you are still learning and riding with L plates (D plates in Wales). Most riders need a valid CBT certificate before they can ride on the road at all, so this is the point at which you need cover.
Quotezone (May 2026) says some insurers will set up cover that starts on the day you pass your CBT, so you can arrange cover in advance. It also warns that CBT insurance can cost more than standard cover because newly trained riders have less experience and a higher claim risk in their first year.
When you pass your full test, tell your insurer. Your licence type is one of the details your premium is based on.
What is CBT and how long does it last?
Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) is a one-day course you must complete before riding a moped or motorbike on the road, with a few exceptions. GOV.UK says you must pass your full moped or motorcycle test within 2 years, or either take CBT again or stop riding. The certificate itself is known as a DL196.
Bennetts lists the five parts of the course: an introduction and eyesight check, on-site training, on-site riding, on-road training and on-road riding. Confused.com (March 2025) puts the cost of CBT at between £120 and £300.
Who doesn’t need CBT? GOV.UK says you can ride a moped up to 50cc without CBT if you passed your car test before 1 February 2001. You also don’t need it if you already have a full motorcycle licence. Compare the Market says riding without a valid CBT can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and up to six penalty points.
What can you ride with a CBT and provisional licence?
The Highway Code (Annex 2, updated October 2025) sets out the rules. Once you have passed CBT, you can ride unaccompanied on public roads, for up to two years, on:
- a motorcycle up to 125cc with a power output of no more than 11kW (from age 17); or
- a moped (from age 16).
While you are a learner:
- L plates are a must (D plates in Wales). Quotezone says riding without them risks three penalty points and could invalidate your insurance.
- No passengers. Learners must not carry a pillion passenger or pull a trailer until they pass the test.
- No motorways. Highway Code rule 253 says motorways must not be used by holders of provisional motorcycle licences.
If you mainly want a 50cc moped or 125cc scooter for getting around, our scooter and moped insurance guide covers the extra rules for car licence holders.
Motorbike licence categories and minimum ages
After CBT, you work towards a full licence in one of four main categories. GOV.UK (updated January 2025) sets them out as follows:
| Category | Minimum age | What you can ride | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| AM | 16 | Mopeds, 25–45 km/h, up to 50cc, under 4kW | CBT, theory test, practical test |
| A1 | 17 | Up to 125cc, max 11kW, power-to-weight up to 0.1kW/kg | CBT, theory test, practical test |
| A2 | 19 | Up to 35kW, power-to-weight up to 0.2kW/kg | Direct access (theory + practical), or 2 years on A1 + practical test |
| A | 24 (direct) or 21 (progressive) | Any size of bike | Direct access at 24, or 2 years on A2 + practical test from 21 |
Source: GOV.UK – Bike categories, ages and licence requirements (updated 23 January 2025).
An A2 bike also must not be derived from a vehicle with more than twice its power. GOV.UK says you must pass both parts of the practical test within 2 years of passing the theory test.
What getting a licence costs
Compare the Market says a provisional licence costs £34 online or £43 by post, and you can apply from 15 years and 9 months. Confused.com (March 2025) lists the theory test at £23, Module 1 at £15.50, and Module 2 at £75 on weekdays or £88.50 at evenings and weekends. Confused.com estimates the total at £311 without lessons, or around £1,251 with roughly 47 hours of lessons. Fees can change, so check before you book.
How much is insurance for learner and young riders?
Young riders on small bikes pay the most. These are the most recent published figures we found:
| Source | Rider or bike | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Compare the Market (June 2026) | Riders aged 16–17 | 51% quoted less than £1,160.07 |
| Compare the Market (June 2026) | 125cc bikes | 51% quoted less than £744.43 |
| Compare the Market (June 2026) | 50cc mopeds | 51% quoted less than £459.42 |
| Confused.com (Jan–Mar 2026) | Comprehensive moped cover, age 16 | Median £666 |
| Compare the Market (June 2026) | All riders | 51% quoted less than £489.08 |
Source: Compare the Market motorbike and moped insurance pages (updated June–September 2026); Confused.com moped insurance (updated July 2026). Checked October 2026.
The pattern is clear: a 16–17-year-old was typically quoted more than twice the all-rider figure at Compare the Market.
Why young riders pay more
Compare the Market gives these reasons insurers see young riders as higher risk:
- limited riding experience;
- a tendency towards overconfidence;
- riding on a provisional licence;
- commuting in towns at peak hours;
- moped theft.
The risk behind the price
Insurers price on claims, and riders face more risk than most road users. Quotezone cites GOV.UK’s Reported Road Casualties Great Britain report for 2023: motorcyclists make up around 1% of road traffic but roughly 19% of people killed or seriously injured. Devitt likewise notes that premiums for 16-year-olds are typically higher than for people who have been riding a long time. Experience is the one factor you can’t buy, but claim-free years earn a no-claims bonus, and moving from a provisional to a full licence takes away one of the risk factors insurers list. Good training and the right protective kit matter for your safety as much as your premium.
Ways to cut the cost of learner bike insurance
Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket suggest these steps. How much each saves depends on the insurer.
- Keep the bike off the street. A driveway or locked garage overnight can help.
- Add security. Thatcham-approved alarms, immobilisers and locks are commonly suggested. Quotezone also mentions tagging your bike.
- Choose a smaller bike. Engine size drives price, and 125cc bikes are often in low insurance groups.
- Avoid modifications. MoneySuperMarket says modifications can push the price up unless they improve security, and they must be declared.
- Keep mileage realistic. Lower mileage can mean a lower premium, but don’t underestimate it.
- Think about the excess. A higher voluntary excess can cut the premium, but you pay it on every claim.
- Quote for comprehensive. It is not always dearer than third party.
After you pass, post-test training may help further. MoneySuperMarket lists BikeSafe at £78 and the RoSPA Advanced Riding Test at £70.83. Our main motorbike insurance guide covers cover levels, insurance groups and how to compare quotes. If you also learn to drive, see car insurance, or browse all insurance guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get motorbike insurance on a provisional licence?
Yes. Insurers cover riders on a provisional licence with a valid CBT certificate. You must display L plates (D plates in Wales), carry no passengers and stay off motorways until you pass your test.
How long is a CBT certificate valid?
GOV.UK says you must pass your full moped or motorcycle test within 2 years of CBT. If you don’t, you must take CBT again or stop riding.
What can I ride after passing CBT?
From 16 you can ride a moped. From 17 you can ride a motorcycle up to 125cc with a power output of no more than 11kW, with L plates, according to the Highway Code.
How much is motorbike insurance for a 17-year-old?
Compare the Market found 51% of riders aged 16–17 were quoted less than £1,160.07 a year in June 2026. Your price will depend on your bike, postcode, storage and cover level.
What age can I ride a big motorbike?
GOV.UK says you can get a full category A licence at 24 by direct access, or at 21 if you have held an A2 licence for at least 2 years and pass a practical test.
Do I need CBT if I have a car licence?
If you passed your car test before 1 February 2001, you can ride a moped up to 50cc without CBT. For anything bigger, or if you passed your car test later, you need CBT.
Does riding without L plates affect my insurance?
It can. Quotezone warns that riding a learner bike without L plates risks three penalty points and could invalidate your insurance.
Sources
- GOV.UK – Bike categories, ages and licence requirements (Jan 2025)
- GOV.UK – Riding a motorcycle, moped or motor tricycle (Jan 2025)
- GOV.UK – CBT motorcycle and moped training (Sep 2026)
- GOV.UK – CBT if you have a car driving licence (Sep 2026)
- GOV.UK – Highway Code Annex 2: motorcycle licence requirements (Oct 2025)
- GOV.UK – Highway Code: motorways, rule 253 (Oct 2025)
- GOV.UK – Running a motorcycle ATB: licences learners need (Jul 2025)
- Compare the Market – Learner motorbike insurance (Jan 2025)
- Compare the Market – Young rider insurance (Oct 2025)
- Compare the Market – Motorbike insurance (Sep 2026)
- Confused.com – Moped insurance (Jul 2026)
- Confused.com – Getting your motorbike licence (Mar 2025)
- Quotezone – CBT motorbike insurance (May 2026)
- Bennetts – Young rider motorcycle insurance
- MoneySuperMarket – Motorbike money-saving tips (Sep 2026)