[Omar]

Thousands of motorcyclists could be unwittingly riding without insurance because of confusion over what constitutes a full licence.
Many riders tell their insurance company they have had a full licence since the date they passed their standard motorcycle test.
But the insurance ombudsman has concluded they are wrong, and a full licence is only obtained when the 33bhp power restriction elapses, usually two years after passing the standard test.
It means motorcyclists are unwittingly misinforming their insurers about how long they have held a full licence and being undercharged as a result. It renders policies invalid and could be grounds for claims to be rejected.
Alasdair Osborn had his policy cancelled by eBike after telling the broker he’d held a full licence since passing his standard bike test.
The broker argued he had not acquired a full licence until two years later, when the 33bhp restriction was removed. The firm demanded an extra £35 extra which Osborn refused to pay.
The Financial Ombudsman rejected Osborn’s complaint, telling him: ‘You discussed the problem with the DVLA and various emails confirm you passed your test on 29 April 2000 but – significantly – were restricted from riding larger bikes until 29 April 2002, because you were under 21 when you passed the test. As a result, you did not have a full licence until 29 April 2002.’
EBike said: ‘As the DVLA-issued photocard licence for Mr Osborn indicated he had a full motorcycle licence which had commenced in 2002, this conflicted with the information he had supplied.’
Do you tell your insurer you’ve had a full licence since passing the standard test or since the subsequent 33bhp restriction elapsed? Help establish the extent of the problem by filling in our surve

 

[Dunkirk]

Not only this! When it came to renewing my insurance, one of the questions I was asked was how long have you held this licence. Was my provisional at the time, which I've held for many a year. All went through, and I thought nothing more of it, until I got a letter from them informing me that I had'nt held the 'entitlement' for only 2 years, and therefore my insurance would be £25 more!. Bike was in the shop at the time, and I was in two minds what to do with her anyway, so I ignored the first letter, and the second. By the time the third and final letter arrived, I had passed my test, so I promptly went back online, changed my licence from a provisional to a full one, and seen the premium drop by £25! So, up there's for trying to squeeze another £25 quid out of me, they had to refund me the same in difference!

Moral of the story is, though, when asked how long you have held your licence, it's actually the entitlement for motorbikes they are refering to.

 

[Scott Murphy]

Thousands of motorcyclists could be unwittingly riding without insurance because of confusion over what constitutes a full licence.
Many riders tell their insurance company they have had a full licence since the date they passed their standard motorcycle test.
But the insurance ombudsman has concluded they are wrong, and a full licence is only obtained when the 33bhp power restriction elapses, usually two years after passing the standard test.
It means motorcyclists are unwittingly misinforming their insurers about how long they have held a full licence and being undercharged as a result. It renders policies invalid and could be grounds for claims to be rejected.
Alasdair Osborn had his policy cancelled by eBike after telling the broker he’d held a full licence since passing his standard bike test.
The broker argued he had not acquired a full licence until two years later, when the 33bhp restriction was removed. The firm demanded an extra £35 extra which Osborn refused to pay.
The Financial Ombudsman rejected Osborn’s complaint, telling him: ‘You discussed the problem with the DVLA and various emails confirm you passed your test on 29 April 2000 but – significantly – were restricted from riding larger bikes until 29 April 2002, because you were under 21 when you passed the test. As a result, you did not have a full licence until 29 April 2002.’
EBike said: ‘As the DVLA-issued photocard licence for Mr Osborn indicated he had a full motorcycle licence which had commenced in 2002, this conflicted with the information he had supplied.’
Do you tell your insurer you’ve had a full licence since passing the standard test or since the subsequent 33bhp restriction elapsed? Help establish the extent of the problem by filling in our surve

So does this mean that if you have a restricted licence to 33bhp that that is looked at as not a full licence? i am confused when doing insurance quotes there is only a provisional and a full licence option rather than having different options for type of "full" licence????

 

[Dunkirk]

Don't know about that, I'm with ebike, and the list of options includes Full UK Motorcycle, A, A1, and A2... I would guess that if you're no longer on a provisional, and the only options are provisional or full, it'd be full... surely it's down to the insurers to provide the options, and if they don't you can only go with the options you are given.

 

[Scott Murphy]

Don't know about that, I'm with ebike, and the list of options includes Full UK Motorcycle, A, A1, and A2... I would guess that if you're no longer on a provisional, and the only options are provisional or full, it'd be full... surely it's down to the insurers to provide the options, and if they don't you can only go with the options you are given.

I must have forgotten that yes of course the full licence is in categories... DOH lol. I am also with ebike.

 

[Scott Murphy]

So does this mean if you do test on A2 that when restrictions pass you are given an A1 licence? Silly question probably but had to ask.

 

[D-Drz]

So if I have a drivers licence for 1 year I still don't have a motorbike licence since im on Ls?

I did tell my insurance this anyway just wanted to check because they havent mentioned anything

 

[Scott Murphy]

So if I have a drivers licence for 1 year I still don't have a motorbike licence since im on Ls?

I did tell my insurance this anyway just wanted to check because they havent mentioned anything

Yeah i think they just want to know the motorcycle entitlement

 

[Dunkirk]

Category A1 - Full Light Motorcycle Licence

A full light motorcycle licence allows you to ride any motorbike with:

• An engine capacity not exceeding 125cc
• A max power output of 11 kW (14.6 bhp)

You can carry a pillion passenger and you can ride on motorways.
Category A2 and Category A - Standard Motorcycle Licence

This licence allows you to ride any motorcycle with a power output not exceeding 25 kW (33 bhp) and a power weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW / kg for two years. You will not need L plates anymore and you can carry a passenger on the pillion and can use the motorways.
After the two year restricted period your category A2 licence becomes a full category A motorcycle licence and you can ride any size motorcycle. Note that it does not matter if the two year restricted period comes to an end and you have not turned 21 yet - you still get your full category A entitlement.

The licence by itself is nothing, it requires entitlements. My provisional, for example, I'd held for 10+ years (don't ask but the motorcycle entitlement on it for only 2. By getting the entitlement added to my provisional, I could then do my cbt, grab some L's, my little lady, and ride to my hearts content. If I want to drive a lorry now, I'd need to get that entitlement added too before I could learn to drive a HGV...

 

[Scott Murphy]

Category A1 - Full Light Motorcycle Licence

A full light motorcycle licence allows you to ride any motorbike with:

• An engine capacity not exceeding 125cc
• A max power output of 11 kW (14.6 bhp)

You can carry a pillion passenger and you can ride on motorways.

Category A2 and Category A - Standard Motorcycle Licence

This licence allows you to ride any motorcycle with a power output not exceeding 25 kW (33 bhp) and a power weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW / kg for two years. You will not need L plates anymore and you can carry a passenger on the pillion and can use the motorways.
After the two year restricted period your category A2 licence becomes a full category A motorcycle licence and you can ride any size motorcycle. Note that it does not matter if the two year restricted period comes to an end and you have not turned 21 yet - you still get your full category A entitlement.

The licence by itself is nothing, it requires entitlements. My provisional, for example, I'd held for 10+ years (don't ask but the motorcycle entitlement on it for only 2. By getting the entitlement added to my provisional, I could then do my cbt, grab some L's, my little lady, and ride to my hearts content. If I want to drive a lorry now, I'd need to get that entitlement added too before I could learn to drive a HGV...

Nice one so i had it the wrong way round lol

 

[Benji]

They might want to add an option on the drop down of what kind of licence for a restricted licence.

 

[Gweglez]

In my opinion. If you've passed your test. You have a full licence. As long as you're not riding an unrestricted r6 on an a2 (33hp limit) then you should be still insured.

 

[Benji]

Agree, totally Gweglez, passing test is a full licence just with a power restriction in place.

 

[Scott Murphy]

This is why i have decided that i am just going to do DAS test and get full unrestricted licence from start. Do not want a big bike right now but figure if i do that licence straight away that then it is just done and i never have to think about another test again or having to send licence back to get restriction removed (if you have to send it back or they just remove the restriction on computer)

 

[L-J-P]

They might want to add an option on the drop down of what kind of licence for a restricted licence.

My thoughts exactly.