UK License question ...

**Bob** · 24th October 2006, 23:55

I suppose the closest to your licence would be the 33bhp restricted - as suggested by others - but I'd recommend asking the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) first:

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/OrganisationDe...7FEB20&cat=223

The above doesn't have a contact email, but there is a long list of departments in the following link - emails are included in there:

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/OrganisationDe...XB42E-A77FA826

It might also be worth contacting an insurance company - Motorcycle Direct insure my wife and always seem to be friendly and helpful:

http://www.motorcycledirect.co.uk/contact.php?int=3799

Otherwise, a few years ago I interviewed Bill Roughton at Bike Tours UK - he is very helpful and would probably be able to come up with useful information. I'd also recommend him as someone who could come up with an itinerary for you, look into places to stay etc:

http://www.biketours-uk.com/index.cms

Hope some of the above proves useful.

**scracha** · 25th October 2006, 18:14

Originally Posted by Dai

missed the learner bit myself. over 21 so i did the direct course. seem to remember that they used to restrict youngsters to mopeds till they were 17.

They did. I was a bad boy and had a GP100 registered as a 50cc at 16. Mind you, I had an X5 (200cc 2smoke twin) registered as a 125 when I was 17. 3rd party only insurance (no fire and theft) was a 4 digit sum in kiwi money.

**m99dws** · 26th October 2006, 07:25

Originally Posted by scracha

After passing they can ride any size limited to 33bhp for 2 years unless they are over 21 and sit a direct access course (harder test).

It's not a harder test, it's the same test but on a bike of 46bhp or more.

**Whynot** · 26th October 2006, 07:28

just got this email reply ...

From: drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk [mailto:drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk]
Sent: Saturday, 21 October 2006 4:12 AM
To: XXXXXXX
Subject: RE: Motorcycle license enquiry

Thank you for your email.

You may drive on the strength of a full valid 1F 6R New Zealand driving licence for 12 months from the last date of entry if here as a visitor or 12 months from date of residency if here as a resident.

If you are resident outside the UK, are temporarily in this country and hold full ordinary entitlement you can drive any category of vehicle, up to 3.5 tonnes and with up to 8 passenger seats, shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the date you last entered the UK whether or not you brought the vehicle into Great Britain.

If you also hold full entitlement to drive large lorries or buses you are only allowed to drive large vehicles registered outside of Great Britain, that you have driven into the country.

As a resident, provided your full licence remains valid, you can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you became resident.

To ensure continuous driving entitlement a British licence must be obtained before this period elapses by exchanging your licence for a British one. If you do not do this you must stop driving. However, an application to exchange a full valid licence will be considered within 5 years of your date of residency.

New Residents must not drive medium or large vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles until they have passed the relevant British driving test(s).

If you wish to exchange your valid licence and be issued with a British driving licence you will need to obtain a D1 photocard application form (available from and main post office) and return the completed form to the DVLA along with the relevant enclosures, your valid driving licence and a fee of £38.00.

I am afraid we will be unable to return your licence as, according to the exchange agreement, it has to be returned to the Licensing Issuing Authorities.

You should be issued with a full car and motorcycle driving licence.

For more detailed information regarding foreign licence please obtain our information leaflet D100 (available from any main Post Office).

Regards

Mrs X XXXXXXX
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXXX@XXXXXXX.XXX
Sent: 20/10/2006 01:00:20
To: <drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk>
Subject: Motorcycle license enquiry

Sir/Madam,

I currently hold a 1F 6R New Zealand drivers license, class 1 is car and 6 is motorcycle.
I would like to find out how this license would transfer to the UK, especially with respect to the motorcycle license.
I recently graduated from a learners motorcycle license (6L) to the restriced by a practicle assessed riding test.
The restriced allows the use of up to a 250cc motorcycle but removes other restrictions placed on the learner license such
as display of an "L" plate and riding at only 70km/h on the open road.
Any help in this query is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
XXXXXXXXXXX

**Whynot** · 26th October 2006, 07:38

then this ....

Thank you for your email.

I can confirm that you will be able to drive in the UK on the strength of your New Zealand licence for the first 12 months of residency and you would also be able to exchange this for a full UK licence (car and motorcycle).

Regards

Mrs XXXXXXXXXXX
www.direct.gov.uk

[THREAD ID:1-DFH64]

-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXXX@XXXXXX.XXX
Sent: 23/10/2006 20:19:00
To: <drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk>
Subject: RE: Motorcycle license enquiry

Thank you for the reply.

So to confirm a few points, will i be able to use my license for the first 12 months of entry as an effective "full" car and motorcycle license ?
and if i wish to exchange my NZ license for a British license will it be exchanged for a "full" car and motorcycle license ?

Thanks for your help,
XXXXXXXX

I'm not sure but i think i may have confused them ....

**scracha** · 26th October 2006, 12:31

Originally Posted by Whynot

then this ....

I'm not sure but i think i may have confused them ....

Never mind the license. I'd be checking out insurance quotes first.

**m99dws** · 26th October 2006, 15:51

Originally Posted by scracha

Never mind the license. I'd be checking out insurance quotes first.

I'd agree to that, make sure you call and don't accept an internet quote, as you can always play them off each other and get the cost down further.

**Bob** · 28th October 2006, 07:59

If you need any details of UK Insurers, PM me and I'll have a quick look at the bike mags to come up with a few URLs for you.

I also think the more clued up ones (as I said earlier, Motorcycle Direct seem to know their stuff) will probably be able to give you some guidance re: your licence. But, of course, if you can get a letter from the DSA/DVLA saying your licence will be good for 12 months here as a full licence, then who are you to argue?

**Karma** · 28th October 2006, 08:23

Originally Posted by McJim

I've heard of people in the UK sitting their Learner's in the morning and their full licence in the afternoon. Costs a few bob though - I'm sure someone on here mentioned it but I'm buggered if I know what words they used so shan't do a search.

Yep, I did it around 18 months ago, it's a little more involved than just taking two tests though.

Originally Posted by boomer

you can do a w/e course for about (no fukin pund sign on this fukin taiwanese keyboard)500 i think; should get you through 'L' to Full

It's not a weekend course either, the one I did was five days, day 1 was the CBT, days 2-4 were training, and if the instructor thought you were good enough then day 5 was your full test.

Originally Posted by scracha

Never mind the license. I'd be checking out insurance quotes first.

Yeh insurance will kill you eh, it's been on the rise in the UK for a long time, and because you HAVE to have it, they can pretty much charge what they want.

Not sure if they're still running at the moment, but I found elephant.co.uk to be pretty good.

**boomer** · 28th October 2006, 08:35

Originally Posted by Weasel

It's not a weekend course either, the one I did was five days, day 1 was the CBT, days 2-4 were training, and if the instructor thought you were good enough then day 5 was your full test.

you can do w/e courses.

**Bob** · 28th October 2006, 21:55

The following link gives you details of further training:

http://www.begin-motorcycling.co.uk/training.htm

What you're looking at doing is called Direct Access or Accellerated Access.

The following link is from a training school about their Accellerated Access course - standard 4 day course:

http://www.a1motorcycletraining.co.uk/direct.html

But I did find one that runs a two day course (and shows their prices):

http://www.lightningpass.com/jkcm/de...p?pg=15&lang=1

Don't know where you will based, but this is a list of training schools:

http://bikesource.co.uk/index.php?viewCat=43

**Posh Tourer :P** · 29th October 2006, 00:55

The UK's licencing system is very good at transferring your exact restrictions from your current licence to their system. For example, I got a B + E class car licence which means driving any vehicle up to 3.5t plus towing up to a combined 7.5t. A normal B class licence only allows you to drive a 3.5t combined weight. The B is the standard car full licence.
I guess that they will transfer the restriction to 250cc onto your UK licence as a special condition. They are pretty good at transferring things exactly, to the point of creating the almost unused B+E class just for overseas licence swapping.
I would sit your full here. Or just run on a NZ licence, as it is valid for 12 months from date of entry, and I'm sure you will do trips to Europe and come back...... I had to swap mine because I was working which involved a lot of driving round the country......

Anyhow you do it, have fun on your OE.... I'm about to come home now.... I've owned 3 bikes while I've been over here, and insurance for a 22yr old male, not living in London, is about 350-odd pounds TPO on a BMW R100S or a Yamaha XJ600. But then I have an address I can register them to outside of London, and it took a bit of chatting and talking to get to that level. They will tell you that they don't recognise your overseas insurance history or riding experience, but if you arent asked about where your history was, don't tell them. Also don't mention that you are on a visa and not a resident, because that puts the prices up a lot too.... If you do get asked, go ring someone else who doesnt ask silly questions.

**Nick from the nick** · 30th October 2006, 10:36

I currently have a full uk licence and can ride anything as i have had it for 21 years just wondering if i'll be limited when i move to New Zealand ?
Just a quick point do it the day trip to france way as the bike test in the UK is difficult !
If you really want to do a UK test wait till your 21 and go direct access £500 or about $1400 but it will only take you 5 days to get through a test and most of the schools that do these will retest you 3 or 4 times which should be enough for you to pass.

**Whynot** · 1st November 2006, 09:41

Thanks for all the help guys

Looks like i better get my full before i leave or else its going to be a bit of a nightmare ...

**Karma** · 1st November 2006, 15:16

Originally Posted by Nick from the nick

I currently have a full uk licence and can ride anything as i have had it for 21 years just wondering if i'll be limited when i move to New Zealand ?

Nope, you can ride whatever you want for up to a year from when you enter the country, then you'll have to sit a theory test for every licence you have, i.e. one for car, one for bike etc..., then pay $40 and they'll give you a brand spanking new New Zealand license.

If you really want to do a UK test wait till your 21 and go direct access £500 or about $1400 but it will only take you 5 days to get through a test and most of the schools that do these will retest you 3 or 4 times which should be enough for you to pass.

Exactly what I did, except I passed first time with 1 minor only