Motorcycle and sidecar rules and regulations

[Andrew353w]

Looking for some advice from any Autoshiters out there... I could ask DVLA Swansea but they're suffering a credibility problem at the moment.... What type of licence does one need to drive (ride?) a motorcycle and sidecar combination? I've owned several weird and wonderful vehicles in my time, including numerous Dafs, a Bedford Beagle and the odd Renault; the current stable consists of a Skoda Fun and a Wartburg Knight (which has featured on this site!) I owned a Reliant Robin until recently, which was great, but now I want to try a motorcycle and sidecar combination (I ought to be certified, I know!) My licence lets me ride a moped (I think!) and I have never had any experience of motorcycling whatsoever, although I did hold a class one HGV until recently. The point I am stuck on is this: my Reliant Robin was classed as a "motor tricycle" so, am I therefore allowed to drive a motorcycle and sidecar, as I've already driven one... Also, the Robin has an 850cc engine; does this cover me to a bike of the same size? Any thoughts from Autoshiteland would be appreciated!Andrew353w

[Albert Ross]

I believe in order to be considered a tricycle, it has to have a reverse gear and weigh more than a certain figure (possibly 400kg).......I might be VERY wrong of course.

[Richard]

In the old days you could ride a motorcycle of any size on L plates if it had a sidecar. You were also exempt from the old Part 1 test and could gain a full bike licence by sitting the Part 2. I don't know how sidecars fit into the modern regulations but you will definitely need at least a CBT.A full bike licence gives you entitlement to category B1, which is vehicles with an unladen weight under 550kg, with three or four wheels. That's why die-hard bikers used to drive Reliant Robins in the winter. Now, of course, most bikers are middle-aged middle managers so they can drive cars anyway.

[Torsten2001]

Bike licence I'm afraid, no L plates!