Licence clarification

With regard to young or recently passed riders who has an "A" licence and who an"A2"licence
Reading the Insurance Ombudsman's report it appears that you do not have a "Full Licence" till your 2 years have expired after passing your test and an insurer has the right to charge extra while you have the restriction on your licence.
Declaring that you have a "Full" Licence before this can make your insurance void . That is a question not a statement

Can anybody clarify regarding the declaration of having an A or A2 when applying for insurance and substantiate their answer.

[yorkie_chris]

I would suspect the test would be then if the new drivers act* applies to you when you get your proper test passed or when your restriction expires.

I would also say it is not a simple matter of "making insurance void", some common sense must apply of whether it was possible to actually hold a full licence given the proposors age etc. and from this I would say A2 does count as a "full UK" bike licence and unless the option was specifically given (in event of an online quote say) of what licence do you hold A/A1/A2/provisional etc and you lied you would be fine.

*The "if you get 6 points within 2 years of passing your first full category retake your test" thing.

I am asking for the regulation or rule of law that does apply regarding not being classed as a full licence till after the two years have expired-------as referred to by the
Ombudsman not me.My translation of the law with regards to the six points and 33bhp restriction is that you are in a intermediate area between provisional and full.
What makes sense or is common sense seems to be a grey area regarding insurance and is it down to the individual to make a full declaration of facts to the insurance company rather than they presume or deduce the facts.
I seriously doubt if you lied to an insurance that it would be fine

Please I don't want to get into what people think or rights and wrongs,just a clarified black and white answer.
Thanks.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

...and unless the option was specifically given (in event of an online quote say) of what licence do you hold A/A1/A2/provisional etc and you lied you would be fine.

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

I seriously doubt if you lied to an insurance that it would be fine

Highlighted for clarity. I am not suggesting it is a good idea to lie to them. As always when dealing with these things it is a case of phrasing the truth in the correct manner.


As an example when I was on restriction, filling in online forms they would ask "type of licence" with the options generally something like:

Full UK
Provisional UK
EU
None

With these options obviously the only one which fits is "full UK", it's not a lie.




Here is DVLA paper INF45
https://www.dvla.gov.uk/dvla/forms/~...ets/INF45.ashx

Note it shows the <25kW as a category of vehicle, hence a valid "full licence".
It is also on a form "your full licence explained".


The only possible outcome to this is that the A2 category is a full licence for that category of vehicle.

During the lapse from posting I have found out that the majority of insurers require you to declare you have a full licence but some ask.The main idea being that by law you can not ride anything above 33bhp and if you do it then becomes a police matter.
Bennetts and Swinton both gave an answer along these lines stating that if the vehicle was above 33bhp you are not insured--------------according to them as you are unlicenced for that class of motorbike.

It wouldnt say that on my license if i havent got a full bike license . Which A2 is a full license!


Sent from my iPhone

And no its a police matter because u arnt riding within accordance to license. So u still are insured .


Sent from my iPhone

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

if the vehicle was above 33bhp you are not insured--------------according to them as you are unlicenced for that class of motorbike.

Now as I understand it,

Correct, you are not licenced for that class of vehicle. Just the same as if I was driving a 40 tonne artic on my <3.5 ton car licence. Offence that Joe states is what you'd get done for.

The "not insured" matter is different, one risk is if you had a crash as you had been well outside the cover offered they would still have to pay out for 3rd party damage, but could then pursue you personally to recover the payout.

A2 is a full licence for bikes up to 33bhp and it is the riders responsibility to ensure that if the bike is capable of in excess of 33bhp that a restriction is fitted and in working order.
This is according to two insurance companies --not me.