A Theory Test Before Your CBT? What the DVSA Consultation Could Mean for Riders
The DVSA consulted on requiring a theory test before or as part of CBT, along with six other changes to moped and motorcycle training. Here is what was proposed, what has not changed yet, and what new riders should do now.
If you ride a moped or a motorcycle, or you are thinking about starting, a set of proposals from the DVSA could change the way you get on the road. One of them stands out for anyone who follows theory test news: the idea of requiring a theory test before, or as part of, compulsory basic training. Here is what was proposed, where it stands, and what sensible riders should do while the outcome is decided.
What the DVSA asked about
The DVSA ran a consultation called "Improving moped and motorcycle training, testing and licensing". It opened on 7 January 2026 and closed at 11:59pm on 11 May 2026. It applies to England, Scotland and Wales, and covers licence categories AM (mopeds), A1, A2 and A (motorcycles).
The stated aim was to improve road safety and to simplify how people get access to motorcycling. Those two goals pull in slightly different directions, which is why the proposals are worth reading rather than skimming.
The theory test proposal
At the moment, compulsory basic training (CBT) has no theory test attached to it. You take your CBT, you get a certificate, and you can ride on the road with L plates. The theory test only becomes compulsory later, when you want to sit the module 1 and module 2 tests for a full licence.
The consultation asked whether a theory test should be introduced that has to be taken before, or as part of, the CBT course. That is a meaningful shift. It would mean the first time a new rider is tested on road signs, hazard awareness, road positioning and the rules that govern them would be at the very start of their riding life, not after months or years of riding on L plates.
The road safety argument is straightforward. New riders are among the most vulnerable people on the road, and the earlier they understand hazard perception and the hierarchy of road users, the better. The counter argument is cost and friction: adding a test at the CBT stage adds a fee, a booking, and a delay for people who currently get riding relatively quickly.
The other proposals riders should know about
The theory test question was one of seven. The DVSA also asked whether it should:
Restrict learner riders to automatic machines if they complete their CBT on an automatic. Introduce a progressive access training course so riders can upgrade their licence through structured training rather than retaking tests. Update the CBT syllabus. Change the way motorcycle instructors qualify. Change how long CBT certificates remain valid. Develop a digital service to handle CBT administration.
Taken together these are the most significant proposed changes to motorcycle training in years. The progressive access idea in particular could change how riders move from A1 to A2 to a full A licence.
Where things stand now
The consultation closed in May 2026. As of July 2026, the DVSA has not published its response or confirmed which proposals will go ahead. Nothing has changed in law, and no new theory test requirement has been introduced at the CBT stage.
It is worth being clear about that, because a lot of coverage online blurs the line between "proposed" and "confirmed". If you are booking a CBT this summer, the current rules still apply. Consultations of this size are usually followed by a government response, then legislation, then a phased rollout, so any change would be signalled well in advance.
What to do while you wait
If you are a new or returning rider, the practical move is not to wait at all. Whatever the DVSA decides, the motorcycle theory test is already required for a full licence, and the knowledge it covers is exactly the knowledge that keeps riders safe in their first year on the road.
Learning the motorcycle question bank early costs you nothing but time, and it makes the rest of your training easier. Riders who understand road signs, stopping distances and observation before they start module 1 tend to find the practical elements far less overwhelming. If the rules do change, you will already be ahead of them.
Keep an eye on the DVSA consultation page for the response, and treat anything you read elsewhere as commentary until then.
If you want to get your motorcycle theory revision underway now, Theory Test Passed has the full motorcycle question bank and hazard perception practice, built as a DVSA licensed platform. You can start whenever you are ready, at your own pace.
