Training

Finding the right training school and trainer is very important as you will need to feel confident and comfortable to ensure that you make good progress when you are learning to ride.

The best ways to find a trainer are:

  • Visit the Direct Gov website to find advice about choosing an instructor
  • Word of Mouth – speak to people that you know and ask them for recommendations
  • Directories – use the Yellow pages, Thomson etc
  • Local Newspapers – many trainers will advertise locally

All trainers must be approved by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA)

There are some basic questions you can also ask to help you find the right trainer for you

Top Tips for Choosing a Trainer

  • Do they specialise in advanced training, or do they do mostly CBT and Direct Access training?
  • CBT trainees should get a minimum of 2 hours on road training
  • Is insurance provided?
  • Is protective clothing provided?
  • Download the MCIA protective clothing fact sheet
  • What is the pass rate for the centre?
  • What is the student to Instructor ratio?
  • Do they use training logbooks to monitor your progress?
  • How many actual road based training miles are you likely to cover vs how many classroom hours?
  • Do they use Intercoms?
  • What qualifications do the instructors hold?
  • Do they have structured lesson plans, or is it less formal?
  • How much will it cost and how much time do you get for your money?
  • Do you feel comfortable speaking to that person? If not you are unlikely to feel comfortable when taking instruction from them?

Make sure you take all parts of your licence with you when you first visit a training centre, as without this you will not be able to start your training.

Did you know?

Almost two-thirds of motorcycle journeys are for commuting purposes