You’ve probably seen the headlines and comment sections: “CBT is changing in 2026” and “no more repeating it forever.” In this Moto Planet feature presented by Liam Simm, we cut through the noise and focus on what’s real right now: an official DVSA consultation on moped and motorcycle training, testing and licensing.

This video is an explainer, not a panic alarm. Liam breaks down what a CBT actually is, what the DVSA is asking for feedback on, and what that could mean for UK learner riders - especially anyone riding a 125 on L-plates or planning to start training soon.

What a CBT is (and what it isn’t)

CBT stands for Compulsory Basic Training. It’s the training day that lets you ride a learner-legal moped or 125cc (A1 category) on the road with L-plates, as long as you meet the age requirements and follow the learner rules.

It’s important to keep the wording straight: a CBT is not a full licence. It’s a stepping stone-permission to learn and build road experience before progressing to your theory test and practical tests.

Current CBT rules UK riders should know

Right now, the core learner restrictions are the ones most riders already recognise: no carrying a pillion passenger, no motorways, and your CBT certificate is time-limited. If you want to keep riding after it expires, you either need to have progressed to a full licence, or do CBT again (there’s currently no cap on repeats).

The key point for 2026 talk is this: nothing has “changed overnight.” What exists today is a consultation, meaning the DVSA is asking questions and gathering evidence, not flipping a switch next week.

Why the DVSA is looking at changes

The DVSA consultation sits under a wider push on road safety, and it’s clearly interested in how learner riding works in the real world - especially the pattern of riders repeatedly doing CBT rather than progressing through the full licence route.

The consultation also focuses on modernising admin (think digital records) and whether the current structure best prepares new riders for the roads they actually ride on today.

What the DVSA is consulting on (the real list)

The DVSA consultation includes proposals and questions around:

• Changing how long CBT certificates are valid for (including alternative validity periods).
• Introducing a minimum waiting period before repeating CBT (to discourage “permanent learner” behaviour).
• Bringing theory or structured learning earlier in the journey (before or as part of CBT).
• Automatic vs manual learner entitlement (for example, restricting learners to automatics if CBT was completed on an automatic, unless extra training is done).
• Digitising CBT certificates and building a platform for records, admin, fraud reduction and enforcement.
• Updates to CBT content/syllabus and instructor qualification/quality processes (part of the wider training system).

A key detail for UK riders: any changes that come out of this consultation would apply to England, Scotland and Wales. Motorcycle training and licensing rules are devolved in Northern Ireland, so NI may not follow the same outcome.

What’s most likely to happen first

When you look at what’s being discussed, some ideas are simply easier to roll out than others. In practical terms, digitising CBT administration and records is the sort of “low disruption” change that can happen earlier because it’s largely a systems and process upgrade.

Anything that changes day-to-day rider entitlement, like shorter validity periods, mandatory gaps between CBT repeats, or automatic-only restrictions, tends to be more disruptive and more contentious. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but it usually means more debate, more planning, and more lead time.

So what should UK learners do right now?

First: don’t get pulled into doom-scrolling. This is a consultation process, and the timeline matters. The DVSA has already extended the consultation closing date, which is a good reminder that these things move through proper stages.

If you’re already riding on CBT and repeating it, Liam’s advice is straightforward: think about progression. If you’re planning to stay on two wheels longer-term, moving toward your theory and tests puts you in control - whatever changes eventually land.

And if you’re building a bike you’ll keep for the season, now’s also a decent time to sort the basics: protection, comfort and practicality. If you want to browse fitment-led accessories, head over to Moto Planet.

Moto Planet view: what we’re watching as a UK rider hub

At Moto Planet we’re UK-focused and rider-led, so our job is to translate official updates into real-world impact: what it means for a 17-year-old on a 125, a commuter using a scooter, or someone returning to bikes after years away. As the consultation moves forward, the big questions we’ll keep tracking are how training quality improves, how progression is encouraged, and whether any changes create unintended barriers for sensible new riders.