Riding on a provisional licence.
 

There's been a few threads asking about riding on a provisional licence, but few definative answers. I thought it would be a good idea to try and get some definative answers. Here's what I've got so far. If people want to add information that'd be great,

I've put the date and where the information came from, so that we know who actually said this and it can always be re-checked at a later date

France:
 

In France it's legal to ride a bike up to 125cc and up to 15hp - Category A1 on a Category B driving licence. However you have to held this licence for a minimum of two years.

If you hold a European style driving licence with the alphabetised categories then assuming you meet the conditons above you too can ride legally. There's no need to display any form of plate to show you're a provisional licence holder.

This information came from both the Prefecture des Cotes d'Armor and the Gendarmerie de Guingamp as of October 2008.

Uk
 

In the Uk if you have an EU driving licence and if you are entitled to ride on that licence in the country of issue then you are permitted to ride the same in the UK. Hence for the French licence mentioned above you are allowed to ride up 125cc and up to 15hp without L-plates.

This information came as a result of three phone calls to the DVLA helpline all asking the same question over three consecutive days as of October 2008.

Alternatively you can exchange a French licence for a UK licence and they will put a full Category A on it. Then say that as that's what's on their computers that's what you can ride. Which makes it bureaucratically impossible to sit a bike test. But also means you don't need one. :mchappy: