A pillion passenger is simply a passenger that sits behind the rider of a bike or scooter. You must not carry more than one pillion passenger who must sit astride the bike on a proper seat. They should face forward with both feet on the footrests. You must not carry a pillion passenger unless your motorcycle is designed to do so.

On all journeys, the rider and pillion passenger on a motorcycle, scooter or moped must wear a protective helmet.

Once your CBT has been completed, you’ll receive a certificate (DL196) to prove you have successfully completed the motorcycle training course. However, in most cases, if you wish to carry pillion passengers (and ride without L plates / ride on the motorway) you’ll need to obtain a full license, which includes passing a theory and practical test.

The only way it can be possible, is if you have a car licence and a CBT certificate (or just a car licence provided it was acquired before 1 February 2001). Then you automatically have a ‘full’ moped licence, meaning you can ride a moped with no L-plate, and you can carry a pillion passenger. If you don’t have a car licence (just your provisional and a CBT) you cannot carry pillion passengers – unless you’ve done the AM moped license and passed your moped theory and practical tests.

So, when people ask us ‘can you carry a pillion passenger on a CBT?’ we must ask several questions before we can provide accurate advice!

Assuming you haven’t got a car licence, you would need an AM Moped License with your theory and practical tests passed (as mentioned above).

To do this, you must be at least 16 years-old and have completed your CBT first. You must pass the Motorcycle Theory Test and undertake training and a Practical Test on a machine up to 50cc. Only then can you carry a pillion passenger on a CBT.

It is illegal to carry a pillion passenger with just a CBT certificate (see above). If you do so, you could be fined, and points added to your licence