Do you need a licence for an electric moped in London?
CBT, age limits, L1e vs L3e and the no-licence option — explained simply for London commuters.
Do you need a licence to ride an electric moped in London?
Yes — to ride an electric moped on the road in the UK you need at least a provisional driving licence plus a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) certificate, unless you hold a full car licence issued before 1 February 2001. A CBT is a one-day course that costs around £130–£170 and is valid for two years.
The exception is electric cargo bikes (EAPCs): they need no licence and no CBT, so you can ride one straight away. At Moon Fleets the mopeds (Askoll eS3, Yadea GFX, Yadea OWIN) need a CBT, while the cargo e-bikes (CYCL Carr-e, ETT Trayser 2.0) need no licence.
What is a CBT, and how do you get one?
A CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) is a one-day course run by DVSA-approved training schools. It’s not a test you can fail — it’s training designed to make sure you can ride safely. Once completed it’s valid for two years, after which you renew it (or take a full motorcycle test to remove the restrictions).
In London you can book a CBT with any accredited motorcycle training school, usually for £130–£170. With a CBT you must display L-plates, you can’t carry a passenger, and you can’t ride on motorways. A full A-licence removes those limits and doesn’t expire every two years.
What are the age limits — L1e vs L3e?
The category depends on the vehicle. At 16 you can ride a 50cc-equivalent moped (category L1e), limited to 28 mph — the Yadea GFX and OWIN are L1e. At 17 and over you can ride up to a 125cc-equivalent (category L3e), which covers faster mopeds like the Askoll eS3 (41 mph).
Legally you could ride the Yadea GFX and OWIN from 16 and the Askoll eS3 from 17, with a CBT and a provisional or full licence — but our fleet motor insurance means we only rent mopeds to riders 21 and over. If you’re under 21, or would rather not deal with a CBT at all, a cargo e-bike is the simplest route onto the road: no licence, and available from 18.
Is there a no-licence option?
Electric cargo bikes are classed as EAPCs (electrically assisted pedal cycles). As long as the motor is 250 W and assists only up to 15.5 mph, no licence, CBT, insurance test, road tax or registration is required — you ride them like a bicycle.
That makes the CYCL Carr-e and ETT Trayser 2.0 a fast way to start commuting if you don’t have a CBT yet. You still get insurance, servicing, GPS and an anti-theft lock included in the Moon Fleets subscription.