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, Vmoto VS2 Citi, Super Soco CPX, Askoll eS-Pro 70) 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. At 17 and over you can ride up to a 125cc-equivalent (category L3e), which covers faster mopeds like the Vmoto VS2 Citi and Super Soco CPX.
Most Moon Fleets commuter mopeds are L3e, so the minimum age is 17 with a CBT and a provisional or full licence. If you’d rather not deal with a CBT at all, a cargo e-bike is the simplest route onto the road.
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.