What licence do I need for a Vespa Primavera 125?

Key points

• You must be 17 or over to ride a 125cc scooter on the road.
• On a provisional licence + CBT you can ride a 125cc Vespa on L plates, no motorways, no pillion.
• A full A1 licence (or higher A2/A) lets you ride up to 125cc without L plates and with a passenger.
• All normal rules still apply: insurance, tax and an MOT (if the scooter is over 3 years old).
• Pre-2013 or older licence rules can be different, so always check your actual licence categories.

Short explainer

The Vespa Primavera 125 sits in the UK’s light motorcycle / A1 category (up to 125cc and 11kW). To ride one legally on public roads you generally have two routes:

• 1. Provisional + CBT (most common starting point)
  — Be at least 17 years old.
  — Hold a UK provisional (or full) licence with motorcycle entitlement.
  — Complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT).
  This allows you to ride a 125cc scooter with L plates, no pillion passenger and no motorways, for as long as your CBT certificate is valid.
• 2. Full A1 / A2 / A licence
  — Pass your motorcycle theory and practical tests on an appropriate bike.
  — With a full A1 (or higher) licence you can ride a Vespa 125 without L plates, carry a passenger and use motorways (subject to bike and restrictions).

If you only have a car licence and no CBT, you cannot just jump straight on a 125cc Vespa. A car licence alone only helps with certain 50cc moped entitlements, not 125cc scooters.

Your photocard licence shows the categories you have (for example, AM, A1, A2, A). If you are unsure which rules apply to you, compare the codes on your licence with the official GOV.UK guidance or speak to an approved training school.