Trikes and the law

UK Trike Law

The Law on trikes changed on August 8 2003 - For a definitive guide please contact DVLA or DSA

Different types Of trike?

Trikes are distinguished by weight only and not design. Paramount is; the weight of the trike, and what you are actually licensed to ride; any type of trike can be built to suit the needs of the disabled.

Is a trike classed as a motorcycle Or car?

Vehicle classification

A mechanically propelled vehicle that is used, adapted or intended for use on the road, is classified under a series of groups according to its use, weight and design. A trike can fall into a number of classifications. The groups are as follows ...

1. Invalid carriage - Not exceeding 254 kg - Designed for sole use by the disabled.
2. Motorcycle - Not exceeding 410kg - Not more than three wheels.
3.Car - Not exceeding 3050kg - Passenger carrying with no more than 7 seats excluding the driver.

[1] If a trike was built solely for a disabled person, and was adapted as such, it could be classified as an invalid carriage. It would be prohibited from using a motorway, would require only a "K" driving license group, and would be excluded from road tax if under 10cwt unladen weight.

What your trike is classified as, will denote which driving license you will require, and what vehicle excise license your trike will require.

Driving License groups

1. Motorcycle - New license holders are limited to 25kw/33bhp for the first two years of their license, unless they take the large motorcycle test (Direct Access). Less than 410kg unladen weight.
2. Motor vehicle - Not exceeding 3500kg, and not more than 8 seats excluding the driver; basically the "car" group. The entitlement to drive a vehicle not exceeding 7.5tonnes, for those who passed a test prior to 1/1/97, is covered under group "C1".
3. Quadracycle (license group B1) - 3 or 4 wheel motor vehicles not exceeding 550kg unladen weight, but exceeding 50kmph and 50cc. This is a relatively unknown group that brings the UK more in line with Europe. If these type of vehicles exceed 550kg, they then fall into the motor vehicle group.

If you've passed a full motorcycle test, you will have group "B1" on your license, although if you haven't passed a car test, you won't have group "B". This creates a bit of an anomaly as your motorcycle can't exceed 410kg, but you could ride a trike up to 550kg, because of your "B1" entitlement.

Changes to B1 Entitlement.

B1 entitlement is no longer granted to holders of a full Motorcycle license, so if you wish to either trike your bike or buy one in the future you will have to apply for a provisional car license and if you wish to carry passengers then pass the test. If you held a full bike license before April 2001 you should have B1 entitlement which remains valid.
You can ride a trike on a provisional license, ie. with "L" plates, but you must be 17 (or 16 if you are getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate for the mobility component) and the trike must have only one seat; the rider's seat. If you do wish to carry passengers, your trike can have extra seats, but you must carry a qualified bike or car license holder with you at all times; this is also Dependant, of course, on which sort of trike your accompanying full license holder is qualified to ride.

MOT testing classes

Class 1 - Motorcycles - With or without sidecars up to 200cc.
Class 2 - All motorcycles, including class l with or without sidecars.
Class 3 - 3 wheeled vehicles, not exceeding more than 450kg unladen weight.
Class 4 - Cars, including motor caravans, dual purpose vehicles, and goods vehicles not exceeding 3000kg.

Road fund license (Road Tax)

Your trike will be taxed under one of three classes.
Part 1 - General rate - (PLG).
Part 1 : Concession - PLG not exceeding 1100cc.
Part 2 - Motorcycles up to 450kg unladen weight.

As with the vehicle registration, the "Tricycle" class has been introduced here too, or rather re-introduced; it's actually existed years, but hardly been used.

Expect to see "Tricycle" instead of "Bicycle" on your tax disc, if your trike falls into the relevant class [Part 2].

Do I need to wear a helmet when riding a trike?

In a word, "No", neither for bike engined nor car engined trikes. Helmets are only compulsory for motor bicycles, not motor tricycles. On the other hand, you may wish to wear a helmet, say on a long journey, to protect your head from the weather, flying debris etc, etc; it's up to you. As a word of warning, should you be unfortunate enough to have an accident on your trike, some insurance companies may try to use against you, the fact that you weren't wearing a helmet should you wish to make a claim for damages, especially if you sustained head injuries.

Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations 1988.

Statutory Instrument 1998 No 1807:-

B26.01

1. Citation and Commencement - Omitted.
2. Revocation - Omitted.
3. Interpretation.

B26.02

In these Regulations:-

a. EEA state mean a state which is a contracting party to the agreement on the European Economic Area signed 2nd May 1992.
b. A reference to a numbered regulation is a reference to the regulation so numbered in these regulations.
c. A reference to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph so numbered in these regulations.

B26.03

[as to the area of the European economic area see further the editorial note to regulation 3820/85].

4. Protective Headgear.

B26.04

(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2) every person driving or riding (Otherwise than in a sidecar) on a motor bicycle when on a road shall wear protective headgear.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply to any person driving or riding on a motor bicycle if -

a. it is a mowing machine.
b. it is for the time being propelled by a person on foot.

(3) In this regulation "motor bicycle "means a two wheeled motorcycle, whether or not having a sidecar attached, and for the purposes of this definition where the distance measured between the areas of contact with the road surface of any two wheels of a motorcycle is less than 460mm those wheels shall be counted as one wheel.

"protective headgear" means a helmet which:-

(a) either -

(i) bears a mark applied by it's manufacturer indicating compliance with the specifications contained in one of the British Standards (whether or not as modified by any amendment) mentioned in schedule 2 to these regulations.

0r

(ii) is of a type manufactured for use by persons on motorcycles which by virtue of it's shape, material and construction could reasonably be expected to afford the wearer a degree of protection from accidental injury similar to or greater than that provided by a prescribed under regulation 5.
(b) If worn with a chin cup attached to or held in position by the strap, provided with an additional strap (to be fastened under the wearers jaw) for securing the helmet to the head ; and
(b) is securely fastened to the head by means of straps provided for that purpose and "strap" includes any fastening device.

Do I need seatbelts fitted to my trike?

This is the definitive guide to seatbelt requirements for trikes.

Vehicles first used before 1 April 1987.

Seatbelts are required for three wheelers that fall into the following categories:

1. With an unladen weight over 410Kg first used on or after 1 January 1965.
2. With an unladen weight over 255kg if first used on or after 1 September 1970.

EXCEPT!

Less than 410kg unladen equipped with a driving seat of a type that requires the driver to sit astride it and where that vehicle was constructed or assembled by a person not ordinarily engaged in the trade or business of constructing those sort of vehicles.

Requirements

Vehicle first used before 1 April 1981:-

Drivers - A belt that restrains the upper body. (but need not include a lap belt)
Forward facing rear seats - no requirement.

Vehicle first used after 31 March 1981:-

Drivers - a 3 point (lap/diagonal) belt. [1]
Forward facing rear seats - no requirements.

Vehicles first used after 31 March 1987:-

Seatbelts are not required for trikes that either ...

1. Have an unladen weight of less than 255kg.
2. With an unladen weight of more than 255kg but less than 410kg which are equipped with a drivers seat requiring the driver to sit astride it and where its been constructed or assembled by a person not ordinarily engaged in the trade or business of manufacturing vehicles of that type.

Requirements

Drivers - three point belts
Forward facing rear seats ...
If not more than 2 rear seats then either:-

1. A 3 point inertia belt for at least one seat.

Or

2. A 3 point belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for each seat.

Vehicles with more than 2 rear seats then either:-

1. A 3 point inertia reel belt on an outboard seat and a 3 point static or inertia reel belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for at one other seat

Or

2. A static 3 point belt for one seat and a disabled persons belt or child restraint for at least one other seat.

Or

3. A 3 point belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for each seat.

[1] A 3 point belt means a seat belt that ...

1. restrains the upper and lower parts of the torso.
2. includes a lap belt.
3. is anchored at not less than three points.
4. is designed for use by an adult.

SVA MSVA ISVA

SVA scheme

Since August 2003 all trikes (subject to a max unladen weight of 1000kg) now fall under the Motorcycle SVA scheme. This scheme has been brought in to provide an alternative route to registration for bikes, trikes etc that do not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA). Type approval for bikes and trikes became a requirement for registration in June 2003. MSVA requirements are not the same as car SVA as they are based on motorcycle type vehicles.

The new laws also affect importing 3-wheelers and a Certificate of Conformity will be required to register the vehicle for road use in the UK. Current exemptions for this test include, slow vehicles not designed to exceed 6km/h (approx 4mph), Vehicles for pedestrian control, vehicles for the physically handicapped vehicles used for agricultural use (tractors & machines) or for competitions. (ie trial / enduro bikes)

The Single Vehicle Approval scheme is a pre-registration inspection for cars and light goods vehicles that have not been type-approved to British or European standards, including amateur-built vehicles and vehicles using parts from previously registered vehicles; this can include some trikes. The main purpose of the scheme is to ensure that these vehicles have been designed and constructed to acceptable safety and environmental standards before they can be used on public roads. If you're seriously considering building your own trike, a copy of the SVA manual would be more than helpful to you: MSVA Manual

Work arounds?

There are two work arounds for registering a trike avoiding MSVA, SVA and IVA, one is registering as a disabled carriage. If you fit this catagory, go here for help with the subject: NABD

You build your trike using a complete and road registered donor motorcycle complete vith registration doccument (V5) and a bespoke bolt on conversion.
To qualify as a bolt on conversion, the vehicle should be (theoretically) able to be converted back to a solo motorcycle but will still be registered as a tricycle on the V5 and tax disc and therefore can still be driven on a car license without a crash helmet.
Your trike will be insected by the DVLA (not an SVA or MSVA test) to make sure it is legitimate and also that it is in fact bolt on.
You can weld unobtrusive brackets onto your donor bike frame to aide conversion attachment but don't cut anything obvious off, remember, it has to pass a visual inspection and the DVLA inspector is no fool!
Contact your local DVLA office for a built up vehicle pack.