Yamaha Tricity 125 with driving license code 79(3)

[JulietBell23]

Hi guys!

I am new on the forum.
I have a question for you as I was looking forward to buy a Tricity 125cc (https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/gb/en/products/scooters/urban-mobility/tricity-125/).

The problem is that I am not sure if I can drive it or if I have to choose the 300 cc because of my driving license.

I took my full car driving license (B) in 2010, in Italy. Converted it in the UK license in 2019 and since then I had the code 79(3) under the section A, so apparently I can drive certain types of (or maybe any) tricycles according to the law.

However, I have found controversial info online on which criteria the 79(3) code covers.
Sometimes it looks like I can drive any kind of tricycle (1), sometimes instead it looks like I can only drive the car type of tricycles and not the motor type of tricycles (2).

(1): "The driving license legislation for three-wheelers (tricycles), irrespective of whether they are car or motorcycle based, changed considerably on 19.01.13. [...] The changes only affect those taking their test after 19.01.13. Those riders/drivers with existing full entitlement to ride/drive category B1 vehicles gained before 19.01.13 will retain that entitlement."

(2): "You can drive/ride a motor tricycle of any power rating if you're over 21 and you have a full car driving licence. If this is not the case you'll need a full category A1 motorbike licence to ride motor tricycles up to a power output of 15 Kilowatts (kW), and a full category A motorbike licence to ride trikes with a power output more than 15 kW."

So my first question is: can I drive all tricycles or only the car type ones?
And also, if I can only drive the car type tricycles, can I drive the Tricity 125 cc 2020 or the 300 cc 2020? I am not sure about the differences between a car tricycle and a motor one, so not sure which kind of tricycle these 2 models are...

Thank you so much in advance, I hope my queries were clear enough!

[CorriganJ]

Thats a tricky one. Well, just do your CBT? It's a one day training course, not very much to do, then you know you can ride a 125 with no problems.

Even if you are correct, the police might not understand the categories, and having the CBT would just get them off your back.

[kgm]

Go to here https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Put your details in and this will give you a list of all categories on your specific license, with an explanation of what I you can drive/ride if you click on the category in question.

[ThunderGuts]

As far as I can gather, a tricycle is a tricycle, irrespective of if it's some huge thing with a V8 or based on a 125cc scooter.

To be honest though (and this is a recurring theme), I would suggest that even if your licence entitles you to ride the thing, I would look at some training (which you would get an element of from doing your full bike licence). The risks are virtually identical to a three-wheeler like that compared with a "normal" motorcycle, so it's in your interest to learn how to minimise these.
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TG.

[Polarbear]

I agree with the CBT route.

Get one and you alleviate a shed load of grief if some pedantic twat of a copper pulls you over. It certainly means you can drive that bike.

Also, unless something has changed (which it might well have), those type of bikes are classed as bikes, not trikes. The front wheels are too close together so you will need a CBT whatever.

Do your CBT and ask the instructors, they should know for certain.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[ThunderGuts]

[Evil Hans]

[Riejufixing]