I know I'll get all sorts of flak for this but ...

Is it essential to actually have a motorbike licence? Yes I know it is legally required but how often is it checked? Is it ever checked?

Oh, and what happens if you don't have one and you get checked? (I guess that'll depend a lot on the country.)

(A licence doesn't guarantee competence nor does no licence mean incompetence.)

Cheers.

LOL - You are definitely getting flak for this mate. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are riding off road ??? Cause if you are riding on the road without a licence, well let's just say you'll only be checked by a copper ONCE !

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I can't remember the last time my licence was checked either in the UK or in any of many the other countries I've visited. Probably at least 20 yrs. So, if I was feeling lucky, I could have done any of the trips I've done in that time (a lot) without a licence and be no worse off for it.

But how much my 'good fortune' is down to the fact I drive / ride like a care home resident on my way to a bingo session, use sedate and sober bikes / cars that are all taxed, insured and MOT'd so I don't trip ANPR cameras and don't get flashed for speeding you'll have to decide for yourself.

If you go to all that trouble you might as well get a licence for the peace of mind. If you haven't got a licence and don't want to get caught you're going to have to be very very careful with immaculate roadcraft. The training involved in getting a licence is partly a process of giving you that roadcraft.

If you're pulled without a licence expect to have no need of one for some considerable time. If you have an accident and are found to have no licence expect to be unable to afford one for some considerable time - particularly if there's third party damage or injury involved.

Plenty of people drive without licences but I'm not sure how border crossings would go?

could you travel on a provisional licence? I imagine to the average cop in another country they wouldnt be able to tell any difference.

I had an international licence many years ago, I think it was only valid for a year but i just kept changing the date and it never got questioned.

I'd have thought in plenty of countries if you are happy to pay bribes it would make little or no difference.

But why risk it?

my DL never was checked at the border.

Me neither. Passport, insurance and, once, bribe have been asked for but not licence.

An international one from the post office (in the UK anyway) might sound like a cheap option but both of the ones I've had in the last three years have needed me to present my regular licence which was both forensically examined by the counter lady (it's the old paper one which I don't think she's seen many of) and then scanned for their records.

Hi Grahame:

Welcome to our forum community.

It's difficult to give a concise answer to your question, because so much depends on where you are and what exposure to loss you have or are willing to tolerate.

In fully developed countries (Europe, North America, Japan, Singapore & similar): Yes, absolutely, if you are going to ride a motorcycle, you have to have a licence for it, simply because you may be held criminally & civilly responsible if you have an accident and are found to not be properly licenced to operate the moto. Your vehicle insurance company will decline responsibility.

In lesser developed countries (Caribbean tourist destinations, many sub-Saharan African countries): It kind of depends on what you are riding and where you are riding it. If you rent a 50cc scooter in a popular warm tourist destination, you might not encounter problems... but then again, if you get into an accident, you could face the same problems as mentioned above, or if you get stopped by the police, you could be squeezed for a bribe.

The risks get higher if you own the moto you are riding - it may be confiscated or impounded, in other words, you might be looking at a financial loss.

Off-Road (anywhere): If you are only operating the motorcycle off-road - meaning, not on public highways - then you might not be legally obliged to have a licence for the motorcycle. Check the laws of the country you plan to operate in.

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A better way of looking at it might be "What do you have to lose?" If you are 21, have no assets, and have not established a career yet, perhaps you could tolerate getting stuck in a jail for a month. If you are in your 50s, have substantial assets (including an expensive motorcycle between your legs) and a career where regulators would not look kindly on a criminal conviction, the risks are unacceptable.

Michael

Yes it is important to have a licence. Whilst having one doesn't guarantee competence there's a greater chance of competence occurring than if someone doesn't have one. As has been said before, insurance will be void without it.
To answer your question in another way .... imagine if a close relative was killed by a vehicle (any kind, take your pick) and it transpired that the driver/rider didn't possess a licence to be on the road in the first place ... how do you think you'd feel and what punishment do you think that person should receive??
Anyone who drives without a valid licence deserves everything that will surely come their way.