Guides · Rally · Checked 10 September 2026
Step by step
- 1
Try a road rally or navigation event
Contact a local club and enter an introductory event such as a Touring Assembly, 12 Car Rally or navigation rally in an everyday road car. The car must have an MOT and be taxed and registered, with an H-pattern manual gearbox and road-legal tyres. Events start at £30.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
- 2
Get a free RS Clubman licence
Road rallying needs only the free RS Clubman licence, applied for online, plus club membership for regular club events. Navigators need basics such as a pencil, rubber, stopwatch and a writing board, and sometimes Ordnance Survey maps.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
- 3
Co-drive on a stage rally
For single-venue stage rallies Motorsport UK says to sign up for an RS Inter Club licence online (from age 14). For multi-venue events (from 16) it says to buy the Rallying Starter Pack. A good way to find a seat is to chat to competitors in the service area.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
- 4
Buy the stage rally licence pack
To drive, buy Motorsport UK's 'Your First Stage Rally Competition Licence (BARS)' pack, which includes the application form and your first RS Inter Club Stage Rally licence fee.starterpacks.motorsportuk.org
- 5
Pass the BARS test
Book with a BARS member school. The test has a 1–2 hour classroom presentation, a 20–30 minute multiple-choice exam and a 20–30 minute practical drive with an examiner. It costs £500 from 1 January 2026.rallyschools-bars.co.uk
- 6
Start on single-venue rallies
Single-venue stage rallies, often at airfields or military venues, have lower entry fees than multi-venue forest or closed-road rallies. Arrive-and-drive car hire is also available.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
The licence
RS Clubman (road) · RS Inter Club (stage)
Road rally: RS Clubman (free). Stage rally co-driver: RS Inter Club. Stage rally driver: RS Inter Club Stage Rally, via the 'Your First Stage Rally Competition Licence (BARS)' pack
Apply for RS Clubman and RS Inter Club online with no test. For stage rally driving, buy the starter pack, pass the BARS test (classroom session, multiple-choice exam and practical driving assessment) at a BARS school, then apply for the RS Inter Club Stage Rally licence within 12 months.
RS Clubman free; RS Inter Club £85; RS Inter Club Stage Rally £119 (Motorsport UK licence page, no year shown). Stage rally starter pack £119 including first licence (Motorsport UK Shop, checked 10 Sep 2026, listed as sold out). BARS test £500 from 1 January 2026.
Official licence page · getstarted.motorsportuk.orgKit you need
- Helmet, fireproof overalls, FHR and balaclava (stage rallying) — Mandatory and must meet Motorsport UK regulations, for both drivers and co-drivers.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
- Fireproof gloves, boots and fireproof underwear (stage rallying) — Strongly recommended.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
- Road rally navigation kit — Working odometer, pencil, rubber, sharpener, stopwatch(es) and a cardboard writing board. Some events need Ordnance Survey maps or a smartphone app with a dash mount and charger.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
What it costs
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| RS Clubman licence (road rallying) | Free | getstarted.motorsportuk.org |
| Road rally event entry | From £30 | getstarted.motorsportuk.org |
| RS Inter Club licence (e.g. single-venue co-driving) | £85 | getstarted.motorsportuk.org |
| Your First Stage Rally Competition Licence (BARS) starter pack, includes first licence | £119 (Motorsport UK Shop, checked 10 Sep 2026; listed as sold out) | starterpacks.motorsportuk.org |
| BARS test | £500 (from 1 January 2026) | rallyschools-bars.co.uk |
Published figures from the sources shown, checked on the date above. Prices change; confirm with the organiser before you book.
Your first event
Coming up: go and watch one first
Rallying: questions people ask
What is the cheapest way to start rallying in the UK?
Road rallying in your everyday road car on a free RS Clubman licence. Motorsport UK says events start at £30, and taster events need only the entry fee.
Do rally co-drivers need to pass a test?
Motorsport UK's co-driver guide does not mention the BARS test, which it describes as a novice driver course. For single-venue stage rallies it says to sign up for an RS Inter Club licence online, and for multi-venue rallies to buy the Rallying Starter Pack.
How much is the BARS test?
£500 from 1 January 2026, according to the British Association of Rally Schools. You also need Motorsport UK's stage rally starter pack, which includes your first licence.
How old do you have to be to go rallying?
Road rally navigators can start at 12 and drivers at 17. Stage rally co-drivers can start at 14 on single-venue events and 16 on multi-venue events. The stage rally driver licence is listed as 14+.
What is a 12 Car Rally?
A road rally where crews navigate between 12 checkpoints on a schedule. It is one of the road rally formats you can enter on a free RS Clubman licence.
Sources, checked 2026-09-10: getstarted.motorsportuk.org · getstarted.motorsportuk.org · getstarted.motorsportuk.org · getstarted.motorsportuk.org · starterpacks.motorsportuk.org · rallyschools-bars.co.uk · getstarted.motorsportuk.org. Rules and fees change; the governing body’s own page is always the final word.