Which licence do you need?

Motorsport UK Kart Inter Club licence (bought via the 'Your First Kart Competition Licence (ARKS)' starter pack)

Buy the starter pack, book and pass the ARKS test (multiple-choice theory paper plus practical on-track assessment) at an ARKS school or with a club examiner, then send the stamped application to Motorsport UK. You have 12 months after passing to apply. Under-18s also need a parent or guardian to hold an Entrant (PG) licence. Arrive-and-drive series use different licences: K-X (free, outdoor arrive-and-drive such as Club100) and K-I (indoor, British Indoor Karting Championship, part of TeamSport Elite Membership); neither needs the starter pack or ARKS test.

Starter pack £78 including the first Kart Inter Club licence fee (Motorsport UK Shop, checked 10 Sep 2026, listed as sold out). Motorsport UK licence page: Kart Inter Club £78, Kart Clubman £51, K-I £34.99, K-X free. No year printed on either page.

Motorsport UK Race Club licence (formerly Race Inter Club), bought via the 'Your First Race Competition Licence (ARDS)' starter pack

Buy the starter pack, book the ARDS Novice Driver Training Course at an ARDS member school (classroom briefing, written test and on-track assessment), then send the stamped application to Motorsport UK within 12 months. A full road driving licence is required by schools such as MSV and Croft. First-time applicants aged 14–59 need a vision test; those 60+ need a medical and vision test.

Starter pack £119 including the first licence fee (Motorsport UK Shop, checked 10 Sep 2026, listed as sold out). Motorsport UK licence page lists Race Club at £119 (no year shown).

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.

Motorsport UK RS Inter Club licence

Apply online through Motorsport UK. Motorsport UK says no test is required for RS Inter Club. You also need to be a member of a Motorsport UK-recognised club.

£85 on Motorsport UK's licence page (no year shown). The older hill climb and sprint guide pages say £82. Licences run January to December.

Motorsport UK Race Club licence (the VSCC still calls it 'Race Interclub')

Same as circuit racing: buy the first race licence pack, pass the ARDS Novice Driver Training Course, then apply to Motorsport UK. The VSCC says racers need a Motorsport UK competition licence of at least Race Interclub status.

Race Club £119 on Motorsport UK's licence page (no year shown); starter pack £119 including first licence (Motorsport UK Shop, checked 10 Sep 2026, listed as sold out).

No Motorsport UK competition licence is needed for the practice days checked. Driftland requires a full UK manual driving licence photocard; drivers without one must do 3 hours of private group hire and pay a £50 Driftland licence fee. Teesside accepts a full UK driving licence, or an MSA race licence plus drift experience, or PH Drift training or a reference.

Driftland licence fee £50 plus private hire at £250 per hour for drivers without a full UK manual licence (Driftland rules, updated 01/10/2024).

RWYB: none (full driving licence only). Racing (cars): Motorsport UK RS Inter Club licence, which covers drag racing. Bikes: ACU licence.

For RWYB, bring your physical full driving licence. To race a car, apply to Motorsport UK online for a licence that covers drag racing, join the Santa Pod Racers Club, then complete 3 observed runs (60ft, 1/8 mile, then a full 1/4 mile) to the Race Director's satisfaction, which can be done at most RWYB events.

RS Inter Club £85 on Motorsport UK's licence page (no year shown). The SPRC guide (Nov 2020) quoted a 'Drag Race Interclub licence (currently £69)', which is out of date.

ACU Road Race Competition Licence – Novice grade (Intermediate Novice if you hold a full category A DVLA licence)

Complete the ACU Competitor Training Course (online, live via Zoom) and the Basic Rider Assessment (practical, on track at a circuit), be a member of an ACU-affiliated club, then apply online through the ACU's Sport80 system with a medical questionnaire, an optician's eye report, a photo, proof of residency and your DVLA licence if you have one.

£98 competition licence fee for 2026, including personal accident insurance (ACU announcement, 5 November 2025). CTC/BRA course fees are charged separately by course providers.

ACU Competition Licence (or an AMCA motocross licence)

ACU: apply online through Sport80 as a member of an ACU club. AMCA: join an AMCA-affiliated motocross club, then apply online at portal.amca.uk.com; the AMCA holds the application as 'pending' until your club confirms membership, then usually posts the licence within 2 working days.

ACU competition licence £98 for 2026, including personal accident insurance (ACU, 5 November 2025). The AMCA does not publish its annual licence fee on its public pages.

ACU Competition Licence or ACU One Event Licence

Take out an annual ACU licence online, or buy a One Event Licence for a single enduro (available for enduro events up to National status). Many organisers add the day licence to your online entry; you still complete the licence form when you sign on.

£98 annual competition licence for 2026 (ACU). The ACU does not publish the One Event Licence fee on its page; the Tong Hare and Hounds (20 September 2026) charges £20 for an ACU day licence.

ACU Trials Registration (club or national)

Join an ACU-affiliated club and take out a trials registration through the ACU. To try one event first, One Event Trials Registrations are available from ACU Head Office.

Club trial registration £35 and national trial registration £50 for 2026, including personal accident insurance (ACU, 5 November 2025).

Promoter-issued ORCi driver licence (e.g. Spedeworth, Incarace or Mildenhall main licence) or a day licence

Complete the promoter's licence/contract form with photos and payment, including a medical self-declaration; under-18s need a parent or guardian to guarantee the application. Adult drivers in entry formulas can race on a day licence; junior formulas require a full licence and an ORCi competence assessment.

Spedeworth 2026 new licence: £60 for 1600cc and 'Back To Basics' Bangers; £85 for National Bangers, 1300cc Stock Cars and 2.0 Hot Rods (2026 Spedeworth Main Licence form).

NASA Competition Licence (Men's, Ladies' or Juniors' classes)

Become a paid-up member of a NASA-affiliated club and apply for your licence through that club. Licences run until the following 31 January; the application includes a medical declaration, and under-18s need parental consent. Junior drivers must pass a Juniors' Driving Test before their first race meeting.

Motorsport UK RS Inter Club licence

Register with Motorsport UK online and apply through its Sport80 system; no test and no medical examination are required at this level. Juniors in the Swift series also need an Entrant PG licence.

£85, as listed on Motorsport UK's Get Started licence page when checked on 10 September 2026 (the page does not state a year).