MCIA welcomes major campaign win as government commits to official review of motorcycle licensing, training and testing.
MCIA welcomes major campaign win as government commits to official review of motorcycle licensing, training and testing.- Government confirms official review of motorcycle licensing, training and testing following sustained MCIA campaign, A Licence to Net Zero, and ministerial pledge at MCIA’s 2025 Annual Conference.
- Licensing reform recognised as one of several policy levers set out in MCIA’s Action Plan to unlock the full potential of the motorcycle, moped and wider L-Category sector.
- MCIA warns reforms must make licensing simpler, more affordable and safer – not more restrictive.
- Association will work closely with Government to support road safety, net zero and growth ambitions.
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) welcomes the Government’s first Road Safety Strategy in over a decade – and, critically, the long-awaited announcement of an official review of motorcycle training, testing and licensing, marking a major campaign victory for the sector.
The commitment follows years of sustained engagement and advocacy by MCIA through its A Licence to Net Zero campaign, which has consistently called for a modern, proportionate and safety-led overhaul of the current motorcycle licensing framework.
This work sits within MCIA’s wider Action Plan, developed in collaboration with the previous Government, which set out a comprehensive programme of policy measures required to unlock the full potential of the motorcycle, moped and wider L-Category sector. Licensing reform was identified as one of several critical levers – alongside safety, regulation, infrastructure, net zero support and consumer access – needed to enable growth, improve road safety and support the transition to more sustainable transport.
MCIA has worked intensively with ministers and officials since a review was first touted at MCIA’s 2025 Annual Conference to ensure the issue remained central to the Government’s emerging road safety agenda. Today’s announcement confirms that effort has delivered tangible results.
The Government’s Road Safety Strategy sets out plans to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, and explicitly recognises the disproportionate risk faced by motorcyclists, who account for just 1% of motor traffic but 21% of road deaths.
As part of the strategy, the Department for Transport will now consult on reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing – a move MCIA believes is essential to improving safety outcomes while unlocking the full potential of motorcycles, mopeds and other L-Category vehicles as accessible, affordable and sustainable transport solutions.
MCIA is clear that this review must simplify access, reduce unnecessary cost and complexity, and deliver better safety outcomes, not create additional barriers that deter new riders or slow progress on net zero and congestion reduction.
MCIA will work closely with Government throughout the review to ensure proposals:
- Improve rider safety through better-designed training and progression
- Make licensing less complex and more affordable, not harder
- Support uptake of low and zero-emission mopeds, motorcycles and other L-Category vehicles
- Strengthen the role of motorcycles, mopeds and other vehicle types in our sector within the UK’s wider transport and growth ambitions
The Association also stressed the importance of a balanced, evidence-led approach, ensuring that licensing reform supports – rather than restricts – modal shift to motorcycles as part of the Government’s sustainability and road safety goals.
Commenting, MCIA CEO, Tony Campbell, said:
“This is a hugely significant moment for the motorcycle sector and a massive campaign win for MCIA. For several years, through our A Licence to Net Zero campaign, we have been calling for a full review of motorcycle licensing, training and testing – and today the Government has formally committed to doing exactly that.
The Minister’s announcement at our Annual Conference last year was a critical turning point, and since then we have worked relentlessly to ensure this issue stayed firmly on the agenda. This review would not be happening without that sustained engagement.
There is still a lot of work to do, and the detail will matter enormously. We will work constructively alongside government to ensure any reforms make licensing less complex, more affordable and, above all, safer – not more restrictive.
This is a monumental opportunity to support motorcycling as a safe, sustainable and practical transport mode that can help deliver the Government’s ambitions on road safety, net zero and growth. We must not waste it.”
MCIA will now engage with members, training providers, safety and rider organisations and Government to shape the forthcoming consultation and ensure the sector speaks with a strong, unified voice.
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