May 1st, 2024.



Pressure is mounting on the Government to simplify acquiring moped, motorcycle and other powered light vehicles licences as the Motorcycle Industry Association's (MCIA) A Licence to Net Zero campaign continues to gather momentum.

The MCIA Board, made up of the UK’s largest manufacturers, has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, urging him to initiate a full-scale review of the existing licensing regime to make acquiring a licence less complex, less costly and more accessible to all, enabling a cleaner and greener future.

The MCIA says that recent government consultation on making e-bikes more powerful without the need for PPE, insurance, registration or training, is threatening to further erode the well-established and regulated moped and motorcycle market.

A Licence to Net Zero and the next steps on a potential licensing review will be discussed during a ministerial roundtable meeting on the 8th of May with Guy Opperman MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads and Local Transport.

Tony Campbell, MCIA CEO, said: "Our campaign is crucial for fostering a cleaner and greener future. It plays a significant role in realising the Government's future of mobility ambitions and its vision for achieving net zero emissions by 2050, helping to reclaim Britain’s place as a world leader in powered light mobility.”

A Licence to Net Zero seeks to encourage modal shift from less efficient, single occupancy cars and lightly laden vans, towards lighter, more energy and space efficient PLVs, unlocking the sector’s decarbonising potential.

Since its launch in October 2023, A Licence to Net Zero has gained broad, cross-party support in Parliament. Peers discussed the campaign during a House of Lords debate on the sector, and Conservative Party MP Craig Whitaker recently called for a debate on A Licence to Net Zero in Parliament.

The letter comes as the Government opens a consultation on bus, coach, and HGV driver licensing. The MCIA advocates extending the reform approach to include mopeds, motorcycles, and the full range of PLVs. Furthermore, the Government has published a consultation on amending e-bike legislation

Tony Campbell emphasised: "Our proposals present an opportunity for the Government to demonstrate its support for L-Category manufacturers and users, while also advancing its own goals for future mobility and accelerating to net zero before the next general election.

"I look forward to the ministerial roundtable where I hope the Minister will outline a timeline for tangible steps forward on license reform in line with the MCIA’s Joint Action Plan with the Government. The Minister must act swiftly to achieve concrete progress on licensing before the next General Election."