Motorcycling in Great Britain could undergo a real shakeup in coming years, with the UK Government announcing a major consultation regarding potential reforms to the way scooter and motorcycle riders are trained, tested and licenced - a move which has been welcomed by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), which says it is essential to improve safety while unlocking the full potential of motorcycles and mopeds as accessible, affordable and sustainable transport solutions.
The MCIA has lobbied government ministers and officials since a review was first touted at MCIA’s 2025 Annual Conference. It forms part of the government’s wider Road Safety Strategy, which strives to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% over the next decade, and explicitly recognises the disproportionate risk faced by motorcyclists, who account for just 1% of motor traffic but 21% of road deaths. While things like road design and maintenance will also no doubt feature large in the strategy, it’s good to see the needs of motorcyclists also being taken seriously.
Motorcycle training and licensing has been largely unchanged for years, with the current compulsory basic training (CBT) and progression pathways established in the 1990s and early 2000s. The government sees the consultation, which all members of the public can get involved with, as an opportunity to recognise modifications in the motorcycling landscape over the past quarter of a century, including the changing types of riders on British roads, the rise of gig-economy delivery riders and advances in the safety features found on modern vehicles.
While the aim is to modernise the motorcycle training system and improve safety, there’s no doubt that simplifying access to motorcycling will have a positive effect on the wider motorcycle industry, with many stakeholders citing the cost and complexity of getting a licence as one of the main barriers stopping new people from getting on two wheels. The MCIA hopes that a new training and licencing pathway can make motorcycling safer and more attractive to a new generation of riders.
A number of key areas are being looked at, mostly around the CBT process but also with a focus on improving the standards of training in general.
On the CBT side, there’s consideration for restricting riders to automatic machines if that’s what you do your training on. At present, you can undertake the CBT on a twist and go scooter, but ride a geared 125 upon completion of the course. By limiting these scooter riders to automatics, it would more accurately reflect the type of riding they will do independently and will bring motorcycling in line with the car world, where those passing their driving test in an automatic are restricted to autos unless they redo it in a manual.
Another change being floated is the introduction of a theory and hazard perception test before, or as part of, the CBT process. Currently this only needs to be done prior to going for a full riding test, and the idea is that by understanding the Highway Code and proving hazard awareness, riders should be better equipped to take on public roads. There’s also a proposal to overhaul the CBT syllabus and to look at CBT validity periods. Currently a CBT certificate lasts for two years and, if a rider doesn’t pass a full test in that time, they must redo the CBT in order to continue riding on L plates. This has led to many ‘perpetual learners’ - often scooter commuters and delivery riders – who ride for years without passing a test and just keep retaking the CBT course when their certificate expires. The desire is to encourage progression to a full licence, perhaps by introducing a minimum wait period before retaking the CBT, but the consultation is a way for everyone to have their say. There are also plans to digitise the certification, in order to reduce the possibility of fraud.
One of the biggest gripes new riders have when it comes to getting into motorcycling is the cost of getting a licence and the many steps involved. The current system means that even though riders may have a full licence for a certain category of bike (A1 or A2) they need to take a further practical test to ride a full powered bike, often with a two year wait before coming eligible to ride a more powerful machine.
A number of people within the industry are proposing a new system to upgrade licences though structured training rather than traditional tests, with the possibility to accelerate the process. This goes hand in hand with a desire to look at how motorcycle training instructors qualify and are checked for standards, with the intention to create a more consistent and professional experience for trainees.
Commenting on the consultation, which is open until the end of March, 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 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.”
While the MCIA will engage with its members, training providers, safety and rider organisations and government to shape the forthcoming consultation and ensure the sector speaks with a strong, unified voice, the invite is open to all.
The Improving Moped and Motorcycle Training, Testing and Licensing consultation opened on 7 January 2026 and is open for responses until 11:59pm on 31 March 2026.
After the consultation closes, the government will analyse responses from riders, trainers, industry groups and the public, undertake commissioned research into the current system and use findings to recommend changes to legislation and policy. There is no fixed timetable for when any specific reforms might be implemented, but consultations of this type typically lead to draft legislation, debates, further consultation or phased rollouts in the years following initial engagement. It won’t all happen overnight, but the consultation marks a potentially pivotal moment for British motorcycle licensing.
Not all the aspects of the proposed changes will universally welcomed, especially when it comes to CBT validity limits, as Mark Jaffe, owner of Phoenix Rider Training, one of the country’s biggest motorcycle training providers with 22 sites, explains. He said: “Phoenix welcomes the main aims of the strategy, but calls for careful consideration of how the elements to do with CBT theory tests and renewals are to be implemented. We will be working closely with the DVSA and DfT as the review progresses, to ensure that outcomes are appropriate for rider training, and we will also work in conjunction with the Driving Instructors Association (DIA), MCIA and National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) to support their work in these areas.”
As the consultation progresses, riders and industry stakeholders will have a key opportunity to shape the future of motorcycle training and licensing, but now is the time to make your voice heard. If you want to have a say, head over to the UK Government’s website, where you can read the full proposal document and have your say by following the link towards the bottom of the page.
It’s also worth noting that this consultation only applies only to England, Scotland and Wales, with Northern Ireland likely to continue its own licensing system.
