August 2026 L-Category (Scooters, Motorcycles & other light vehicles) New Vehicle Registrations

MCIA has today published the new vehicle registration numbers for the L-Category vehicle sector for the month of August.

This includes Mopeds, Scooters, Motorcycles and other categories within the wider L-Category vehicle types.

The total market in August 2026 grew by 17% compared to August 2025 resulting in a year-to-date increase of 15.7%.

Among the key styles, Adventure products continued to grow with volumes up by 41.4% in the month and year to date increase of 27.5%. Competition bikes also witnessed a notable growth, increasing by 31% during the month and 21.8% year-to-date, while Naked styles also rose by 23.3% in August leading to an increase of 15.6% year-to-date.

Tony Campbell, CEO of MCIA, said: “August marks another strong month for our sector, with market volumes continuing to recover compared to 2025. While the summer months are traditionally a strong period for new registrations, these figures are further evidence of the ongoing demand for mopeds, motorcycles and other L-Category vehicles here in the UK.

“However, we are still awaiting the Government’s response to the rider licence review, which remains an important opportunity to support access to the market. Increasing volumes are of course welcomed, but if we want to build on this momentum in the years ahead, we need to see tailored support that enables our industry to play a much greater role in supporting its wider transport ambitions.

“There is no denying that our sector continues to face challenges, but we need this Government to look at what mopeds, motorcycles and other L-Category vehicles can offer, rather than viewing them through the narrow safety lens that we have seen recently. Our sector is a significant solution to the UK’s mobility and transport challenges, and that’s why the MCIA team is currently developing a further evidence base to show why incentivising uptake is an important and necessary step – an approach we are looking forward to launching shortly.”

More details on the August 2026 registration figures can be found here.

Please credit MCIA when quoting this information.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

MCIA is the body that represents the UK L-Category vehicle industry. L-Category vehicles can be defined as motorised lightweight scooters, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles, typically with zero or low-emission power.  

Within regulation they are defined as ‘L-Category’ vehicles (Regulation 168/2013) and are a great solution to the congestion and air quality challenges we all face. They are also sometimes referred to as powered light vehicles (PLV).

For more information about the work of MCIA and L-Category vehicles, or to interview MCIA’s CEO, Tony Campbell, please contact info@MCIA.co.uk