Vehicle licensing data shows rise in SORNs and motorcycle sales during the pandemic - RAC statement

Reacting to new government data on licensed vehicles on the UK's roads in 2020, RAC data insight spokesman Rod Dennis said:

“2020 was a remarkable year for registrations of new motorcycles and other two-wheelers such as mopeds and scooters. Despite the pandemic, the second half of the year saw the highest number of new registrations of these since 2016 and meant overall 2020 sales fell by just 5% year-on-year, compared to car sales which fell by a huge 29%. It seems Covid and the decline in public transport use have encouraged many more people to think about how they get around. It could also mean some have switched to motorcycles and mopeds as an alternative to a second car.

“What’s more, with more than a quarter of a million cars declared off-the-road (‘SORN’) at the end of last year, it remains to be seen just how people’s mobility choices are affected by the pandemic in the longer term and how many of these cars come back on to the road.

“The data also confirms separate figures from the SMMT that show that more alternatively-fuelled – including pure electric – cars were newly registered in 2020 than diesel cars for the first time. With ever-more electrified models available, it’s looking increasingly likely that sales of diesel cars may now never recover to previous levels, which will help improve the air quality in towns and cities.”