Calculate Your Tax

Welcome to the most up-to-date guide for Motorcycle Tax in 2026. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), commonly known as road tax, is a mandatory annual tax for most vehicles on UK public roads. Unlike cars, which have moved towards emissions-based taxation, motorcycles in the UK are still largely taxed based on their engine capacity (cc). This makes calculating your tax straightforward, provided you know the engine size of your bike.

Whether you ride a nimble 125cc commuter, a middleweight naked bike, or a high-performance 1000cc+ tourer, understanding your tax obligations is crucial to staying legal and avoiding fines from the DVLA.

Motorcycle Tax Rates 2026 (VED Bands)

The following table outlines the Vehicle Excise Duty rates for motorcycles, tricycles, and trade licences for the year starting April 2026. These rates apply to standard private registrations.

Detailed Breakdown of Tax Bands

Band A: Up to 150cc (£22/year)

This is the lowest paid tier for internal combustion engine motorcycles. It primarily covers learner-legal 125cc machines, scooters, and small mopeds. Because these vehicles are often used for efficient commuting and have low emissions relative to larger vehicles, the tax remains very affordable at just £22 per year. Note that even if your scooter is 50cc, you must still display a valid tax disc status (digital) by taxing it annually.

Band B: 151cc to 400cc (£47/year)

This band covers a wide range of A2 licence-compliant motorcycles and larger scooters. Bikes like the 300cc-400cc sport bikes and maxi-scooters fall here. The jump in price reflects the increased performance, yet it remains significantly cheaper than car tax. At £47, it is still a very economical transport option.

Band C: 401cc to 600cc (£50/year)

Historically a very popular category covering the 600cc supersports and many middleweight commuters. The rate is £50 per annum. Interestingly, the difference between this band and the one below is only £3, making the step up in engine size negligible in terms of tax costs.

Band D: 601cc to 1000cc (£55/year)

This substantial band covers the majority of modern "big bikes," including 650cc twins, 750cc-900cc nakeds, and litre-class superbikes up to exactly 1000cc. For just £55 a year, you can tax a high-performance machine. This band offers perhaps the best performance-to-tax ratio in the UK motoring world.

Band E: Over 1000cc (£117/year)

Once you cross the 1000cc threshold, the tax more than doubles to £117 per year. This category captures large adventure bikes (1200GS, etc.), heavy cruisers, and hyper-tourers (Hayabusa, Goldwing). While £117 is higher than the other motorcycle bands, it is often still lower than the tax for an average petrol family car.

Payment Methods and Surcharges

The DVLA offers several ways to pay for your motorcycle tax. It is no longer required to display a paper tax disc, but the vehicle must be shown as taxed in the digital database.

• Annual Payment: This is the cheapest way to pay. You pay the full amount (e.g., £55) upfront.
• 6-Month Payment: You can choose to tax for just 6 months. This is popular for "fair-weather riders" who store their bikes in winter. However, note that 6-month rates are usually higher than 50% of the annual rate, typically calculated at 52.5% of the annual fee. Note: 6-month tax is not always available for the lowest tax bands (under £50 annual).
• Direct Debit: You can spread the cost over the year. While convenient, this often attracts a 5% surcharge. If you cancel the Direct Debit, the tax is cancelled, and you may be refunded for full remaining months.

Exemptions and Special Categories

Electric Motorcycles

In 2026, electric motorcycles continue to be an attractive option for reducing running costs. Currently, the VED rate for electric motorcycles is £0. However, you must still "tax" the vehicle every year to keep the database updated. The process is free but mandatory. Failure to register your zero-emission motorcycle can still result in a fine.

Historic Vehicles

Motorcycles that were built more than 40 years ago are generally exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty. This is a rolling exemption. For 2026, this would apply to motorcycles manufactured before 1986. You must apply for the "Historic" vehicle tax class at a Post Office to claim this exemption.

SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)

If you do not intend to ride your motorcycle on public roads (for example, during the winter months or if it is being restored), you must declare SORN. This tells the DVLA the bike is off the road.

Benefits of SORN:

• You do not pay road tax while the bike is SORN.
• You do not need to keep the bike insured (though fire and theft insurance is recommended).
• It stops the automatic fines from the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) system.

MOT and Insurance Requirements

Before you can renew your motorcycle tax, the DVLA system checks two databases automatically:

1. MOT: If your motorcycle is over 3 years old, it must have a valid MOT certificate. Without a pass recorded in the database, the system will not allow you to purchase tax.
2. Insurance: The bike must be insured. Under Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), it is a legal requirement for any vehicle that is taxed to be insured at all times. If your policy lapses, you must either renew it immediately or declare SORN. The fine for being the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle is £100, even if the vehicle is not being ridden.

New Registrations

When buying a brand new motorcycle, the dealer will usually arrange the "First Registration" fee (currently £55) and the first year's road tax. The first year rates for motorcycles are generally the same as the standard rates listed above, unlike cars which have inflated first-year showroom taxes based on CO2.

Buying and Selling

Since 2014, road tax is non-transferable. This means:

• Selling: When you sell your bike and send the V5C logbook to the DVLA (or do it online), you will automatically receive a refund for any full months of tax remaining.
• Buying: As a buyer, the bike is untaxed from the moment you take ownership, even if the previous owner just taxed it. You must tax it immediately (online or by phone) before riding it away.

Penalties for Evasion

The UK utilizes a network of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to check tax status. If you are caught riding an untaxed motorcycle:

• You will receive an £80 fine (reduced to £40 if paid in 28 days).
• If you do not pay, your bike can be clamped or impounded. Release fees are significant.
• Court action can result in fines up to £1,000 plus costs.

Considering the low cost of motorcycle tax (starting at just £22), it is never worth the risk of evasion.

Frequently Asked Questions