Motorcycle road tax is the first bill every rider has to think about after buying a bike.
I still remember paying mine for the first time. I had no idea this small yearly charge goes back more than 100 years.
It traces back to the Roads and Finance Act 1920, which came into force in 1921 to help maintain Britain’s roads. Officially, it is called Vehicle Excise Duty, or VED for short.
Every rider owes this payment to the DVLA. It does not matter if you ride a classic motorbike or a modern electric motorbike, the rule still applies to you.
In 2026, the amount you pay depends heavily on engine size and engine capacity. Once you understand the bands, budgeting for it becomes far easier.
Motorcycle Road Tax Rates Explained
For bikes not over 150cc, including zero emission motorcycles, the bill sits at £27.
This also covers zero-emission motorbikes generally, along with the zero emission tricycle category.
Move up to the 151-400 bracket and the cost becomes £59. Split into a single 6 month payment, that works out to £61.95, or £32.45 if you pay across 6 months by Direct Debit.
The 401-600 band jumps to £90, rising to £94.50 across monthly instalments.
Anything over 600cc commands £125, or £131.25 and £68.75 depending on how you split the single 12 month payment.
Riders with a sidecar pay the same rate as the standard bike class. For all other tricycles beyond the small-engine group, the DVLA charges the full £125, working out to £65.63 for six months.
You can settle your motorcycle road tax by phoning the DVLA directly, visiting the Post Office in person, or logging onto the official government website.
I have used all three methods myself over the years without any real trouble.
Whichever method you choose, remember that spreading the cost across monthly or twice-yearly payments usually adds a small surcharge.
Paying upfront by credit card or debit card tends to be the cheapest way to go.
One more detail worth noting: the unladen weight limit of 450kg still defines which tricycle band a bike actually falls into, so always check this before assuming a rate.
How to Pay Motorcycle Road Tax Online and Offline
Paying motorcycle road tax is simpler than most riders expect, once you know what to gather first. You need a UK motorcycle licence and a V11 tax reminder letter, sometimes called a last chance warning letter.
You also need your V5C, also known as the logbook or green slip, and it must carry your name.
If you have just bought the bike, use the V5C/2 new keeper slip instead.
Alongside this, keep a valid MOT certificate and current motorbike insurance ready. Without any of these documents, you must apply for a new log book before the DVLA will process anything.
Paying online is the route I use most, because it only takes a few minutes.
Enter your vehicle registration, confirm the details match, then pick a payment method such as debit card, credit card, or Direct Debit.
You can settle on a single payment for 12 months, split it across six months, or spread it over monthly instalments.
There is also a 24-hour telephone service on 0300 123 4321 if you would rather pay by phone.
One thing to remember: Direct Debit is not available over the phone, so keep a card ready if you go that route.
The Post Office is another option, where cheque, cash, or card payments are all accepted.
If you want a Direct Debit set up at the Post Office, bring your bank details and building society account information with you.
Riders in Northern Ireland face a couple of extra requirements, which we cover further down this guide.
Even a vehicle that is exempt from motorcycle road tax must still go through this registration process.
Legal obligations apply to every rider, so skipping this step is never really an option.
Motorcycle Road Tax Exemptions and Special Tax Classes
Not every motorbike owner pays the full bill. If your bike runs on electric power, belongs to a disabled rider, or counts as a historic vehicle, you may qualify for an exemption.
Even so, you still must register the vehicle with the DVLA, even when there is nothing to pay.
Keeping a bike off the road, tucked away in a garage, also frees you from paying, as long as you inform the DVLA formally.
Changing a tax class matters too. This applies if your machine was previously used by a disabled person, or if you are disabled yourself and taxing a bike for the first time.
You will need to update the tax class at a Post Office in person. This keeps your VED record accurate and your bike properly marked as exempt wherever it applies.
Motorcycle Road Tax Trade Licences
Trade licences work a little differently from standard motorcycle road tax. They run anywhere between 6 and 12 months, depending on the month you apply.
Apply in January for a short licence and it runs until June. Choose the longer version instead, and it lasts until December. The same expiry pattern repeats no matter which month you start in.
The rate of duty also changes with the month, and it differs between all vehicles and bicycles or tricycles.
A January six-month licence costs £97.35 for general vehicles and £68.75 for bicycles and tricycles.
A full twelve-month January licence rises to £177 and £125. February matches that same rate, while March drops to £162.25 and £114.60, and April falls further to £146 and £103.10.
May settles at £129.80 and £91.65, and June comes in at £113.55 and £80.20. July returns to £97.35 and £68.75, then August climbs back up to £177 and £125.
September holds at £162.25 and £114.60, October comes in at £146.05 and £103.15, November shows £129.80 and £91.70, and December closes the cycle at £113.60 and £80.20. Timing your application really does change what you pay.
Motorcycle Road Tax Rules in Northern Ireland
Riders inNorthern Ireland face a slightly different checklist at the Post Office.
Along with the usual paperwork, you need a paper copy of your insurance certificate or a cover note.
You also need either an original MOT test certificate or proof of a Temporary Exemption Certificate.
A screenshot of your MOT history can serve as proof if you do not have the physical document.
If that is not possible either, an expired MOT certificate still works in most cases.
The good news is you do not need to chase down a brand new MOT certificate just to complete the process.
Motorcycle Road Tax Cost for a Moped or Scooter
A moped stays under 150cc in engine capacity, so a single payment for the year costs just £27. Scooters vary a lot more in engine size, ranging from as small as 50cc to well past 600cc.
Whatever you own, the DVLA prices your motorcycle road tax purely on that engine figure. Nothing else about the bike changes how much you owe.
Motorcycle Road Tax Refund When You Sell Your Bike
Selling a bike means telling the DVLA about the new ownership right away. You can do this by posting your V5C to Swansea, SA99 1BA, or by handling the submission online yourself.
This step triggers a VED refund for every complete month left on your motorcycle road tax.
Any Direct Debit in place is stopped immediately once the DVLA processes the change.
Buying a used bike works the same way in reverse. Unused tax goes back to the previous owner as a refund, which means the bike arrives untaxed at the point of sale.
You will need the 12-digit number from the V5C/2 to tax the bike online, by phone, or at the Post Office.
Always confirm a valid MOT certificate is in place before riding, or you risk a fine reaching £1,000.
Motorcycle Road Tax Refund on an Insurance Write Off
If your insurance company declares the bike a write-off, it is treated much like a sale. Any unused tax comes back to you as a refund once the paperwork is processed.
You can send the notification either online or by post.
In both cases, you must provide trader details, filling in the insurance company’s name and its postcode so the DVLA can process the refund correctly.
Motorcycle Road Tax Refund When You Scrap Your Bike
Telling the DVLA about a scrapped motorbike brings a refund for each complete month of tax already paid.
This only applies if you use an authorised treatment facility, since that is the only legal route for disposal.
The same refund logic applies if you simply take the bike off the road and file a SORN, short for Statutory Off Road Notice, rather than scrapping it outright.
Do You Need Insurance to Pay Motorcycle Road Tax
Motorbike tax and insurance go hand in hand. Insurance is essential, and it is legally required before you can complete the motorcycle road tax paperwork at all.
Several providers offer motorbike insurance schemes built for different rider needs.
Picking one that genuinely fits your bike makes the whole tax process far less stressful in the long run.
Motorcycle Road Tax Exemption by Age
A 40-year rolling exemption covers older machines, meaning historic vehicles avoid paying altogether.
If your motorcycle was first registered before 1 January 1984, it owes no vehicle excise duty at all.
There is a catch, though. Riding a classic bike for commercial purposes blocks it from sitting in the historic class, so it loses that tax-exempt status the moment it starts earning money.
Motorcycle Road Tax for Electric Bikes
Right now, an electric motorbike does not get taxed in the traditional sense. It is still free, similar to the exemption granted for disability.
That changes from 1 April 2025 onward. Every electric motorcycle and electric scooter owner must start paying motorcycle road tax and cover proper Vehicle Excise Duty, just like petrol-powered riders already do.
Motorcycle Road Tax Exemption for Disabled Riders
An exemption on a motorbike is available if you receive certain benefits.
This includes the Higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance and the Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.
It also covers the Armed Forces Independence Payment and the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement.
Any rider who is disabled and receives one of these qualifies straightaway, without extra paperwork beyond proving the benefit itself.
Final Thoughts
Motorcycle road tax does not have to feel confusing once you break it down by engine size, registration date, and rider circumstances.
Whether you pay online, by phone, or at the Post Office, the process only takes a few minutes when your documents are ready.
Keep your MOT, insurance, and V5C up to date, check which exemption might apply to you, and always renew on time.
Get into that habit, and motorcycle road tax becomes one less thing to worry about on the road.
FAQs
How much is motorcycle road tax price in the UK?
Motorcycle road tax price starts from £27 a year for small and zero-emission bikes and rises to £125 for larger engines.
Is there a motorcycle road tax calculator I can use?
Yes, you can check the official DVLA website using your reg number to calculate your exact motorcycle road tax instantly.
Can I pay motorcycle road tax for 6 months instead of a year?
Yes, most bikes let you pay motorcycle road tax for 6 months, though it usually costs a little more than a full year upfront.
How do I check if my motorcycle road tax is valid?
You can check your motorcycle road tax status anytime on the official GOV.UK vehicle enquiry service using your registration number.
What motorcycle road tax exemptions are available to riders?
Motorcycle road tax exemptions apply to electric bikes, historic vehicles over 40 years old, and riders receiving certain disability benefits.
