Rider guides › Tax, SORN and insurance
Motorbike tax explained
Motorbike tax is cheap next to a car's, and simple: it's set by engine size. Here's what it costs, how to pay, what happens when you buy or sell, and how to get back on the road after a SORN.
How much motorbike tax costs
Motorbike tax (vehicle excise duty) depends only on engine size. These are the rates from 1 April 2026, from GOV.UK and DVLA's V149 leaflet. Try our motorbike tax calculator to see your bike's cost by payment option.
| Engine size | 12 months | 6 months | 12 monthly Direct Debits (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (zero emission) | £27 | not available | £28.35 |
| Up to 150cc | £27 | not available | £28.35 |
| 151cc to 400cc | £59 | £32.45 | £61.95 |
| 401cc to 600cc | £90 | £49.50 | £94.50 |
| Over 600cc | £125 | £68.75 | £131.25 |
Rates as published by GOV.UK, checked 2 November 2026. They usually change each April.
Ways to pay
- Every 12 months in one payment, by card or by Direct Debit. This is the cheapest way.
- Every 6 months, in one payment or by Direct Debit, for bikes over 150cc.
- Monthly by Direct Debit. Paying monthly or six-monthly by Direct Debit adds a 5% surcharge. There's no surcharge if you pay yearly.
You'll need a reference number from the V5C log book, a tax reminder letter or, if you've just bought the bike, the green new keeper slip. You also need a valid MOT to tax the bike, unless it's exempt.
Tax doesn't transfer with a sale
When a bike is sold, the tax stays with the seller, not the bike.
- Buying: you must tax it before you ride it, using the green new keeper slip, or declare it SORN if it's staying off the road.
- Selling: once you tell DVLA you've sold it, any Direct Debit is cancelled and you're automatically sent a refund for any full months left.
SORN, refunds and taxing after a SORN
If a bike is off the road, you can make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) and stop paying. You get an automatic refund for any full months of tax left. Without a SORN, an untaxed bike gets an automatic £80 fine. Our SORN guide covers how and when.
There's no separate form to end a SORN. It's cancelled automatically when you tax the bike again. Before you do:
- Insure it so cover is in place from the day you want to ride.
- Check the MOT. If it has expired, book a test. A SORN bike can be ridden on the road only to or from a pre-booked MOT, and it must be insured for that ride.
- Tax it online on GOV.UK or at a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. It can be ridden once the tax is in place.
Using a SORN bike on the road for any other reason can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500. The full sequence is in our back on the road in spring guide.
Exemptions: historic bikes
There's a rolling 40-year exemption. Bikes built before 1 January 1986 can stop paying vehicle tax from 1 April 2026, and the cut-off moves on a year each April. If the build date isn't known, a bike registered before 8 January 1986 can still qualify. It doesn't apply if the bike is used commercially or for hire or reward.
- You still have to tax it, at no cost. Apply at a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax to change it to the historic tax class.
- The MOT exemption is separate. A bike built or first registered more than 40 years ago may not need an MOT, as long as it hasn't been substantially changed (for example a new frame or engine). It must still be roadworthy, and many owners choose a voluntary MOT anyway.
Add your bike's tax date to Tickover once and get reminders a month, a week and a day before it runs out. Mark it SORN over winter and the tax reminders pause.
Quick answers
How much is motorbike tax?
From 1 April 2026, 12 months costs £27 up to 150cc or for an electric bike, £59 for 151cc to 400cc, £90 for 401cc to 600cc and £125 over 600cc.
Does motorbike tax transfer to a new owner?
No. The buyer must tax the bike before riding it, and the seller gets a refund for any full months left once DVLA knows it's sold.
Is it cheaper to pay motorbike tax yearly?
Yes. Paying monthly or every 6 months by Direct Debit adds a 5% surcharge. Paying yearly has no surcharge.
How do I tax a motorbike after a SORN?
Insure it, make sure it has a valid MOT, then tax it. Taxing it cancels the SORN automatically.
Do electric motorbikes pay tax?
Yes. Zero emission motorcycles are taxed at the same rate as bikes up to 150cc.
Are classic motorbikes tax exempt?
Bikes built before 1 January 1986 can stop paying vehicle tax from 1 April 2026, but they still need to be taxed in the historic class, at no cost.
Related guides
- Motorbike tax calculator
- How to SORN a motorbike
- Getting your motorbike back on the road in spring
- Buying a used motorbike: the checks that matter
Sources
- GOV.UK: Vehicle tax rates for motorcycles and tricycles
- DVLA: V149 rates of vehicle tax from 1 April 2026 (PDF)
- GOV.UK: Vehicle tax Direct Debit payments
- GOV.UK: When you need to make a SORN
- GOV.UK: Tell DVLA you've bought a vehicle
- GOV.UK: Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT and vehicle tax
- GOV.UK: Getting an MOT