Motorbike Tax Check: Is It Taxed, and What Does It Cost?
See a motorbike's tax status and due date free by registration, with the 2026/27 rate for its engine size.
What the free check shows
Motorbike tax rates from 1 April 2026
| Engine size | 12 months | By monthly Direct Debit (total) | 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (zero emission) | £27 | £28.35 | Not available |
| Up to 150cc | £27 | £28.35 | Not available |
| 151cc to 400cc | £59 | £61.95 | £32.45 |
| 401cc to 600cc | £90 | £94.50 | £49.50 |
| Over 600cc | £125 | £131.25 | £68.75 |
| Tricycle | 12 months | By monthly Direct Debit (total) |
|---|---|---|
| Electric, or up to 150cc | £27 | £28.35 |
| All other tricycles | £125 | £131.25 |
Rates from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, from GOV.UK vehicle tax rates, checked 17 October 2026. The tricycle rates are for trikes up to 450kg unladen; the table gives no rate for a heavier trike, so check that with DVLA.
Things that catch buyers out
Tax does not come with the bike. When a bike changes hands the tax stops with the old keeper, so the new keeper taxes it before riding it. The free report's tax status shows what DVLA holds today.
No MOT, no tax. A bike older than 3 years needs a valid MOT before it can be taxed. The report shows the MOT expiry date next to the tax status.
The band goes by engine size. 150cc, 400cc and 600cc are the limits, so a 400cc scooter pays £59 and a 401cc bike pays £90.
Electric bikes are no longer free. They have paid since 1 April 2025, at the £27 rate.
Sources: GOV.UK vehicle tax rates, vehicle tax for electric vehicles, historic vehicles and getting an MOT, checked 17 October 2026.
Buying the bike? Check its history too
Tax and MOT tell you the bike is legal to ride. They do not tell you whether money is still owed on it, whether it has been stolen or written off. The £4.99 motorbike history check covers those, plus keepers, plate changes and 7 more checks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a motorbike is taxed?▼
Enter the registration on this page. The free report shows the tax status DVLA holds (taxed, untaxed or SORN) and the date the tax is due, next to the yearly rate for the bike's engine size. GOV.UK's own vehicle enquiry service shows the same status.
How much is road tax on a 125cc motorbike?▼
£27 for 12 months from 1 April 2026, the GOV.UK rate for motorcycles up to 150cc. Paying by monthly Direct Debit costs £28.35 over the year. There is no 6 month option at this rate.
How much is road tax on a 600cc motorbike?▼
A 600cc bike falls in the 401cc to 600cc band: £90 for 12 months, or £49.50 for 6 months. One cc over 600 moves it to the top band, £125 a year.
Do electric motorbikes pay tax?▼
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 electric motorcycles and tricycles pay vehicle tax at the rate for the smallest engine size: £27 a year from April 2026. It applies to bikes registered before and after that date.
Is a classic motorbike exempt from tax?▼
From 1 April 2026, a vehicle built before 1 January 1986 can stop paying vehicle tax. If the build date is not known, one registered before 8 January 1986 qualifies. The keeper has to apply for the exemption, which is sometimes called putting the vehicle in the historic tax class.
Can I tax a motorbike without an MOT?▼
No, once it needs one. GOV.UK says you cannot renew vehicle tax if the MOT has expired, so a bike over 3 years old needs a valid MOT before it can be taxed.
What does SORN mean on a motorbike?▼
SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) means the keeper has told DVLA the bike is off the road. It cannot be used on the road until it is taxed again. The free report shows SORN as the tax status.
Does road tax transfer when I buy a used motorbike?▼
No. Vehicle tax does not pass to the new keeper, so you need to tax the bike yourself before you ride it away. The seller gets a refund for any full months left.
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Check a motorbike's tax by reg
Free: tax status, due date, the yearly rate, MOT and ULEZ. The full history check is £4.99.