Under new emissions-based rates of road tax announced last week in the Budget, vehicles that produce less than 100g of CO2 per/km will pay nothing – unless they are motorcycles. Despite emitting less than 100g per/km, many motorcycles will next year pay double according to the Environmental Transport Association.

The new rates discriminate against motorcycles despite the fact that CO2 emissions for motorcycles of all types are already below the average level for petrol and diesel-engined cars.

A 125cc commuter bike currently pays a vehicle excise duty of £15 – the rate in 2009 will more than double to £33.

Andrew Davis, director at the Environmental Transport Association said: “A doubling of tax for motorcycles that produce less than 100g of CO2 per/km makes a nonsense of the revised rates of vehicle excise duty – it appears that motorcycles are subsidising the new zero rate of vehicle excise duty for the lowest-polluting cars. At a time when we are struggling to meet emissions targets and high petrol prices, a case must be made for the small-capacity motorcycles that produce less CO2 than cars and use far less fuel.”


The Environmental Transport Association is a not-for-profit ethical breakdown organisation, providing carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport