Motorcycling bodies urge the government to extend fuel duty freeze

The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) have urged the government to extend the ongoing fuel duty freeze further into 2027, due to rising pump prices across the UK.

This comes after an initial freeze was already put in place, however, that’s scheduled to end at the start of next year,

The temporary 5p fuel duty cut was first introduced in 2022, before the government extended it until the end of 2026. Fuel duty costs are set to rise by 3p in January, and 2p in March.

According to the NMC, rising fuel prices are putting a high degree of pressure on daily motorcycle and scooter “commuters, students, younger riders and the thousands of people working in the delivery and gig economy”.

Craig Carey-Clinch, NMC Executive Director, added: 

“Keeping people mobile at an affordable cost is important both socially and economically. Motorcycles and scooters have an important part to play, particularly for people who need flexible personal transport and in areas where public transport cannot provide a practical alternative.

 “The NMC therefore urges the Government to recognise the pressures that rising fuel prices are placing on riders and other road users and to provide some certainty as pump prices continue to surge by extending the current fuel-duty arrangements beyond the end of this year.”

Motorcycles and scooters typically offer some of the most economical forms of transport, however, the combination of rising fuel prices and fuel duty costs restarting could leave those on two wheels riding less in order to save money. 

Motorcycles also take up less space than cars and bigger vehicles, and in some cases can help reduce congestion, especially during busy periods. 

Jim Freeman, Chairman of the BMF, also said: 

“Rising fuel prices are another unwelcome squeeze on people who depend on affordable personal transport.

“Motorcycling is not simply a leisure activity. For hundreds of thousands of people a motorcycle or scooter is how they get to work, college or university, while for many working in the delivery economy it is their livelihood.

“We welcome the Government’s decision to maintain the 5p fuel-duty reduction until the end of December, but with pump prices rising again we believe the Chancellor should go further and extend the freeze into next year.

“Motorcycles and scooters are highly fuel-efficient, take up less road space and help reduce congestion. At a time when household budgets are under increasing pressure, Government should be encouraging and supporting affordable and efficient forms of mobility rather than making them more expensive.”

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