Electric Motorbikes, ULEZ & the London Congestion Charge

Electric motorbikes are the most financially efficient way to ride into London. They're exempt from the congestion charge, exempt from ULEZ, and qualify for parking discounts in several charging boroughs. This guide covers exactly what counts as "fully electric", how the exemptions stack, and where the gotchas are.

New to riding? You can book CBT training in over 30 London locations and be road-legal on a 125cc within a day, electric or petrol.

Are electric motorbikes exempt from the London congestion charge?

Yes. Electric motorbikes are exempt from the London congestion charge under the standard motorbike exemption that applies to all two-wheeled vehicles. The exemption is by vehicle class, not by emissions, so an electric motorbike pays nothing for the same reason a petrol motorbike pays nothing. The £15 daily congestion charge that applies to cars does not apply to motorbikes of any kind.

The exemption applies 24 hours a day, every day, across the central London congestion charge zone. You don't need to register, set up Auto Pay, or display anything on the bike.

Are electric motorbikes exempt from ULEZ?

Yes. Fully electric motorbikes have zero tailpipe emissions, which puts them well within the Euro 3 emissions standard that ULEZ requires. The exemption applies regardless of when the bike was registered, so a brand-new Maeving RM1S and a 2017 Zero S are both ULEZ-exempt for the same reason.

Electric motorbikes are exempt by vehicle class, so the date the bike was registered doesn't matter. That's different from petrol bikes, which only qualify if they were registered on or after 1 July 2007. An electric bike skips that bar entirely.

What counts as a "fully electric" motorbike?

For ULEZ and the borough parking exemptions, "fully electric" means a motorbike with no internal combustion engine — no petrol, no diesel, no hybrid system. The only fuel source is the battery. The bike is registered with the DVLA as electric (fuel type "ELECTRICITY" on the V5C).

Some of the current popular electric motorbikes in the UK that qualify:

• Maeving RM1 / RM1S: British-built, removable batteries, road-legal on a CBT (the S model is full A1 territory).
• Super Soco TC Max: popular A1-licence electric.
• Zero motorcycles (S, SR, DSR): full licence territory, more performance-focused.
• Sondors Metacycle: full A1 / A2 depending on configuration.
• Niu UQi GT: CBT-friendly electric scooter

If you're choosing between electric and petrol for a London commute specifically, the financial picture usually favours electric — see our deeper guide on electric mopeds and UK law for the licensing and ownership detail.

The wider electric-bike financial picture in London

Beyond the congestion charge and ULEZ exemptions (which apply to most motorbikes), electric bikes get extra savings that petrol bikes don't. The biggest are borough parking discounts. The picture currently is:

• Westminster: Electric motorbikes park free in any Solo Motorcycle Only bay. Petrol bikes pay £1 a day (£100 a year for an annual permit).
• Camden: Electric pays 66p per day, petrol pays £1.30 per day. About a 50% discount.
• Islington: Electric pays 50% of the standard daily rate.
• Hackney and Lewisham: Permit-based; check before parking. Electric discounts vary.
• Other boroughs: Most don't charge for motorcycle parking at all, so the EV discount question doesn't arise.

For a four-day-a-week commuter into Westminster on a solo bay, the electric exemption alone is worth around £200-£250 a year against the petrol daily rate. Add fuel savings (electricity costs roughly a third of petrol per mile), zero road tax for electric bikes under 50kW, and lower servicing costs (no oil changes, no spark plugs), and the total annual saving versus a petrol 125 typically runs £400-£700.

Electric motorbikes and London charges: FAQ

Do electric motorbikes pay the congestion charge?

No. Electric motorbikes are exempt from the London congestion charge, like all motorbikes. The £15 daily charge does not apply to any two-wheeled vehicle, electric or petrol.

Are electric motorbikes free to park in London?

In most boroughs, yes. Westminster offers free parking for electric motorbikes in Solo Motorcycle Only bays. Camden and Islington offer significant discounts on the petrol rate. Many other London boroughs don't charge for motorcycle parking at all.

Do hybrid motorbikes get the same exemptions?

No. The electric exemption only applies to fully electric motorbikes. Hybrid bikes with any internal combustion component need to meet the standard Euro 3 ULEZ rule based on registration date.

Can I ride an electric 125 on a CBT?

What about electric motorbikes and ULEZ outside London?

Most UK Clean Air Zones (Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, etc.) exempt motorbikes by class, regardless of fuel type. London ULEZ is the most strictly emissions-defined of the UK schemes, and the electric class exemption is the safest assumption nationally.