October 6, 2026
The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is calling on the Government to extend the freeze on fuel duty as rising pump prices put renewed pressure on motorcyclists, commuters and businesses.
With fuel costs continuing to rise, the NMC says that the impact is being felt particularly by people who depend on motorcycles and scooters for everyday transport — including commuters, students, younger riders and the thousands of people working in the delivery and gig economy.
The temporary 5p fuel duty cut introduced in 2022 was extended by the Government until the end of 2026 but is currently due to rise by 3p in January and 2p in March 2027.
The Government has confirmed that fuel duty will not increase this year and that the temporary 5p-per-litre reduction will remain in place until 31 December 2026. However, with motorists once again facing higher prices at the pumps, the NMC and the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), who are spearheading today’s call for the NMC membership, are urging the Chancellor to maintain the reduction and avoid increasing fuel duty next year.
Motorcycles and scooters offer one of the most economical forms of powered personal transport. They generally use considerably less fuel and road space than cars, help reduce congestion and provide an affordable mobility option for people who may have limited access to public transport.
For many riders, particularly those travelling to work or earning their living on two wheels, rising fuel prices are therefore not simply an issue affecting discretionary spending.
Jim Freeman, Chairman of the BMF 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.”
Craig Carey-Clinch, Executive Director at the National Motorcyclists Council 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.”
The NMC and its members will continue to press Government to recognise motorcycling as an affordable, efficient and congestion-reducing transport choice and to ensure that the needs of riders are properly considered in future decisions on transport policy and taxation.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. For further information, please contact Craig Carey-Clinch on 07979 757484 | craig@uknmc.org
2 BMF media contact: Paul Morgan 07777 117817 | Paul.Morgan@bmf.co.uk. The BMF's press release can be found here: www.britishmotorcyclists.co.uk/freeze-on-fuel-duty
3. The NMC also publishes comment and shares relevant partner news and announcements on social media. You can follow the NMC on X: @OfficialUKNMC | Facebook: OfficialUKNC | LinkedIn national-motorcyclists-council
(Pic: Pexels, Matthias Polen)
