How much does a motorbike cost to run a year?

Beyond fuel, a motorbike costs registration (which includes a significant ACC levy), insurance, tyres, servicing and riding gear. Together these often add up to more than new riders expect, though usually less than running a car.

Why is motorbike registration expensive?

A large part of motorbike registration is the ACC motor vehicle levy, which is higher per vehicle than for cars because of the injury risk. This is why rego can be a notable yearly cost for riders.

Is a motorbike cheaper than a car?

Often yes on fuel and purchase price, but tyres wear faster, gear is an ongoing cost, and rego can be high. Add it all up before assuming a bike is the cheaper option.

Motorbike Running Cost Calculator

This New Zealand calculator works out the yearly cost of running a motorbike, including fuel, registration (with its ACC levy), insurance, tyres, servicing and gear. People often focus on the purchase price and underestimate the year-after-year running cost. You enter your figures, and the tool shows the annual total and the cost per week, so you can budget realistically or compare a bike with a car.

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Fuel per year

Registration per year

Insurance per year

Tyres per year

Servicing and WOF

Gear and other per year

to run the motorbike per year

Per week$0

Rego and insurance share$0

A large part of motorbike rego is the ACC levy. Tyres and gear can be ongoing costs riders forget. This is running cost only; add the purchase price or finance separately. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator adds your yearly fuel, registration, insurance, tyres, servicing and gear into the total annual running cost, and shows it per week. It also flags the fixed share (rego and insurance) you pay whether you ride a lot or a little. Seeing the full picture helps you decide if a bike is genuinely cheaper than a car for your situation.

Worked example

With $900 fuel, $450 rego, $600 insurance, $400 tyres, $500 servicing and $300 gear, the total is about $3,150 a year, around $61 a week, before the cost of buying the bike.

Related calculators

Vehicle Running Cost Calculator: car running cost.
Fuel Cost Calculator: fuel costs.
Car Affordability Calculator: what you can afford.
Petrol vs Public Transport: commuting.

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