In brief
You do not have to pay 2027 motorcycle vehicle tax for all petrol-powered motorcycles, with no kW limit, but with only one exemption per person. This is provided for by Article 2 of Decree-Law no. 162 of September 17, 2026, in force since September 18: it applies to payments with a standard due date between January 1 and December 31, 2027, for individuals and regularly insured vehicles.
The point many motorcyclists still have not understood: if you also own a car of up to 80 kW, the exemption goes to the car and the motorcycle pays. With two motorcycles, the less powerful one is exempt. The decree must be converted into law by November 16, 2026, and may still change. Here you will find real-life cases, how much you save, and what to do now.
Vehicle tax is not abolished: it is a one-year exemption for a single vehicle
The Council of Ministers approved the measure on September 16, 2026; the following day, the decree was published in the Official Gazette. Newspaper headlines said «goodbye to vehicle tax», but the text says something else.
The provision is Article 2 of Decree-Law 162/2026, published in Official Gazette no. 216 of September 17, 2026, and titled as an exemption from vehicle tax «for specific types of vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds». It does not abolish the vehicle tax: it suspends it for payments due in 2027 and only for those who meet all the requirements.
The requirements, one by one
- Individual liable for payment (owner, usufructuary, or leasing user). Companies are excluded.
- Petrol-powered motorcycle or moped, including hybrids. No kW or engine displacement limit.
- No eligible car: you must not be liable for vehicle tax on a petrol or diesel passenger car of up to 80 kW.
- Vehicle with valid insurance.
- Standard payment deadline in 2027, between January 1 and December 31.
If you have a small car, it gets the exemption and the motorcycle pays
It is the rule that most surprises people who ride motorcycles, because most motorcyclists also have a car. The decree does not allow a choice: it decides which vehicle is exempt.
For two-wheelers, the text requires that the taxpayer not be liable for the road tax on an eligible passenger car. Therefore, the motorcycle is not compared with the car: if the car falls within the limits, the motorcycle is excluded. The answers published by ACI on the L'Automobile portal confirm this on a case-by-case basis.
| Your situation | Who is exempt in 2027 | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Only one petrol motorcycle | The motorcycle | No one |
| Car up to 80 kW + motorcycle | The car | The motorcycle, in full |
| Car over 80 kW + motorcycle | The motorcycle | The car |
| Two or more motorcycles | The motorcycle with fewer kW (in case of a tie, the one with the lower road tax) | The other motorcycles |
| Multiple mopeds | The one with the oldest first registration | The others |
| One motorcycle and one moped | Not specified by the decree: clarification is needed | To be verified |
| 100% electric motorcycle | Outside this measure (the existing exemptions remain in place) | According to the ordinary rules |
| Motorcycle registered to a company | No one | The company |
| Car registered to him, motorcycle to her | Both vehicles: the limit applies per person, not per family | No one, if each person has only one eligible vehicle |
- it is petrol-powered (including hybrid) and insured
- you do not have a petrol- or diesel-powered car with up to 80 kW
- it is the least powerful of your motorcycles
- the ordinary road tax deadline falls in 2027
- you also have a car with up to 80 kW
- you have another less powerful motorcycle
- is electric (the existing regime applies)
- is registered to a company
For a motorcycle, the savings range from €40 to just over €100
Motorcycle road tax costs much less than car road tax, which is why the “car first” rule often ends up favoring the taxpayer.
For motorcycles, the national basic rate for Euro 3 and later classes is €19.11 up to 11 kW, plus €0.88 for each kW over 11. Several Regions apply higher amounts (Tuscany and Campania are among the most expensive), so the figures below are the minimum: the exact amount for your license plate is provided by your Region's or ACI's calculator. The power ratings are those declared by the manufacturers; for road tax purposes, the figure in field P.2 of the registration certificate is authoritative.
| Motorcycle (declared power) | kW | Annual road tax at the basic rate | 2027 savings if exempt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted A2 motorcycle | 35 | 40,23 € | 40,23 € |
| Yamaha Ténéré 700 | 54 | 56,95 € | 56,95 € |
| Suzuki V-Strom 800DE | 62 | 63,99 € | 63,99 € |
| Honda Africa Twin | 75 | 75,43 € | 75,43 € |
| BMW R 1300 GS | 107 | 103,59 € | 103,59 € |
Why the “car first” rule is usually advantageous
For a Euro 4 or later car, the base rate is €2.58 per kW up to 100 kW: a 51 kW small car pays about €131, while a 75 kW one pays about €193. Anyone with an eligible car and a motorcycle therefore saves more on the car, even if they would have preferred the motorcycle to be exempt. The truly penalizing case is someone with two motorcycles and no car, because only the less powerful one remains exempt.
What matters is when you have to pay, not the period covered by the vehicle tax
This is where many misunderstandings arise: the decree's criterion is the ordinary payment deadline.
- Vehicle tax payable by December 2026. It must be paid in full, even if it covers months in 2027. No refund is available for the 2027 portion.
- Vehicle tax expiring in December 2026, payable in January 2027. The deadline falls in 2027: it is covered by the exemption if you meet the other requirements.
- Vehicle tax arrears from 2026 paid in 2027. They remain due, with penalties and interest. The decree contains no amnesty.
- Renewal due in 2028. Under the current text, you will have to pay again.
The motorcycle tax calendar may depend on the rules of your Region: before skipping a payment, check the due date associated with your license plate on the regional service or the ACI service.
Suspended insurance, special Regions, and procedure: three points still unresolved
These are the details that matter most to motorcyclists: insurance suspended in winter, residence on the islands, and the “how” of the exemption.
Insurance suspended in winter
Many motorcyclists suspend their insurance during the colder months. The decree requires the vehicle to be “regularly insured,” but, as ACI points out, it does not say when the requirement must be checked or how a policy suspended for part of the year should be treated. Until the Region issues instructions, the exemption in these cases should not be taken for granted. If your vehicle tax expires during the months when you suspend your insurance, this is the most delicate situation: keep the policy documents close at hand.
Sicily, Sardinia, and the other autonomous authorities
In the special-statute Regions (Sicily, Sardinia, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia) and in the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, the vehicle tax is a tax of their own: the exemption applies only after an agreement between the State and each autonomous authority (Article 2, paragraph 4). If you live there, wait for official communication from your administration.
Application or automatic exemption?
The decree does not provide for forms, portals, or deadlines for submitting applications, and it does not say whether the exemption will be granted automatically. The procedures are up to the Regions and Autonomous Provinces. For now, there is no need to revoke the bank direct debit: the decree does not require it.
The text may still change: conversion by November 16, then the budget bill
A decree-law takes effect immediately but lapses if it is not converted into law within 60 days. Decree-Law 162/2026 is being examined by the Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies.
The proposed amendments discussed so far mainly concern cars: a Fratelli d'Italia amendment to extend the benefit to large families (with a contribution of up to €490.20), a Forza Italia proposal to raise the threshold to 85 kW for Euro 6 cars, and the request, reiterated by Antonio Tajani, to exempt all first cars. As of October 14, no specific changes for motorcycles were under discussion. Committee votes were expected from the second half of October.
Permanent or one-off? The two interpretations
The Government: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti have said they want to make the exemption permanent «in its current form» through the budget law. The State will compensate the Regions with €2,293.5 million for 2027.
The criticism: the opposition calls it an electoral measure and fears effects on regional budgets, including healthcare. Il Post pointed out that the measure applies for only one year, has no income thresholds, and that general elections are scheduled for 2027: ongoing funding would fall to whoever governs afterward.
What to do now if you ride a motorcycle
The savings are real but small: it is worth avoiding mistakes with 2026 payments and preparing the motorcycle for winter storage.
- Check the kW listed on the registration document (item P.2) for all vehicles registered in your name, including cars, and identify which one would be exempt.
- Check the motorcycle road tax due date: if the payment falls in 2026, pay as usual.
- Do not transfer ownership solely for the road tax: with fixed costs and provincial tax, it often costs more than the annual savings on a motorcycle.
- If you suspend your policy in winter, keep the documentation and wait for the regional instructions before assuming that the exemption applies.
- Prepare it for storage: a battery on a maintainer and a covered motorcycle help avoid expenses in spring that are much higher than the road tax.
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- Safety
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- Fastening
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- Price
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To choose the right device, our guide to the motorcycle battery maintainer explains how many amps are needed and when to leave it connected; the full range is in the motorcycle batteries and chargers collection.
Frequently asked questions about 2027 motorcycle road tax
Do you not have to pay motorcycle road tax in 2027?
Is there an engine-displacement or kW limit for motorcycles?
I have a car and a motorcycle: which one does not have to pay road tax?
I have two motorcycles: which one is exempt?
Are electric motorcycles covered by the 2027 exemption?
My motorcycle road tax expires in December 2026: do I have to pay it?
If I postpone paying 2026 road tax until 2027, does it become exempt?
I have already paid the road tax for some months of 2027: will I get a refund?
I suspend my motorcycle insurance in winter: do I lose the exemption?
Do I need to apply to avoid paying motorcycle road tax in 2027?
I live in Sicily or Sardinia: does it apply to me too?
The motorcycle is registered to my business: does it qualify?
Is it worth registering the motorcycle in a family member's name to get two exemptions?
Will motorcycle tax be abolished forever from 2028?
The registration document determines the tax; your motorcycle determines the accessories
Tell us your motorcycle’s make, model, and year: we’ll tell you which Endurrad accessories are compatible, from winter storage to getting ready for next season.
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