Sourcing electric motorcycles from China
Electric motorcycles without pedal assistance carry 6% UK duty under 8711 60 90 90, with no trade remedies listed. For Great Britain, motorcycles without European type approval require Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval. Confirm the approval route before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources electric motorcycles.
Electric motorcycle duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, electric motorcycles without pedal assistance under 8711 60 90 90 carried 6% duty on goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is listed for this line. Heading 8711 also covers mopeds, motor-assisted cycles and side-cars. The table shows motorcycle variants sharing the same commodity line; see the electric mopeds guide for the wider heading. For petrol moped sourcing, see our guide to sourcing petrol mopeds from China. For separately supplied sidecars, see our motorcycle sidecar sourcing guide.
The tariff attaches an import waste control, alongside export waste and cultural-object licence entries. For waste imported into England under notification controls, shipment can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. If buying damaged, discarded or dismantling stock from China, confirm its status and the applicable controls with your customs broker before shipment. For the reverse trade direction, see exporting UK motorcycles to China.
Do not use the pedal-assisted cycle lines simply because the supplier calls the vehicle an electric bike. Give your broker the propulsion details, pedal arrangement and intended use, then confirm the commodity code. For cargo models, see our guide to electric cargo tricycles.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric road motorcycles without pedal assistance | 8711 60 90 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the motorcycle and its approval route
Define road or off-road use, continuous motor output, controller settings, battery capacity, charging connection, payload, brakes, tyres and replacement parts. Ask for battery cell and pack identification, charger compatibility and model-specific test reports. Agree a range-test method with load, route and riding conditions recorded. For off-road models, see our guide to sourcing electric dirt bikes.
For Great Britain, apply for Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval if the motorcycle has not been type-approved to European standards. Ask the supplier for approval documents identifying the exact model and discuss the route with the approval authority before ordering. A certificate for a different battery, controller or vehicle variant is a reason to investigate.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 6 electric motorcycles under 8711 60 90 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £31,500. Duty at 6% is £1,890. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,390, so it is £6,678. Import taxes total £8,568; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,890 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match chassis identification, motor, controller, battery and charger labels against the ordered specification and supplied documents.
Battery and charging: inspect pack mounting, connector fit, cable protection and charger compatibility; test charging and discharge on production samples.
Running gear: check brake operation, wheel alignment, steering movement, suspension travel and critical fasteners against the assembly instructions.
Arrival condition: inspect crates, frame welds, battery housings and connectors for impact damage, corrosion or water ingress; record defects before accepting stock.
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What goes wrong
Approval paperwork can describe a different variant from the delivered motorcycle. Factory substitutions of cells, controllers or chargers can also change performance and create charging faults. Keep component identities in the purchase specification and compare production samples with the approved sample.
An advertised range is difficult to assess without test conditions. Heavy delivery loads, loose battery mounts, rubbing cables and poorly adjusted brakes are practical acceptance risks. Agree the inspection method before production and retain photographs and functional results for each sampled motorcycle.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on electric motorcycles from China?
Electric motorcycles without pedal assistance under 8711 60 90 90 carry 6% duty. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension for this line.
Do Chinese electric motorcycles need vehicle approval?
For Great Britain, motorcycles that have not been type-approved to European standards require Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval. Confirm the exact model and approval route before ordering.
What battery information should I ask the factory for?
Ask for cell and pack identification, battery management details, charger compatibility, mounting drawings and model-specific test reports. Check the delivered components against the agreed specification.
Can I use an e-bike commodity code for an electric motorcycle?
Do not choose by the supplier's product name. Give your broker the propulsion and pedal details. The supplied tariff separates pedal-assisted cycles from other electric vehicles.