How much could you save going by bike?
Most riders swap the school run and local errands for the bike first. Move the sliders to see your yearly fuel savings, the CO₂ you'd cut, and how quickly the bike pays for itself.
Try the calculatorYour journeys
Figures are estimates based on the values you enter. We use 4.546 litres per UK gallon and DEFRA emission factors (2.31 kg CO₂/L petrol, 2.68 kg CO₂/L diesel), minus ~1p/mile for e-bike charging. EV comparisons use a 3.5 mi/kWh average and exclude CO₂ (grid-dependent). Parking, ULEZ, Congestion Charge and road tax figures are estimates based on the values entered above and may not reflect your exact circumstances.
Common questions
How much does a cargo bike trailer actually cost to run compared to a car?
A cargo bike trailer costs roughly £50–150 a year to maintain — tyres, brakes and an occasional service — versus £3,000+ a year for a typical UK second car once you include fuel, insurance, road tax, MOT and depreciation. Most riders recover the trailer's price from fuel savings within 1–3 years.
What's the ROI on an e-bike or cargo bike?
Most UK riders who swap 2–3 car journeys a week for a cargo bike see a positive return within 1–3 years, driven by fuel savings alone. Once it pays for itself, every year after is pure saving — unlike a car, which loses value from day one.
How much CO2 does cycling instead of driving save?
Swapping 60 miles a week from a petrol car to a bike cuts roughly 350–450 kg of CO2 a year, based on DEFRA's 2.31 kg CO2 per litre of petrol. That's equivalent to well over 1,000 miles of average UK car driving.
Are cargo bikes cheaper than running a second car?
Yes, significantly. A second car costs £1,500–£3,000+ a year in insurance, tax, MOT and servicing before you've bought any fuel. A cargo bike trailer has none of those recurring costs, making it the cheaper choice for most UK families doing the school run or weekly shop.
Is an e-bike worth it for commuting in the UK?
For most UK commutes under 10 miles, yes — running costs (electricity, tyres, an annual service) are a fraction of car costs, and most commuters recoup the purchase price in fuel savings within 2–3 years. Electric assist also keeps longer commutes realistic without arriving exhausted.
Does cycling save money on ULEZ, congestion charge and parking too?
Yes — this calculator now factors in parking, ULEZ and Congestion Charge savings alongside fuel, shown in the breakdown above once you've set your zone days. The London ULEZ (£12.50/day) and Congestion Charge (£15/day) are the two largest single-day costs cycling avoids entirely.
Do I still pay road tax on a bike?
No — bicycles and cargo bike trailers are completely exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) in the UK. If replacing a car entirely, that's £150–£300 a year back in your pocket on top of the fuel and parking savings shown above.