Cycle to Work: new with a voucher, or used?
A voucher knocks 25–44% off a new bike once you count the end-of-scheme fee. A used one is already discounted. Cyclesite shows you the real maths so you buy the bike that actually costs you least.
What you save (2025/26)
The Cycle to Work saving, by tax band
You pay for the bike out of your gross salary, so you save the income tax and National Insurance you'd otherwise pay on that money. At the end of the hire there's a small fee to own the bike outright, which we've already taken off. Here's the real saving on an example £1,500 bike.
| Tax band | Tax + NI saving | End-of-scheme fee | You pay (on £1,500) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic rate20% tax + 8% NI | 28%(£420) | −3%(−£45) | £1,125save £375 net (25%) |
| Higher rate40% tax + 2% NI | 42%(£630) | −3%(−£45) | £915save £585 net (39%) |
| Additional rate45% tax + 2% NI | 47%(£705) | −3%(−£45) | £840save £660 net (44%) |
Illustrative, for a £1,500 bike. Figures include the standard 3% end-of-scheme “own it later” fee; bikes under £500 carry a 7% fee and so save a little less. Your tax band and your employer's scheme terms set the exact numbers, which your scheme provider confirms before you accept a voucher.
New vs used
A voucher isn't automatically the cheapest option
The voucher discounts a new bike. A used bike is already discounted off its original price. So the real question is simple: after the voucher and the end-of-scheme fee, what does the new bike actually cost, and is the same model going for less second-hand?
Basic rate
75%
of RRP is what a new bike really costs you, after the voucher and the end-of-scheme fee. If the same model used sells for less than that, used wins.
Higher rate
61%
of RRP is what a new bike really costs you, after the voucher and the end-of-scheme fee. If the same model used sells for less than that, used wins.
Additional rate
56%
of RRP is what a new bike really costs you, after the voucher and the end-of-scheme fee. If the same model used sells for less than that, used wins.
Many bikes shed a large share of their value in the first couple of years, so a one or two-year-old bike often beats the post-voucher price of a new one, especially for basic-rate taxpayers. Check the specific model before you decide:
Buying a used bike through Cycle to Work on Cyclesite
We accept vouchers from Cyclescheme, Bike2Work and Green Commute Initiative. The process differs slightly from a high-street purchase, you buy on the platform, then redeem the voucher with us.
Find a badged bike
Eligible listings carry the Cycle to Work Eligible badge. Only VAT-registered business sellers can offer it, because the scheme needs a VAT invoice a private seller can’t issue.
Tell us before you buy
Email support with the listing and your scheme provider. We confirm eligibility and reserve the bike while you arrange the voucher with your employer.
Buy with the same protection
Voucher purchases run through the same Buyer Protection as any sale: inspection window, transit cover, and a refund if the bike isn’t as described.
Full detail, including the price cap and end-of-hire fees, is in our Cycle to Work help guide.
Browse used bikes
Every bike on Cyclesite is stolen-checked before it goes live, with real UK market pricing shown upfront. Find your model, then compare it against the post-voucher price of new.
Browse bikes for saleRun a Cycle to Work registered shop?
List your eligible stock on Cyclesite and reach buyers searching for Cycle to Work bikes in your city. Free to start, we import your inventory for you, and your bikes carry a verified dealer badge.
List your shopCycle to Work, common questions
How much does the Cycle to Work scheme save you?
For 2025/26 you save the income tax and National Insurance on the price: around 28% for basic-rate taxpayers (20% income tax + 8% NI), around 42% for higher-rate (40% + 2% NI) and 47% for additional-rate (45% + 2% NI). Higher and additional-rate earners only save the 2% NI band because salary sacrifice comes off the top of their pay. Those are the gross figures. At the end of the hire you pay an "own it later" fee of about 3% of the bike’s value (7% under £500) to keep it, so the net saving is closer to 25%, 39% and 44%. Your exact saving depends on your tax band and your employer’s scheme terms.
Is a new bike with a voucher cheaper than buying used?
Once you include the end-of-scheme ownership fee, a basic-rate voucher brings a new bike down to about 75% of its RRP (61% for higher rate, 56% for additional rate). If the same model, used and in good condition, is selling below that figure, used is cheaper even after the voucher. Many bikes lose a large slice of their value in the first couple of years, so a one or two-year-old bike often wins on price. Use our free valuation and depreciation report to check where a specific model sits.
Can I buy a used bike through Cycle to Work on Cyclesite?
Yes, but only from VAT-registered business sellers, because HMRC requires a VAT invoice that private sellers can’t issue. Look for the Cycle to Work Eligible badge on a listing, then contact support to redeem your voucher. Most private-seller listings are not eligible.
Which Cycle to Work schemes does Cyclesite accept?
Cyclescheme, Bike2Work and Green Commute Initiative. We add new providers as they onboard.
Is there a price cap?
The old £1,000 cap was removed in 2019, so many schemes now cover bikes worth £2,000, £5,000 or more. Your employer sets the actual limit for their scheme, so check with them before you choose a bike.
Can I pay with a voucher at checkout?
Not yet. Voucher redemption is a manual step today: you contact support with the listing and your scheme provider, we validate the voucher code, then complete the sale. Automating this is on our roadmap.