The rate of vehicle excise duty (VED) is directly linked to engine capacity for motorcycles, tricycles and private and light goods vehicles registered prior to 1 March 2001. At the end of March 2007, the numbers of licensed vehicles within these tax classes, registered to keepers residing in the City of York unitary authority were as follows:
Tax class Engine capacity Number of licensed vehicles Private and light goods Not over 1549 cc 13,389 Private and light goods Over 1549 cc 23,345 Motorcycles Not over 150 cc 1,841 Motorcycles 151 cc to 400 cc 312 Motorcycles 401 cc to 600 cc 717 Motorcycles Over 600 cc 1,492 Tricycles Not over 150 cc 1 Tricycles Over 150 cc 42
At the end of March 2007, there were also 850 licensed vehicles registered within the City of York that were exempt from VED due to them being constructed prior to 1 January 1973.