Cycle to work scheme: how does it work, how much you can spend and what can you buy?

We'll help you untangle the confusing web of cycle to work information available online

Cycle to work
(Image credit: Wisper Bikes)
Matt Kollat
By Matt Kollat
published

With the recent announcement of Better Health (opens in new tab), a UK government-backed program to reduce obesity rates in the population, you can expect bicycles to be even less available than before, and they were already on short supply as is. If you want to buy a new bike nevertheless, you might as well do it through the cycle to work scheme and save £££ in the process.

The cycle to work scheme is nothing new, the programme has been around for almost a decade, although there have been some changes since its creation; most notably the removal of the maximum amount you could spend on a bike: this used to be capped at £1,000, unlike now when there is no upper limit.

But how does the cycle to scheme work? Doing your own research online can quickly become overwhelming as both official sources and cycle to work scheme providers tend to keep descriptions ambiguous. It feels like all parties involved are intentionally keeping information vague and confusing, but if you are willing to rewatch explanation videos a hundred times over – like we did – you can make some sense of  the subject, eventually.

Ready to buy your next road bike (opens in new tab), ebike (opens in new tab) or gravel bike (opens in new tab)? Want to update your cycling helmet (opens in new tab), cycling shoes (opens in new tab) or bike lock (opens in new tab)? Read on to find out how the cycle to work scheme works, how much you can save with it and does it all worth the hassle?

cycle to work

(Image credit: Ribble Cycles)

How does the cycle to work scheme work

Through the cycle to work scheme, you can get bicycles, cycling accessories and clothing for a discounted price. Your employer must sign up first for one of the many schemes available and provide you with a code which you can use at selected retailers. Here is the list of the most popular cycle to work scheme providers:

The way the scheme works is rather complex to understand and it can take a lot of effort to learn the ins and outs of the programme – it's essentially a legal, government-sanctioned tax avoidance scheme, yet it's been made so convoluted that it feels more like an illegal tax evasion scheme.

• Cycle to work explainer at Evans Cycles (opens in new tab)

However, when you boil cycle to work down to essentials, you spread the cost of buying your chosen bike and accessories over a year, interest free, and also save a load of money in the process.

• Cycle to work explainer at Wiggle (opens in new tab)

Cycle to work is a 'salary sacrifice' employee benefit, meaning the 12 monthly instalments are taken off your gross salary, saving you and your employer money, as no tax is paid. Due to tax allowances etc, this is horrifically complex to put an exact figure on, but let's just say most standard rate payers will save a lot and higher rate tax payers will save even more.

• Cycle to work explainer at Halfords (opens in new tab)

Under the most advantageous use of this system, after 4 years you pay 7% of the original purchase price of the bike – or 3% if the bike was under £500 – in order to own it 'properly'. Up until then you are technically just hiring it.

• Get more info on the cycle to work scheme (opens in new tab)

In a nutshell: quite complicated, but well worth doing.

cycle to work

(Image credit: Green Commute Initiative)

What's the maximum limit you can spend with cycle to work?

The maximum amount you can spend through cycle to work schemes used to be capped at £1,000 but now you can buy a bike of any price. Although there is no upper limit, you can't just go on a crazy spending spree and blow your annual salary on a top of the range Pinarello: your employer will need to approve your cycle to work scheme request first and provide you with a voucher that you can use at retailers.

Here is a list of the top Cycle to work scheme providers:

What can you buy through cycle to work schemes

Bicycles, obviously, but also cycling accessories, like bicycle front lights (opens in new tab) and bike rear lights (opens in new tab), and apparel (e.g cycling bags (opens in new tab) and cycling sunglasses (opens in new tab)) too, as long as the lot can be bought through a retailer that is included in the chosen cycle to work scheme provider's supported retailer list. Fear not, however, since there are literal thousands of retailers involved with cycle to work, from small local shops to big players like Evans Cycles, Wiggle and more.

Most of the cycle to work scheme providers have search tools to check where you can spend your money, here are the quick links:

What happens if you leave the company before the end of the 4-year period

It is not an issue to leave a company after the initial Hire Period – when you pay the instalments and the deposit – has ended. Better still, after the Hire Period, you can start another cycle to work scheme and keep on doing it perpetually to your heart content.

If you happen to make redundant before the end of the Hire Period, there is still a way to keep the bike. According to the Cyclescheme website (opens in new tab), "if you leave employment or are made redundant during the Hire Period, any outstanding salary sacrifice repayments will be taken from your final salary, from NET rather than GROSS pay i.e. without any further tax exemptions".

Basically, you will not get the bike for as cheap as if you finished paying the instalments until the end of the Hire Period, but savings made up until that point will not go to waste.

TOPICS
Cycling
Matt Kollat
Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt looks after T3's Active vertical, which incorporates all things fitness, outdoors, wearables and transportation – anything that gets you moving and keeps you fit and healthy will go through his hands. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar (opens in new tab) and Fit&Well (opens in new tab), and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews (opens in new tab)) and judged many awards, such as European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.

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