NACE 45.4 – Sale, Maintenance and Repair of Motorcycles | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 45.4 covers the trade in motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles as well as their maintenance and repair. In public procurement, this group is particularly relevant for the procurement and maintenance of motorcycles for police and security authorities and increasingly for electric cargo bikes and bicycles used by municipal operations.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 45.4 cover?

NACE 45.4 (Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories) classifies companies that sell, service and repair motorcycles — a specialised but indispensable market segment in public procurement in the security area.

Group 45.4 within Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) and Division 45 is divided into two classes:

Public contracting authorities are primarily police authorities at federal and state level, customs authorities, the federal armed forces, border control authorities and increasingly municipalities for cargo bikes and bicycles of municipal operations.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 45.4

Motorcycle procurement for police and security authorities is a stable niche segment of public procurement — in addition, there is a growing market for electric cargo bikes and bicycles in municipal services.

Typical contract types

• Police motorcycles: Procurement of motorcycles for patrol service, escorts and traffic enforcement — usually high-end, specially equipped models from established manufacturers
• Motorcycle accessories and special equipment: Special warning systems, police markings, radio equipment, panniers and special protective equipment
• Maintenance and repair: Framework agreements for inspection, tyre changes and repair of police and government motorcycles
• Mopeds and scooters: For regulatory offices, urban services, parking enforcement
• Bicycles and electric bicycles: Increasingly for municipal staff, city police, delivery and inspection services
• Electric cargo bikes: For municipal depots, urban logistics, green space maintenance — often within climate action programmes
• Spare parts for motorcycles: Framework agreements for supplying government fleets with wear and spare parts

Thresholds and procedure types

Motorcycle procurements are supply contracts and are subject to EU supply thresholds (EUR 221,000 for federal authorities, EUR 398,000 for other public contracting authorities). Police motorcycle procurements at state level are often conducted as national tenders, as unit numbers rarely reach the EU thresholds. Centralised federal procurements may exceed the threshold.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 45.4

CPV codes enable targeted searches for motorcycle and bicycle procurements in the public sector.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 45.4 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Motorcycle procurements are conducted mainly by state-level police authorities and federal authorities (Federal Criminal Police Office, Federal Police, customs). In Austria, the Federal Ministry of the Interior procures police motorcycles centrally; state police directorates may carry out their own procurements in addition. In Germany, state police authorities are responsible, while the Federal Police procures nationwide. Municipalities increasingly procure bicycles, e-bikes and cargo bikes under their climate and mobility programmes.

Companies and bidders

Motorcycle dealers and workshops wishing to participate in public tenders should observe the following requirements:

• Trade authorisation: Trade licence as a motorcycle dealer and/or motor vehicle technician
• Manufacturer authorisation: For police motorcycles, authorisation by the respective manufacturer (e.g. BMW Motorrad, Honda, Yamaha) is frequently required
• Technical capacity: Specialist knowledge for special equipment (warning systems, police markings, radio installations), references for government supplies
• Economic and financial capacity: Annual turnover, supply guarantees, liability insurance
• Service infrastructure: Evidence of workshop capacity and response times for maintenance and repair

For combined tenders (motorcycle + maintenance contract + spare parts), joint bidders consisting of a dealer and a workshop are advisable.

NACE 45.4 in context: Section G and Division 45

NACE 45.4 is part of Division 45 (Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles) within the trade Section G.

• NACE G – Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles: Parent section
• NACE 45 – Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles: Division covering trade, repair and parts
• NACE 45.1 – Sale of motor vehicles: Cars, trucks and municipal vehicles for authorities
• NACE 45.2 – Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles: Motor vehicle workshops, fleet management
• NACE 45.3 – Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories: Spare parts supply for fleets

Frequently asked questions on NACE 45.4 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 45.4?
All companies focused on the trade and/or repair of motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles — motorcycle dealers, motorcycle workshops, bicycle dealers and specialists for government vehicles.

How do I find current tenders for police motorcycles?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED by CPV search (e.g. 34410000). Since many police procurements fall below the EU thresholds, it is worth searching national and state platforms such as eVergabe (Germany), state portals, and ANKÖ (Austria).

Are electric bicycles a growing procurement category for municipalities?
Yes — under municipal climate and mobility programmes, cities and municipalities are increasingly procuring e-bikes, pedelecs and electric cargo bikes for municipal staff, depots and regulatory services. These procurements fall under CPV 34432000 and are often tendered in combination with charging infrastructure and service contracts.

Can motorcycle workshops win public maintenance contracts without a dealer licence?
Yes — maintenance and repair contracts are usually tendered separately from vehicle purchase. For pure service contracts, no dealer licence is required; the technical qualification, workshop equipment and, for police vehicles, manufacturer-specific certification are decisive.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.