E-bikes - know the law
Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are becoming increasingly popular and many are legal to use on roads and cycle routes.
Most legal e-bikes are classed as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs). An EAPC is essentially a traditional pedal cycle with an electric motor that assists you while you ride.
EAPCs are treated in much the same way as ordinary pedal cycles. You do not need a driving licence to ride one and it does not need to be registered, taxed or insured. Normal cycling rules and the Highway Code apply.
However, not everything sold or described as an "e-bike" is legally classed as an EAPC.
Some high-powered, modified or derestricted electric bikes are treated as motor vehicles under the law and cannot legally be ridden like an ordinary bicycle.
How do I know if an e-bike is a legal EAPC?
To be classed as an EAPC, the bike must:
- have pedals that can be used to propel it
- have an electric motor with a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watts
- stop providing electrical assistance when the bike reaches 15.5mph (25km/h).
The motor should assist the rider rather than provide electrical assistance beyond the legal limit.
You must be at least 14 years old to ride an EAPC.
A legal EAPC can be ridden on roads, cycle paths and anywhere else pedal cycles are permitted. It cannot be ridden on pavements.
What if it is more powerful or faster?
If an electric bike does not meet the EAPC requirements, it is treated as a motor vehicle and will generally be classed as a motorcycle or moped rather than a bicycle.
This means requirements such as registration, vehicle tax, insurance, an appropriate driving licence and an approved motorcycle helmet may apply.
If those requirements are not met, it cannot legally be ridden on a public road.
It may also be illegal to use it on cycle paths and other places where motor vehicles are prohibited.
What about throttles?
Having a throttle does not automatically mean an e-bike is illegal.
Some e-bikes have low-speed assistance, sometimes called "walk assist", which can provide limited motor assistance without pedalling.
Other bikes, sometimes called "twist and go" e-bikes, can be propelled by the motor without the rider pedalling. These can still be classed as EAPCs if they meet the EAPC requirements, but bikes capable of providing this assistance above the permitted low-speed threshold generally need to have been approved for use on the road.
Where approval is required, this will normally have been dealt with by the manufacturer or importer and the bike should carry an approval number.
If you are buying an e-bike with a throttle, particularly one advertised as being able to travel without pedalling, check that it meets the EAPC requirements and, where necessary, has the appropriate approval before buying or using it in public.
Modified and high-powered e-bikes
Be particularly careful with bikes that have been modified after purchase.
Changing the motor, controller, battery or software to increase the bike's power or remove its 15.5mph assistance limit can mean it is no longer legally an EAPC.
A bike being capable of travelling faster than 15.5mph is not itself the issue – you can pedal a legal e-bike faster than this. The electric motor must stop assisting you once you reach 15.5mph.
Be cautious about bikes advertised as:
- 500W, 750W, 1,000W or higher
- capable of high speeds under motor power
- "derestricted" or "unlocked"
- having the 15.5mph limiter removed
- being suitable for "off-road use only".
These bikes may be available to buy, but being able to buy one does not mean you can legally ride it on a public road or cycle path.
Check before you buy
Before buying an e-bike, check the manufacturer's plate or permanent markings.
These should show the manufacturer and continuous rated power of the motor, as well as either the battery voltage or maximum speed at which the motor can propel the bike.
Check these details against the official GOV.UK electric bike rules.
If you're buying online, ask the retailer to confirm that the bike meets the EAPC requirements for use in Great Britain before you buy it.
Be particularly careful if a bike is advertised as high-powered, derestricted or capable of being powered at higher speeds without pedalling.
Check before you ride
Whether you are buying an e-bike or e-scooter, check the law before using it in public.
A vehicle being widely available online or in shops does not necessarily mean it is legal to use on a road, pavement or cycle path.
You can check these details against the official GOV.UK electric bike rules.
If you're buying online, ask the retailer to confirm that the bike meets UK EAPC requirements before you buy it.
Still not sure?
If a bike needs vehicle approval - for example, certain "twist and go" bikes - this should normally have been dealt with by the manufacturer or importer and an approved bike should carry an approval number.
For queries about vehicle approval you can also contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), 1 Unity Square, Nottingham, NG2 1AY or visit the DVSA contact page.
Already have an e-bike and want to check it's legal?
If you already own an e-bike, check the plate or permanent markings on the bike.
These should show the manufacturer and the motor's continuous rated power, as well as either the battery voltage or the maximum speed at which the motor can propel the bike.
Check these details against the official GOV.UK electric bike rules. A legal EAPC must have working pedals, a motor with a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watts, and electrical assistance must stop at 15.5mph.
If the markings are missing, you cannot find the information you need, or the bike has been modified, derestricted or fitted with a different motor, controller or throttle, don't assume it is legal.
Check the model and specification with the manufacturer or a reputable e-bike retailer and ask them to confirm whether it complies with UK EAPC requirements.
A bike that has been modified so its motor exceeds 250W or continues assisting above 15.5mph is no longer treated as an ordinary e-bike under the EAPC rules.
What if my bike needs vehicle approval?
Certain electric bikes, including some "twist and go" bikes, may require vehicle approval.
Where approval is required, this should normally have been dealt with by the manufacturer or importer and an approved bike should carry an approval number.
For queries about vehicle approval, you can contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), 1 Unity Square, Nottingham, NG2 1AY, or visit the DVSA contact page.
