UK E-Bike Law

This guide explains what makes an electric bike legal to ride on UK roads and cycle paths, so you know where you stand before you buy.

What is a road-legal electric bike?

In Great Britain, an e-bike that meets the rules for an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC) is treated like a normal bicycle. You can ride it on roads and cycle paths without a licence, registration, road tax or insurance. You must be 14 or over to ride one.

To count as an EAPC, an e-bike must

  • have pedals that can be used to move it
  • have a motor with a continuous rated power of no more than 250 watts
  • have a motor that cannot propel the bike when it is travelling at more than 15.5mph (25km/h)
  • be marked with both its continuous rated power output and the manufacturer, plus either the battery voltage or the maximum speed the motor can propel the bike

Throttles and twist and go

Many e-bikes have a walk-assist button that moves the bike at walking pace, no faster than 3.7mph (6km/h), to help you push it. Walk assist does not need approval.

An e-bike whose motor can propel it up to 15.5mph without you pedalling, often called twist and go, must be type approved before it can be used on public roads. This applies to twist and go e-bikes put on the market from 1 January 2016. If a bike you like has a throttle, ask us whether it is approved before you buy.

What is not allowed on UK roads?

An e-bike is not an EAPC if its motor has a continuous rated power above 250 watts, if the motor can propel it above 15.5mph, or if it has no pedals that can propel it. It is then classed as a moped or motorcycle. To use it on public roads it must be approved, registered, taxed and insured, and the rider needs a driving licence and a motorcycle helmet. Even then it can only be ridden on the road, not on cycle paths, cycle lanes or pavements.

Bridleways, byways and other public trails are not private land. A bike that does not meet the EAPC rules can only be ridden off road on private land, with the landowner's permission.

What if I ride a non-compliant bike on public roads?

The police can treat it as an unregistered, uninsured motor vehicle. The bike can be seized, and the rider can face fines or prosecution.

Can I make my e-bike go faster?

Changing an e-bike so it gives assistance above 15.5mph means it is no longer an EAPC. It can then only be ridden on private land with the landowner's permission, unless it is approved, registered, taxed and insured as a motor vehicle. Changes like this are also likely to void the warranty.

Checklist for buying an e-bike for UK roads

  • The motor is rated at 250W or less.
  • Assistance stops at 15.5mph.
  • Any throttle is walk assist only (up to 3.7mph), or the bike is type approved.
  • The rider is 14 or over.
  • You buy from a UK retailer who understands the rules.

What about electric scooters?

Privately owned e-scooters cannot be used on UK public roads, cycle lanes or pavements. You can only ride them on private land with the landowner's permission. Rental e-scooters in official government trial areas are the only ones allowed on public roads.

Keeping up to date

Laws can change, and the rules in Northern Ireland are not exactly the same. If you are unsure whether a bike is road legal, check the latest official guidance on GOV.UK: electric bike rules.