UK police crackdown on illegal e-bikes

UK police forces are targetting electric motorcycles being used illegally on the road. And behind the scenes, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Market Surveillance Investigations Team has been visiting electric bike retailers to educate them about the laws governing throttle-only e-bikes.

If your electric bicycle has a motor over 250W, or that doesn't cut out at 15.5 mph – in the eyes of the law it's a motorcycle. As such, it needs to be registered, insured and taxed. You'll also need the appropriate driving licence and helmet approved for motorbike use.

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Is my e-bike legal?

There are so many different types of e-bike on the market, it can be tricky to know which are road legal.

If your cycle has pedals and an electric motor no bigger than 250 watts, and that cuts out at 15 mph (25 km/h), then in the eyes of UK law it’s an EAPC (electric assist pedal cycle) sometimes referred to as an e-bike, or pedelec. It's important to remember that the 250W figure refers to the power of the motor and not the battery.

If the e-bike conforms to these requirements, you can ride it on the road or any cycle paths - anywhere a conventional bicycle can be used. It also means it will be easy to insure. For example, here at the ETA, we charge no extra for insuring an electric bicycle and include £2m third party cover and protection against battery theft as standard. Oh, and if you break down we'll arrange for you and your electric bike to be taken to a repair shop, railway station or home (within a 25-mile radius).
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My electric bicycle has a throttle - is it legal?

Since January 1 2016, the only throttles legal on new bikes are those that provide starting assistance ie. assist the rider without pedalling up to a maximum speed of 3.7 mph. At that speed, the throttle cuts off.  If the cyclist pedals at the same time, the throttle can still assist up to the 15 mph limit.

Bikes sold before January 1 2016 may have a full-speed throttle (you don't need to pedal at all to reach the 15 mph limit) but are considered legal due to having been sold before the law changed.

Post-2016 throttle-only e-bikes can be legal, bit only if type approved. We describe how to do this here.

E-bike insurance

Every ETA cycle insurance policy includes:

• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue (breakdown cover for you and your bike following puncture, mechanical fault or even flat battery)
• No devaluation of your bike no matter its age
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)

Read a full list of everything we include as standard.

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The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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