Electric Bike Laws by State

How it works

Federal Law Sets the Product, States Set the Rules of the Road

An e-bike is a consumer product at the point of sale and a bicycle, moped or motor vehicle once it is on the road. Two levels of government handle those two moments.

The Consumer Product Safety Act defines a low-speed electric bicycle as one with working pedals, a motor under 750 W, and a top speed under 20 mph on motor power alone. A bike inside that definition is sold under bicycle safety rules. Anything above it falls under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a motor vehicle.

Once the bike is on a street or trail, state law takes over. Most states use the three-class model written by PeopleForBikes, which sorts e-bikes by how the motor is controlled and where it stops helping. Class 1 is pedal assist to 20 mph, Class 2 adds a throttle to 20 mph, and Class 3 is pedal assist to 28 mph. Each state then sets its own ages, helmet rules and trail access on top of those classes.

State pages

Road Rules and Where to Ride, State by State

Each state page covers e-bikes, stand-up e-scooters and mopeds, then the state parks, national parks, national forests and rail trails inside that state.

All states

E-Bike Rules in Every State

One row per state for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, plus the Class 3 age. Each state links to its full page.

Recent changes

States That Rewrote Their E-Bike Laws in 2025 and 2026

The new laws either narrow the e-bike definition or add a separate category for faster vehicles.

For vehicles sold as "Class 4," see Class 4 E-Bikes.

Scooters and mopeds

Stand-Up E-Scooters and Mopeds Follow Separate Laws

Stand-up e-scooters have their own category in most states, with their own speed caps, age limits and sidewalk rules. Texas calls them motor-assisted scooters and keeps them off roads posted above 35 mph. Illinois splits them into low-speed and high-speed scooters from 2027.

Seated e-scooters and mopeds are motor vehicles almost everywhere. They need registration and a license, and they stay off sidewalks and bike paths. Each state page lists all three vehicle classes side by side.

Federal lands

National Parks and Forests Have Their Own Rules

State law stops at the boundary of a national park, national forest or wildlife refuge. The National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management treat e-bikes much like bicycles. The Forest Service treats them as motor vehicles. See E-Bikes on Federal Lands.