Arizona · researched July 21, 2026
Arizona uses three classes of electric bicycle. Class 1 is pedal assist ending at 20 mph, class 2 may use a throttle with assistance ending at 20 mph, and class 3 is pedal assist ending at 28 mph.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101 Spot an error? →
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The short answer
A qualifying electric bicycle needs no Arizona certificate of title, state vehicle registration, vehicle license tax, driver's license, or vehicle insurance. It generally follows bicycle road rules. Class 1 and 2 may use bicycle and multiuse paths unless the manager prohibits them; class 3 path access is narrower.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-812 Spot an error? →
01 / Categories
Pedal assist · 20 mph
It must be a bicycle or tricycle with fully operable pedals, an electric motor below 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of class 1, 2, or 3.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101 Spot an error? →
The motor assists only while the rider pedals and stops providing assistance when the bicycle or tricycle reaches 20 mph.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101 Spot an error? →
Throttle-capable · 20 mph
The motor may propel the bicycle or tricycle without pedaling and cannot provide assistance when it reaches 20 mph.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101 Spot an error? →
Pedal assist · 28 mph
The motor assists only while the rider pedals and stops providing assistance when the bicycle or tricycle reaches 28 mph.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101 Spot an error? →
02 / Class consequences
| Class | Motor behavior | Assisted cutoff | Core consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Pedal assist only | 20 mph | No Arizona motor-vehicle title, state registration, vehicle license tax, driver's license, or vehicle insurance. A manufacturer or distributor must permanently label the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Class 1 may use bicycle and multiuse paths unless the responsible authority or agency prohibits it.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 Spot an error? → |
| Class 2 | May propel without pedaling | 20 mph | No Arizona motor-vehicle title, state registration, vehicle license tax, driver's license, or vehicle insurance. A manufacturer or distributor must permanently label the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Class 2 may use bicycle and multiuse paths unless the responsible authority or agency prohibits it.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 Spot an error? → |
| Class 3 | Pedal assist only | 28 mph | No Arizona motor-vehicle title, state registration, vehicle license tax, driver's license, or vehicle insurance. A manufacturer or distributor must permanently label the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Class 3 may use a bicycle or multiuse path only when the path is within or adjacent to a highway or roadway or the responsible authority or agency allows it.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 Spot an error? → |
Classification unclear: it does not fit A.R.S. § 28-101's definition of an electric bicycle, but the cited statute does not assign every over-power, over-speed, throttle-over-20, or pedal-less device to one automatic fallback category. Confirm the exact vehicle before using it on public roads or paths.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101 Spot an error? →
03 / Rider requirements
Whether adults must wear a helmet is unclear. The cited sources don't settle it: Arizona's e-bike statute has no helmet clause, and the motorcycle helmet law doesn't reach a qualifying electric bicycle, but no cited statute expressly says an adult e-bike rider is exempt from every statewide helmet requirement. Check local law, and wear one anyway.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-964· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-627 Spot an error? →
04 / Where you can ride
Yes, under the bicycle framework. A.R.S. § 28-819 gives an e-bike operator the rights, privileges, and duties of a bicycle rider; § 28-812 gives a bicycle rider roadway and adjoining-shoulder rights and duties. When moving slower than traffic, § 28-815 supplies the right-side rule and its safety exceptions. Local electric-bicycle regulation may also apply.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-812· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-815· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-627 Spot an error? →
Sidewalk access unclear statewide: the cited e-bike and bicycle provisions address roadways, shoulders, bicycle paths, and multiuse paths but do not expressly give one statewide sidewalk answer. A.R.S. § 28-627 allows local regulation of electric bicycles. Check the local ordinance and posted signs.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-812· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-627 Spot an error? →
Yes. A.R.S. § 28-819 allows class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles on bicycle and multiuse paths, but the local authority or state agency responsible for a path may prohibit them there.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 Spot an error? →
Only if the path is within or adjacent to a highway or roadway, or if the local authority or state agency responsible for the path allows class 3 operation.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 Spot an error? →
Natural-surface trail access unclear: A.R.S. § 28-819 gives class-specific rules for bicycle and multiuse paths but does not define those terms or state that every natural-surface trail is included. The responsible authority may regulate e-bikes. Check the land manager's current designation, rules, and signs.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-627 Spot an error? →
05 / Common questions
No Arizona motor-vehicle driver's license, certificate of title, state vehicle registration, vehicle license tax, or vehicle insurance. A.R.S. § 28-819 expressly exempts qualifying electric bicycles from each of those Title 28 provisions.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 Spot an error? →
The cited current HTML statutes do not expressly answer yes or no. A.R.S. § 28-819 contains no helmet clause, and the motorcycle helmet rule does not cover an electric bicycle because § 28-101 excludes it from motorcycle and motor-driven-cycle definitions. That exclusion is not an express statewide adult e-bike helmet exemption, so check local law and wear one anyway.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-964· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-627 Spot an error? →
Class 1 and 2 may use bicycle and multiuse paths unless the manager prohibits them. Class 3 may use those paths only when the path is within or adjacent to a highway or roadway or the manager allows it. Natural-surface trail treatment is not stated expressly, so check the land manager's designation, rules, and signs.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819· Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-627 Spot an error? →
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