Verified states only
Compare e-bike laws across the verified states
Only states with a green verification receipt appear below—each cell is drawn from that state’s primary-source review. Where the statutes do not settle an answer, the cell says so and links to the full state page instead of guessing.
01 / At a glance
Overall strictness and what it takes to ride
| State | Strictness | What it takes to ride |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Strict | Unsettled — see state page |
| Alabama | Moderate | A qualifying electric bicycle needs no Alabama driver's license, registration, title, license plate, financial-responsibility filing, or motor-vehicle insurance. Class 3 operators must be at least 16, every Class 3 operator and passenger must wear a helmet, and every Class 3 bicycle needs a speedometer.Alabama Legislature — Ala. Code § 32-5A-267· Alabama Department of Revenue — Memo 2021-007 |
| Arkansas | Moderate | A qualifying Arkansas e-bike is not a motor vehicle and is exempt from Title 27 provisions on insurance, licensing, registration, operator's licenses, and certificates of title. Class 3 operators must be at least 16, Class 3 operators and passengers under 21 need helmets, and path access differs by class and land manager.Arkansas General Assembly — Act 956 of 2017· Code of Arkansas Rules — 22 CAR § 50-122 |
| Arizona | Typical | 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 |
| California | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no driver's license, DMV registration, license plate, or motor-vehicle financial responsibility. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet; class 3 operators must be at least 16 and every class 3 operator or passenger must wear a helmet. Road riding follows bicycle rules, while paths and trails can have manager-specific restrictions.Cal. Veh. Code § 312.5· Cal. Veh. Code § 24016· Cal. Veh. Code §§ 21200–21214.7· California State Parks e-bike policy |
| Colorado | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no state driver's license, Colorado DMV registration, or compulsory motor-vehicle insurance. A Class 3 operator must be at least 16, every Class 3 operator or passenger under 18 must wear a helmet, path access differs by class, and local bicycle or e-bike licensing and registration may still apply.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42· Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 10 |
| Connecticut | Moderate | Every e-bike rider and passenger must wear qualifying protective headgear. Class 3 riders must be at least 16 and may not use bicycle or multiuse trails or paths; Class 2 access to unsurfaced nonmotorized paths requires local permission.Connecticut General Assembly — Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 248 e-bike provisions· Connecticut Department of Transportation — E-Bikes: Riding Safely |
| District of Columbia | Moderate | A qualifying motorized bicycle is excluded from the District's driver-license, registration, and compulsory motor-vehicle-insurance definitions. DDOT says riders must be at least 16, may use roads like other bicycle riders, and may ride on sidewalks outside the Central Business District while yielding to pedestrians.Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 50-1401.01· Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 50-1501.01· Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 31-2402· District Department of Transportation — E-Bike Guide |
| Delaware | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no Delaware driver's license, registration, title, license plate, financial-responsibility filing, or motor-vehicle insurance. Riders and passengers under 18 must wear helmets; Class 3 requires helmets at every age, a minimum operator age of 16, and a speedometer. E-bikes may use bicycle-legal roads and paths, but not sidewalks with the motor in use, and land managers may restrict paths and natural-surface trails.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. §§ 4192-4198Q |
| Florida | Typical | A qualifying e-bike is exempt from driver-license, motor-vehicle-license, registration, title, and financial-responsibility laws. Riders under 16 must wear a helmet. E-bikes may go where bicycles are allowed, subject to local and land-manager restrictions (Fla. Stat. §§ 316.2065 and 316.20655).Fla. Stat. § 316.20655· Fla. Stat. § 316.2065 |
| Georgia | Moderate | Enacted rules control: HB 454 sets Georgia's class, age, equipment, licensing, helmet, and path rules. Some official agency web pages are stale; DPS still shows the repealed 1,000-watt definition. Current DNR guidance also says riders 15 and younger need helmets and that Class 1 e-bikes may use bicycle-legal roads and trails in state parks.Georgia DPS low-speed-vehicle code page· Georgia DNR state-parks biking guidance· Georgia General Assembly — enacted HB 454 |
| Hawaii | Strict | A qualifying e-bike must carry Hawaii's permanent $30 bicycle registration. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet, riders under 16 need direct adult supervision on Class 2 or Class 3, and all three classes may use a sidewalk only at 10 mph or less outside business districts and where county rules allow.Hawaii State Legislature — HB 2021 HD2 SD2 CD1 (Act 259) |
| Iowa | Moderate | A qualifying low-speed electric bicycle needs no Iowa driver's license, state registration, title, inspection, or proof of financial liability coverage. A rider must be at least 16 to operate Class 3, Class 3 is capped at 20 mph on a bicycle lane or multi-use path unless a lower limit applies, and local authorities may regulate and license bicycles.Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.235B· Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.236 |
| Idaho | Typical | A qualifying Idaho e-bike needs no motor-vehicle insurance, driver's license, title, registration, or license plate. It generally has bicycle rights and duties and may travel where bicycles are permitted, including multiuse paths, unless a local ordinance or properly noticed public-agency sign excludes it.Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-725· Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-726· Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-728 |
| Illinois | Moderate | Unsettled — see state page |
| Indiana | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no Indiana driver's license, certificate of title, or state motor-vehicle registration. A Class 3 operator must be at least 15, a Class 3 operator or passenger under 18 must wear a qualifying helmet, and Class 3 has tighter bicycle-path and multipurpose-path access.Indiana General Assembly — 2026 Indiana Code Title 9 |
| Kansas | Moderate | A qualifying electric-assisted bicycle needs no Kansas vehicle liability insurance, driver's license, registration, certificate of title, or license plate. It may be ridden where bicycles are allowed, subject to local and land-manager powers, and a Class 3 operator must be at least 16.Kansas Legislature — K.S.A. 8-1592b |
| Kentucky | Moderate | For an e-bike that fits Kentucky's moped definition, highway operation requires an operator's license or qualifying instruction permit; a person may apply for an instruction permit at age 15. The moped is expressly exempt from Kentucky title, registration, and license-plate requirements and from the Motor Vehicle Reparations Act's motor-vehicle insurance mandate. KRS 189.285's motorcycle helmet rule does not cover a moped because the section excludes mopeds from “motorcycle.”Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.010 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.410 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.450 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186A.080 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 189.285 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 304.39-020 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 304.39-080 current section PDF |
| Louisiana | Moderate | Unsettled — see state page |
| Massachusetts | Moderate | A qualifying class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle generally receives the rights and duties of a bicycle. It may use most public ways, may not be ridden on sidewalks, is subject to local path rules, and is barred from natural-surface nonmotorized trails unless the responsible government permits it. Riders age 16 or younger must wear a helmet.Massachusetts General Laws c. 85, § 11B¾· Massachusetts General Laws c. 85, § 11B |
| Maryland | Moderate | A qualifying electric bicycle is a bicycle, not a motor vehicle, so Maryland's cited provisions do not require a state driver's license, certificate of title, motor-vehicle registration, or motor-vehicle security. Riders and passengers under 16 must wear a qualifying helmet, subject to a narrow Ocean City Boardwalk exception. Road, bike-lane, sidewalk, and local rules still apply, and a local authority may require bicycle registration and a fee.Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-104· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-135· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 13-102· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 13-402· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 16-101· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 17-104· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 21-1207.1· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 25-102 |
| Maine | Moderate | A qualifying electric bicycle is exempt from Maine Title 29-A provisions on financial responsibility, driver's licenses, registration, and license plates. Riders under 16 may not operate Class 2 or Class 3, every e-bike operator or passenger under 16 must wear a helmet, and Class 3 and natural-surface bicycle paths have tighter access rules.Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 2063 |
| Michigan | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike has a saddle, fully operable pedals, a motor no greater than 750 watts, and one of three statutory classes. For e-bikes offered for sale or distribution in Michigan, manufacturers and distributors must permanently label the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. State law sets added age and helmet rules for Class 3, while access varies by class and land manager.Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.13e· Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.662a |
| Minnesota | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike is limited to 750 watts, must satisfy battery or drive-system testing and class requirements, and may be operated only by someone age 15 or older. It generally follows bicycle riding rules, with class-specific path access and land-manager restrictions.Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 169.011· Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 169.222 |
| Missouri | Moderate | A qualifying electric bicycle and its operator are exempt from Missouri motor-vehicle registration, title, driver's-license, and financial-responsibility provisions. Class 3 operators must be at least 16, every Class 3 e-bike needs a speedometer, and path or trail managers retain specified authority to restrict access.Missouri Revisor of Statutes — RSMo § 307.194 |
| Mississippi | Moderate | A qualifying electric bicycle and its operator are exempt from Mississippi motor-vehicle financial-responsibility, driver's-license, registration, title, and license-plate provisions. Class 3 operators must be at least 16, every Class 3 e-bike needs a speedometer, and path or trail managers retain specified authority to restrict access.Mississippi Legislature — HB 1195 (2021), as sent to Governor |
| Montana | Typical | A qualifying e-bike is included in Montana's bicycle definition (§ 61-8-102(2)), and Title 61 expressly excludes a bicycle as defined in 61-8-102 from both "motor vehicle" (§ 61-1-101(41)(b)) and "motorcycle" (§ 61-1-101(43)(e)). Because the license, title, registration, and compulsory-insurance mandates each attach only to a motor vehicle, a qualifying e-bike needs none of them. Bicycle road, equipment, and sidewalk rules do apply; DNRC separately treats e-bikes as motorized recreation on state trust land.Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-102· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-1-101· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-5-102· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-3-201· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-3-301· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-6-301· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-602· Montana DNRC — Bikes and E-Bikes on state trust land |
| North Carolina | Typical | Unsettled — see state page |
| North Dakota | Moderate | A qualifying electric bicycle needs no North Dakota motor-vehicle driver's license, state vehicle registration, certificate of title, or motor-vehicle liability policy. Every Class 3 e-bike needs a speedometer, and a Class 3 operator under 18 must wear a safety helmet. Governmental entities may prohibit e-bikes on bicycle or multi-use paths.North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-01· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-04· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-05· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-06· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-08· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-10.1 |
| Nebraska | Moderate | Unsettled — see state page |
| New Hampshire | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike is exempt from New Hampshire financial-responsibility, driver's-license, registration, title, OHRV, and license-plate provisions. Class 3 operators must be at least 16; Class 3 riders and passengers under 18 need helmets; and each Class 3 e-bike needs a speedometer.New Hampshire General Court — RSA 265:144-a |
| New Jersey | Very strict | Riders of covered low-speed and motorized bicycles must be at least 15, hold the required license or permit, and register the bike before public-road or public-land operation. Motorized bicycles also require insurance.P.L.2025, c.285· N.J.A.C. 11:3-11.1 |
| New Mexico | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike is excluded from the Motor Vehicle Code's motor-vehicle definition and from state registration and title requirements. A parent or guardian may not knowingly permit an operator or passenger under 18 to ride without a helmet, a person under 16 may not operate Class 3 on a street, highway, or bicycle or pedestrian path, and path access differs by class.New Mexico Legislature — final SB 69 (2023)· New Mexico Legislature — final SB 397 (2007) |
| Nevada | Typical | A qualifying Nevada e-bike is outside the state motor-vehicle driver-license, registration and financial-responsibility categories. Nevada generally allows it wherever bicycles may ride, including roads, bicycle lanes and shared-use paths, subject to local, agency and controlled-access-highway restrictions.Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 483· Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 482· Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 485· Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 484A· Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 484B |
| New York | Moderate | A covered e-bike rider must be at least 16. The bike is not registered with DMV, must carry its manufacturer's class label on public streets, and—unless a local rule says otherwise—may use only roads posted at 30 mph or less. Class 3 is confined to New York City and requires a helmet.N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1242· N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1238· New York DMV e-bike guidance |
| Ohio | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike follows bicycle and e-bike traffic rules. Class 3 operators must be at least 16, every class 3 operator and passenger must wear a helmet, and class 3 bikes need a speedometer. Path and trail access changes by class and by the manager's posted rules.Ohio Revised Code § 4511.52· Ohio Revised Code § 4511.522 |
| Oklahoma | Moderate | A qualifying electric-assisted bicycle and its operator are expressly exempt from Oklahoma provisions on financial responsibility, vehicle insurance, driver licenses, vehicle registration, and certificates of title. Class 3 operators must be at least 16, every Class 3 e-bike needs a speedometer, and path or trail managers retain specified authority to restrict access.Oklahoma Legislature — Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47 |
| Oregon | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike is treated as a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle, needs no Oregon driving privilege, title, registration, or motor-vehicle liability insurance, and may use bicycle roads, lanes, and designated paths. Every operator must currently be at least 16, and e-bikes may not be operated on sidewalks.Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 807· Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 803· Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 806· Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 814 |
| Pennsylvania | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike must meet Pennsylvania’s weight, wheel, motor, pedal, and motor-only speed limits. Its operator must be at least 16. On roads it follows pedalcycle rules; on DCNR land it may use bike-open roads and trails subject to posted and motor-use limits.75 Pa.C.S. § 102· 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 35· Pennsylvania DCNR e-bike policy and FAQ |
| Rhode Island | Strict | A qualifying electric bicycle needs no Rhode Island registration, no one under 16 may operate one, and every operator or passenger under 21 must wear a qualifying helmet on public ways and the other listed public places. Class 1 has express access to state bicycle trails and paths.Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2.2· Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles — Motorcycles and electric bicycles· Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19.7-2· Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19.7-3 |
| South Carolina | Moderate | Unsettled — see state page |
| South Dakota | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike is outside South Dakota's motor-vehicle driver-license and financial-responsibility definitions and is exempt from the state title and vehicle-registration chapters. Class III riders must be at least 16, operators under 18 and all passengers must wear helmets, and Class III bikes need speedometers and face narrower path rules.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-14-1· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-12-22· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-3-78· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-5-187· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-35-1· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-35-113· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-12· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-13· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-14· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-15 |
| Tennessee | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no Tennessee motor-vehicle driver's license, title, registration, or financial-responsibility coverage. Class 3 operators must be at least 16 on streets and highways, every Class 3 operator and passenger must wear a helmet, and Class 3 has narrower path access.Tennessee Department of Transportation — Tennessee Bicycle Laws· Tennessee General Assembly — SB 1782 / Public Chapter 651 (2026) |
| Texas | Typical | A qualifying e-bike has operable pedals, a motor below 750 watts, and a top assisted speed no higher than 28 mph. Texas does not require state registration, a driver's license, or motor-vehicle financial responsibility for its operation. Class 3 operators must be at least 15, and access can change on sidewalks, natural-surface paths, and park trails.Texas Transportation Code Chapter 664· Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551· Texas Transportation Code Chapter 502· Texas Transportation Code Chapter 521· Texas Transportation Code Chapter 601· TxDOT bicycle laws and regulations FAQ· Texas Parks and Wildlife specialty-vehicle guidance |
| Utah | Strict | A qualifying Utah electric assisted bicycle needs no Class D driver license, motorcycle endorsement, state registration, or owner's or operator's security. Youth operation is limited by age and supervision, and the helmet provision effective May 6, 2026 generally requires compliant headgear for riders under 21 when operating or riding on a highway.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 53-3-202· Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-1a-202· Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-12a-301· Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-6a-1115.5· Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-6a-1505 |
| Virginia | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no Virginia driver's license, DMV registration, title, or state license plate. Class 3 riders and passengers must wear helmets, riders under 14 need immediate adult supervision on Class 3, and path or trail managers may restrict access.Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-904.1· Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-908.1 |
| Vermont | Moderate | A qualifying three-class electric bicycle needs no Vermont motor-vehicle registration, inspection, title, operator’s license, or chapter 11 financial responsibility. A Class 3 operator must be at least 16, and path or trail managers have class-specific authority to restrict access.Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136a |
| Washington | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no driver's license or state vehicle registration. Class 3 riders must be at least 16 and face tighter sidewalk and shared-path rules. Washington has no statewide bicycle-helmet mandate, but local bicycle-helmet laws apply to e-bikes.RCW 46.20.500· RCW 46.16A.080· RCW 46.61.710· RCW 46.37.530· WSDOT bicyclist laws and safety guidance |
| Wisconsin | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike needs no Wisconsin operator's license, state registration, certificate of title, or motor-vehicle financial responsibility. Class 3 operators must be at least 16, and local governments and state agencies may restrict powered e-bike use on bikeways under their jurisdiction.Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 346.806· Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 349.18 |
| West Virginia | Moderate | A qualifying e-bike is exempt from West Virginia motor-vehicle registration, title, driver's-license, and financial-responsibility requirements. Operators and passengers under 15 must wear helmets. Class 1 and Class 2 receive traditional-bicycle rights on bicycle-legal roads and trails; Class 3 has narrower path and trail access.West Virginia Legislature — enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 2062 |
| Wyoming | Typical | A qualifying e-bike uses one of three classes below 750 watts. Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-707 exempts its operator from Title 31 provisions on financial responsibility, driver's licenses, registration, and certificates of title, and says the e-bike is not a motor vehicle. Local authorities may regulate and locally register or license e-bikes, while the responsible local authority or state agency may regulate any class on trails.Wyoming Legislature — current Title 31 |
02 / Recognized classes
Which e-bike categories each state recognizes
| State | Category framework |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Unsettled — see state page |
| Alabama | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat, an electric motor rated at less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Alabama Legislature — Ala. Code § 32-1-1.1 |
| Arkansas | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals, have an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and meet one of Arkansas's three class definitions.Arkansas General Assembly — Act 956 of 2017 |
| Arizona | 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 |
| California | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts. The manufacturer or distributor must permanently label it with the class number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage.Cal. Veh. Code § 312.5 |
| Colorado | It must have two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, an electric motor not exceeding 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42 |
| Connecticut | Under current law it must be a bicycle with operable foot pedals, an electric motor rated below 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3. Dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles are excluded.Connecticut General Assembly — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-1 |
| District of Columbia | A 2- or 3-wheeled vehicle with a post-mounted seat or saddle for each intended rider, wheels at least 16 inches in diameter, fully operative human-powered pedals, and a motor incapable of propelling it above 20 mph on level ground. The traffic definition expressly excludes electric mobility devices, personal mobility devices, and qualifying battery-operated wheelchairs; the incentive-program section separately defines “e-bike” with the same core seat, wheel, pedal, and 20 mph features for that section.Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 50-2201.02· Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 50-921.27 |
| Delaware | It must have 2 or 3 wheels, fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat, an electric motor rated at no more than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. § 101 |
| Florida | Fully operable pedals, a rider seat or saddle, and an electric motor rated below 750 watts. The bike must also meet one of Florida's three class definitions (Fla. Stat. § 316.003(23)).Fla. Stat. § 316.003 |
| Georgia | Operative 750-watt ceiling: O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1(15.3) defines an electric assisted bicycle as a device with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals, and an electric motor with a power output of “not more than 750 watts.” HB 454 struck the former federal-safety-standard and brake sentence and subparagraphs (A) through (C), including the former 1,000-watt and 20 mph limits. The live DPS HTML still reproduces the repealed 1,000-watt rule; that agency page is stale, and the enacted statute controls.Georgia DPS low-speed-vehicle code page· Georgia General Assembly — enacted HB 454 |
| Hawaii | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts. Act 259 separately excludes a defined high-speed electric device from the electric-bicycle category.Hawaii State Legislature — HB 2021 HD2 SD2 CD1 (Act 259) |
| Iowa | Under the current composite text, it must have a saddle or seat, two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, an electric motor producing no more than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.1· Iowa Legislature — 2026 Iowa Acts chapter 1053 (SF 490) |
| Idaho | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals, use an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and meet the motor-operation and assisted-speed terms of Class 1, 2, or 3.Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-106 |
| Illinois | It must have fully operable pedals, an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assistance cutoff for one of Illinois's three classes. Manufacturers and distributors must permanently label the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage.625 ILCS 5/1-140.10· 625 ILCS 5/11-1517 |
| Indiana | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals, an assistive electric motor rated at no more than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3.Indiana General Assembly — 2026 Indiana Code Title 9 |
| Kansas | It must be a bicycle with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Kansas Legislature — K.S.A. 8-1489 |
| Kentucky | Unsettled — see state page |
| Louisiana | It must have a saddle or seat for each rider, two tandem wheels with either wheel at least 16 inches in diameter or three wheels with at least one wheel 20 inches or larger, fully operable pedals, an electric motor below 750 watts, and the motor behavior of one of Louisiana's three classes.Louisiana State Legislature — La. R.S. 32:1 |
| Massachusetts | It must be a bicycle or tricycle with fully operable pedals, an electric motor of 750 watts or less, and the operating characteristics of class 1 or class 2. Manufacturers and distributors must permanently label the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage.Massachusetts General Laws c. 90, § 1· Massachusetts General Laws c. 85, § 11B¾ |
| Maryland | It must be designed for human power with electric-motor assistance, have fully operable pedals and two or three wheels, use a motor rated at 750 watts or less, and meet one of Maryland's three class definitions.Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-117.1 |
| Maine | It must have 2 or 3 wheels, fully operable pedals, an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed limit of Class 1, 2, or 3.Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 101 |
| Michigan | The statutory definition requires a seat or saddle, fully operable pedals, an electric motor no greater than 750 watts, and one of Michigan's three classes. Separately, a manufacturer or distributor offering an e-bike for sale or distribution in Michigan must permanently affix a label stating its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage.Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.13e· Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.662a |
| Minnesota | It must have two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operable pedals, an electric motor of no more than 750 watts, compliance with the named federal bicycle requirements, a battery or electric drive system tested to an applicable safety standard by a third-party laboratory, and Class 1, 2, 3, or multiple-mode operation.Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 169.011 |
| Missouri | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat, an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Missouri Revisor of Statutes — RSMo § 301.010 |
| Mississippi | It must be a bicycle or tricycle with fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat, an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Mississippi Legislature — HB 1003 (2023), as sent to Governor |
| Montana | Unsettled — see state page |
| North Carolina | Unsettled — see state page |
| North Dakota | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat for the rider, an electric motor of 750 watts or less, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-01 |
| Nebraska | Each class requires two, three, or four wheels; a saddle or seat; fully operative human-powered pedals; and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts or one brake horsepower.Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-614.02· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-614.03· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-614.04 |
| New Hampshire | It must be a pedaled vehicle, use an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and fit one of New Hampshire's three classes.New Hampshire General Court — RSA 259:27-a |
| New Jersey | Two wheels, operable pedals, pedal assistance only, and assistance ending at 20 mph. The new definition has no express watt ceiling.P.L.2025, c.285 |
| New Mexico | It must have two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, an electric motor, and fit one of New Mexico's three classes; each class limits motor power to 750 watts.New Mexico Legislature — final SB 88 (2024) |
| Nevada | It must have two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, a rider's seat or saddle, an electric motor producing no more than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2 or 3.Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 484B |
| New York | It must be no more than 36 inches wide, have operable pedals, use a motor below 750 watts, meet the federal bicycle equipment and manufacturing requirements named in N.Y. VTL § 102-c, and fit one of New York's three classes.N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 102-c |
| Ohio | It must have fully operable pedals, use an electric motor below 750 watts, and meet one of Ohio's three class definitions. A manufacturer or distributor must permanently label its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage.Ohio Revised Code § 4511.01· Ohio Revised Code § 4511.522 |
| Oklahoma | It must be a bicycle with two or three wheels, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, an electric motor of no more than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Oklahoma Legislature — Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47 |
| Oregon | Unsettled — see state page |
| Pennsylvania | A vehicle of no more than 100 pounds, with two or three wheels over 11 inches in diameter, an electric motor system rated no more than 750 watts, operable pedals, and a motor-only speed of no more than 20 mph on a level surface (75 Pa.C.S. § 102).75 Pa.C.S. § 102 |
| Rhode Island | It must be a two-wheel vehicle that may use human power, electric-motor power, or both, with an electric motor rated at no more than two S.A.E. horsepower, a maximum capable speed no greater than 28 mph, and the motor behavior of Class 1, 2, or 3.Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-1-3· Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19.7-1 |
| South Carolina | It must have two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts or one horsepower. Its top motor-powered speed must be less than 20 mph with a 170-pound rider on a paved level surface; it must meet 16 C.F.R. Part 1512 and stop motor operation when the brakes are applied or the rider stops pedaling.South Carolina Legislature — Title 56, Chapter 1 |
| South Dakota | It must be a bicycle or tricycle with a seat or saddle, operable pedals for propulsion, and an electric motor rated at 750 watts or less, and it must fit one of South Dakota's three classes.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-9 |
| Tennessee | It must have two or three wheels, at least one wheel 20 inches or more in diameter, fully operable pedals for human propulsion, an electric motor below 750 watts, and the motor behavior of Class 1, 2, or 3.Tennessee Department of Transportation — Tennessee Bicycle Laws |
| Texas | It must be a bicycle with fully operable pedals, an electric motor below 750 watts, and a top assisted speed of 28 mph or less. Texas defines top assisted speed as the point where the motor stops propelling or assisting.Texas Transportation Code Chapter 664 |
| Utah | It must be a bicycle with an electric motor of no more than 750 watts, fully operable pedals, original permanently affixed cranks, and the ability to operate fully as a bicycle without the motor; it must also fit Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, or the programmable category.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-6a-102 |
| Virginia | It must travel on no more than three wheels, have human-powered pedals and a rider's seat, use a motor rated at no more than 750 watts, and fit one of Virginia's three classes.Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-100 |
| Vermont | It must have fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat, an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 4 |
| Washington | It must have two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals, and an electric motor rated at no more than 750 watts. It must also fit one of Washington's three classes.RCW 46.04.169 |
| Wisconsin | It must be a bicycle with fully operative human-powered pedals, an electric motor rated at no more than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 340.01(15ph) |
| West Virginia | It must have two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, an electric motor of fewer than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed limit of Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3.West Virginia Legislature — enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 2062 |
| Wyoming | It must be a bicycle or tricycle with fully operable pedals, a rider's seat or saddle, an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and the motor behavior and assisted-speed cutoff of Class 1, 2, or 3.Wyoming Legislature — current Title 31 |
03 / License · registration · insurance
The paperwork each state requires
| State | License | Registration | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Alabama | No. Ala. Code § 32-5A-267 expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from this title's driver's-license requirements.Alabama Legislature — Ala. Code § 32-5A-267 | No Alabama registration, certificate of title, license tag, or license plate is required. Section 32-5A-267 says so expressly, and the Department of Revenue's registration memo confirms the title-and-registration exemption.Alabama Legislature — Ala. Code § 32-5A-267· Alabama Department of Revenue — Memo 2021-007 | No. Ala. Code § 32-5A-267 expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from financial-responsibility and motor-vehicle-insurance requirements; the Department of Revenue memo also identifies the insurance exemption.Alabama Legislature — Ala. Code § 32-5A-267· Alabama Department of Revenue — Memo 2021-007 |
| Arkansas | No. Section 27-51-1703 expressly exempts a qualifying e-bike and its operator from Title 27 provisions relating to licensing and operator's licenses.Arkansas General Assembly — Act 956 of 2017 | No. Section 27-51-1703 expressly exempts a qualifying e-bike and its operator from Title 27 provisions relating to registration and certificates of title.Arkansas General Assembly — Act 956 of 2017 | No Title 27 motor-vehicle insurance requirement. Section 27-51-1703 says an e-bike is not a motor vehicle and expressly exempts it and its operator from Title 27 provisions relating to insurance.Arkansas General Assembly — Act 956 of 2017 |
| Arizona | No Arizona motor-vehicle driver's license. A.R.S. § 28-819 expressly exempts electric bicycles from this title's driver-license provisions.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 | No Arizona certificate of title, state vehicle registration, or vehicle license tax. A.R.S. § 28-819 expressly exempts electric bicycles from those state motor-vehicle provisions.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 | No Arizona vehicle insurance is required by Title 28 for a qualifying electric bicycle. A.R.S. § 28-819 expressly exempts it from this title's vehicle-insurance provisions; this does not address optional bicycle or personal coverage.Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819 |
| California | No. Cal. Veh. Code § 24016(b) expressly exempts a person operating an electric bicycle from the code's driver's-license provisions.Cal. Veh. Code § 24016 | No. Cal. Veh. Code § 24016(b) expressly exempts a qualifying e-bike from registration and license-plate requirements.Cal. Veh. Code § 24016 | No state motor-vehicle financial-responsibility requirement. Cal. Veh. Code § 24016(b) expressly exempts e-bike operators from those provisions and says an electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle.Cal. Veh. Code § 24016 |
| Colorado | No state driver's license. C.R.S. § 42-2-101 requires a license to drive a motor vehicle, while § 42-1-102 expressly excludes an electrical assisted bicycle from that category. A local authority may separately license bicycles and e-bikes under § 42-4-111.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42 | No Colorado DMV registration. C.R.S. § 42-3-103 expressly exempts electrical assisted bicycles from state registration, but § 42-4-111 allows local authorities to require bicycle or e-bike registration and a registration fee.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42 | No compulsory Colorado motor-vehicle policy. C.R.S. § 10-4-619 applies to a motor vehicle, § 10-4-601 incorporates the Title 42 motor-vehicle definition, and § 42-1-102 expressly excludes an electrical assisted bicycle. The cited provisions do not address optional bicycle, health, property, or personal-liability coverage.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42· Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 10 |
| Connecticut | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| District of Columbia | No for a qualifying motorized bicycle. The licensing subchapter excludes a motorized bicycle from “motor vehicle,” and DDOT says e-bike riders do not need a license.Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 50-1401.01· District Department of Transportation — E-Bike Guide | No for a qualifying motorized bicycle. The registration subchapter excludes motorized bicycles from “motor vehicle,” while § 50-1501.02 requires registration and an identification tag for motor vehicles and trailers.Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 50-1501.01· Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 50-1501.02 | No compulsory motor-vehicle insurance for a qualifying motorized bicycle. The insurance chapter excludes motorized bicycles from “motor vehicle” and requires coverage from owners of motor vehicles required to be registered; DDOT likewise says e-bike riders do not need insurance.Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 31-2402· Council of the District of Columbia — D.C. Code § 31-2403· District Department of Transportation — E-Bike Guide |
| Delaware | No. Section 4198P expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from Delaware Code provisions relating to driver's licenses.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. §§ 4192-4198Q | No. Section 4198P expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle from registration, certificates of title, off-highway-vehicle provisions, and license plates.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. §§ 4192-4198Q | No. Section 4198P expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from Code provisions relating to financial responsibility or insurance.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. §§ 4192-4198Q |
| Florida | No. Fla. Stat. § 316.20655(2) expressly exempts a qualifying e-bike and its operator from laws relating to driver or motor-vehicle licenses. A local government may still require photo identification while riding.Fla. Stat. § 316.20655 | No. Fla. Stat. § 316.20655(2) expressly exempts qualifying e-bikes from vehicle-registration and title-certificate laws.Fla. Stat. § 316.20655 | No financial-responsibility requirement. Fla. Stat. § 316.20655(2) expressly exempts qualifying e-bikes and their operators from laws relating to financial responsibility.Fla. Stat. § 316.20655 |
| Georgia | No driver's license: HB 454 excludes electric assisted bicycles from “motor vehicle” in O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1(33), O.C.G.A. § 40-6-301 grants their operators bicycle rights and duties, and HB 454 removes electric assisted bicycles from § 40-6-351's moped-license provision. HB 454 struck the former standalone sentence stating that no license or permit was required, so that sentence is not the basis for this conclusion.Georgia General Assembly — enacted HB 454 | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Hawaii | Unsettled — see state page | Every electric bicycle must be registered with the county director of finance before operation on a public roadway, sidewalk, or bicycle facility. The permanent fee is $30; initial registration requires proof of ownership plus serial-number and description verification, and the county furnishes a metallic tag or decal for the bicycle.Hawaii State Legislature — HB 2021 HD2 SD2 CD1 (Act 259)· Hawaii State Legislature — HRS § 249-14 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Iowa | No. Iowa Code § 321.235B expressly says a qualifying low-speed electric bicycle is not subject to Code provisions on possession of a driver's license or permit.Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.235B | No Iowa state motor-vehicle registration or title. A local authority may regulate bicycles and require local bicycle registration and licensing, including a fee; because Iowa defines a low-speed electric bicycle as a bicycle, check local rules.Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.1· Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.235B· Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.236· Iowa Department of Transportation — Bike Safety | Unsettled — see state page |
| Idaho | No. Idaho Code § 49-726 expressly exempts electric-assisted bicycles from § 49-301 and exempts both the bicycle and its operator from Title 49's driver's-license provisions.Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-726 | No. Idaho Code § 49-726 expressly exempts a qualifying electric-assisted bicycle from Title 49's title, registration, and license-plate requirements.Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-726 | No. Idaho Code § 49-726 expressly exempts the electric-assisted bicycle and its operator from Title 49's financial-responsibility provisions. This does not address optional personal-liability, medical, theft, or property coverage.Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-726 |
| Illinois | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Indiana | No. IC 9-21-11-13.1 expressly says an electric-bicycle operator is not subject to IC 9-24, Indiana's driver's-license article.Indiana General Assembly — 2026 Indiana Code Title 9 | No Indiana certificate of title or state motor-vehicle registration. IC 9-21-11-13.1 expressly exempts an electric bicycle from IC 9-17 and IC 9-18.1.Indiana General Assembly — 2026 Indiana Code Title 9 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Kansas | No. K.S.A. 8-1592b expressly says an electric-assisted bicycle or rider is not required to maintain a driver's license.Kansas Legislature — K.S.A. 8-1592b | No Kansas registration, certificate of title, or license plate. K.S.A. 8-1592b expressly exempts a qualifying electric-assisted bicycle and its rider from each requirement.Kansas Legislature — K.S.A. 8-1592b | No Kansas vehicle liability insurance coverage is required for a qualifying electric-assisted bicycle or rider under K.S.A. 8-1592b. The exemption does not address optional bicycle, health, or personal liability coverage.Kansas Legislature — K.S.A. 8-1592b |
| Kentucky | Yes. KRS 186.410 requires an operator's license before operating a moped on a highway. KRS 186.450 also authorizes a holder of either a motor-vehicle or motorcycle instruction permit to operate a moped. KYTC confirms that Kentucky eliminated the stand-alone moped license on July 15, 2024; that change did not eliminate the operator-license requirement.Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.410 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.450 current section PDF· Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — motorcycle and moped credentials | No. KRS 186A.080 expressly says no Kentucky certificate of title, certificate of registration, or license plate need be obtained for a moped.Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186A.080 current section PDF | No under Kentucky's compulsory motor-vehicle security scheme. KRS 304.39-020 expressly excludes a moped from “motor vehicle,” while KRS 304.39-080 imposes continuous security on owners or operators of motor vehicles. These sections do not prohibit optional bicycle, property, or liability coverage.Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 304.39-020 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 304.39-080 current section PDF |
| Louisiana | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Massachusetts | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Maryland | No state motor-vehicle driver's license under the cited provisions. Section 16-101 requires a license to drive a motor vehicle on a highway, while § 11-135 expressly excludes an electric bicycle from the motor-vehicle definition.Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-135· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 16-101 | No Maryland certificate of title or state motor-vehicle registration: § 13-102 exempts a bicycle other than a moped from title, § 13-402's highway-registration command applies to motor vehicles and listed trailer types, and an electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle. A local authority may nevertheless require bicycle registration and impose a fee.Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-104· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-135· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 13-102· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 13-402· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 25-102 | No Maryland motor-vehicle security under the cited provisions. Section 17-104 requires security for the owner of a motor vehicle required to be registered in Maryland, while a qualifying electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle and is outside § 13-402's motor-vehicle registration command. This does not address optional bicycle or personal coverage.Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-135· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 13-402· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 17-104 |
| Maine | No. Section 2063 expressly exempts a person operating a qualifying electric bicycle from Title 29-A provisions relating to driver's licenses.Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 2063 | No. Section 2063 expressly exempts a qualifying electric-bicycle operator from Title 29-A provisions relating to registration and license-plate requirements.Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 2063 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Michigan | No. MCL § 257.33 excludes an electric bicycle from the Michigan Vehicle Code's definition of “motor vehicle,” and § 257.301 applies the driver's-license requirement to driving a motor vehicle on a highway.Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.33· Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.301 | No. MCL § 257.216 subjects motor vehicles and the other listed vehicle types to registration when driven or moved on a street or highway, while § 257.33 expressly excludes an electric bicycle from “motor vehicle.”Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.33· Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.216 | No. MCL § 500.3101 requires no-fault security for a motor vehicle required to be registered, defines “electric bicycle” by reference to MCL § 257.13e, and expressly excludes an electric bicycle from its “motor vehicle” definition.Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.13e· Michigan Legislature — MCL § 500.3101 |
| Minnesota | Unsettled — see state page | No Chapter 168 motor-vehicle registration or Minnesota certificate of title. Section 168.002 excludes a qualifying electric-assisted bicycle from that chapter's motor-vehicle definition, and § 168A.03 says the registrar must not issue it a certificate of title.Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 168.002· Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 168A.03 | Minnesota's compulsory motor-vehicle reparation-security law does not cover a qualifying e-bike as a motor vehicle or motorcycle: § 65B.43's motor-vehicle definition requires the relevant vehicle to have at least four wheels, and its motorcycle definition expressly excludes electric-assisted bicycles. This does not address optional bicycle, homeowner, or personal liability coverage.Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 65B.43 |
| Missouri | No Missouri driver's license. RSMo § 307.194 expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from motor-vehicle provisions including drivers' licenses.Missouri Revisor of Statutes — RSMo § 307.194 | No Missouri motor-vehicle registration or certificate of title. RSMo § 307.194 expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from those provisions.Missouri Revisor of Statutes — RSMo § 307.194 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Mississippi | No Mississippi driver's license. Miss. Code § 63-3-1315 expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from Code provisions relating to driver's licenses.Mississippi Legislature — HB 1195 (2021), as sent to Governor | No Mississippi motor-vehicle registration, certificate of title, or license plate. Miss. Code § 63-3-1315 expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from those provisions.Mississippi Legislature — HB 1195 (2021), as sent to Governor | No. Miss. Code § 63-3-1315 expressly exempts a qualifying electric bicycle and its operator from Code provisions relating to financial responsibility—Mississippi's compulsory motor-vehicle-insurance regime—so no motor-vehicle liability insurance is required. The cited section does not address optional private coverage a rider might choose to carry.Mississippi Legislature — HB 1195 (2021), as sent to Governor |
| Montana | No. Section 61-5-102(1) requires a valid Montana driver's license only to drive a motor vehicle on a highway. Section 61-1-101(41)(b) expressly provides that "motor vehicle" does not include a bicycle as defined in 61-8-102, and § 61-8-102(2) states that the term "bicycle" includes an electrically assisted bicycle. A qualifying e-bike is therefore expressly outside the license requirement.Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-5-102· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-1-101· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-102 | No. Section 61-3-301(1) requires registration and license plates only for a "motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer." Section 61-1-101(41)(b) expressly excludes a bicycle as defined in 61-8-102 from "motor vehicle," and § 61-8-102(2) includes an electrically assisted bicycle in "bicycle." A qualifying e-bike is therefore not subject to registration or plates.Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-3-301· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-1-101· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-102 | No. Section 61-6-301 requires liability insurance only for a motor vehicle that is registered and operated in Montana and bars operating a motor vehicle on public ways without coverage. Section 61-1-101(41)(b) expressly excludes a bicycle as defined in 61-8-102 from "motor vehicle," and § 61-8-102(2) includes a qualifying e-bike in "bicycle." No motor-vehicle liability policy is required; optional private coverage is a separate choice.Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-6-301· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-1-101· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-102 |
| North Carolina | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| North Dakota | No North Dakota motor-vehicle driver's license. Section 39-06-01 requires a license to drive a motor vehicle, while § 39-01-01 excludes an electric bicycle from the motor-vehicle definition.North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-01· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-06 | No North Dakota state vehicle registration or certificate of title. Section 39-04-02 governs registration of a vehicle, while § 39-01-01 excludes an electric bicycle from the vehicle definition; § 39-05-02.2 separately lists an electric bicycle among the certificate-of-title exclusions.North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-01· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-04· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-05 | No motor-vehicle liability policy is required by § 39-08-20 for a qualifying electric bicycle. That section applies to a motor vehicle, and § 39-01-01 excludes an electric bicycle from the motor-vehicle definition; the cited laws do not address optional bicycle or personal coverage.North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-01· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-08 |
| Nebraska | No Nebraska driver's license is required to operate a qualifying electric bicycle. Section 60-611 includes an electric bicycle within "bicycle," § 60-339(10) expressly excludes bicycles as defined in § 60-611 from "motor vehicle," and § 60-484 requires an operator's license only to operate a motor vehicle—so the license requirement does not reach a qualifying e-bike.Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-611· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-339· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-484 | Local registration may still apply: No Nebraska state motor-vehicle registration is required for a qualifying electric bicycle: §§ 60-611 and 60-339(10) make it a bicycle expressly excluded from "motor vehicle," while § 60-362 requires registration only of motor vehicles. Separately, § 60-6,317 expressly lets a local authority provide for bicycle registration and inspection, so check local ordinances.Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-611· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-339· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-362· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,317 | No Nebraska state motor-vehicle proof of financial responsibility is required for a qualifying electric bicycle. Because §§ 60-611 and 60-339(10) classify it as a bicycle and exclude it from "motor vehicle," it is not registered under § 60-362, and the DMV ties proof of financial responsibility to vehicles registered in Nebraska. This addresses the state motor-vehicle requirement only; it does not resolve private liability coverage or every post-crash financial-responsibility question.Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-611· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-339· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-362· Nebraska DMV — insurance requirements |
| New Hampshire | No New Hampshire driver's license: RSA 265:144-a expressly exempts a qualifying e-bike and its operator from the title's driver's-license provisions.New Hampshire General Court — RSA 265:144-a | No state registration, certificate of title, or license plate is required for a qualifying e-bike; RSA 265:144-a also exempts it from OHRV provisions.New Hampshire General Court — RSA 265:144-a | RSA 265:144-a exempts a qualifying e-bike and its operator from the title's financial-responsibility provisions.New Hampshire General Court — RSA 265:144-a |
| New Jersey | Ages 15–16 need a motorized-bicycle license or permit. At 17+, a valid driver’s license or motorized-bicycle license or permit works.P.L.2025, c.285 | Both categories must be registered before operation on public highways or public land.P.L.2025, c.285 | Motorized bicycles require insurance. NJMVC says low-speed electric bicycles do not; the cited moped regulation lists the required motorized-bicycle coverages.P.L.2025, c.285· NJMVC implementation guidance· N.J.A.C. 11:3-11.1 |
| New Mexico | No. New Mexico requires a driver's license only to operate a motor vehicle, and the Motor Vehicle Code expressly excludes an electric-assisted bicycle from "motor vehicle," so a qualifying e-bike rider needs no driver's license.New Mexico Legislature — final SB 69 (2023)· New Mexico Legislature — final SB 88 (2024) | No. Section 66-3-1's list of vehicles exempt from its registration-and-title subsection expressly includes an electric-assisted bicycle.New Mexico Legislature — final SB 69 (2023) | No. New Mexico's Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act requires insurance for motor vehicles, and an electric-assisted bicycle is expressly excluded from "motor vehicle" and exempt from registration, so a qualifying e-bike carries no motor-vehicle insurance requirement. This does not address optional personal-liability or property coverage.New Mexico Legislature — final SB 69 (2023)· New Mexico Legislature — final HB 265 (1998) |
| Nevada | No state motor-vehicle driver's license. NRS 483.090 expressly excludes an electric bicycle defined by NRS 484B.017 from the driver-license chapter's definition of motor vehicle, and Nevada DMV guidance also says electric bicycles do not require a driver's license.Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 483· Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles — Motorcycles and Three-Wheeled Vehicles | No state vehicle registration. NRS 482.210 expressly exempts electric bicycles, and Nevada DMV guidance says electric bicycles do not require registration.Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 482· Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles — Motorcycles and Three-Wheeled Vehicles | No Nevada motor-vehicle liability insurance or financial-responsibility filing is required for a qualifying e-bike. NRS 485.050 excludes an electric bicycle defined by NRS 484B.017 from that chapter's motor-vehicle definition, and Nevada DMV guidance says electric bicycles do not require insurance.Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 485· Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles — Motorcycles and Three-Wheeled Vehicles |
| New York | Unsettled — see state page | No. New York DMV says a bicycle with electric assist does not qualify for registration as a motorcycle, limited-use motorcycle, moped, or ATV.New York DMV e-bike guidance | Unsettled — see state page |
| Ohio | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Oklahoma | No Oklahoma driver's license. Section 47-11-1209 expressly says an electric-assisted bicycle and its operator are not subject to the state's driver-license provisions.Oklahoma Legislature — Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47 | No Oklahoma motor-vehicle registration or certificate of title. Section 47-11-1209 expressly exempts qualifying e-bikes and their operators from those provisions. Separately, § 47-15-102 allows a local authority to regulate bicycles and require local bicycle registration and licensing; § 47-1-104 says “bicycle” includes an electric-assisted bicycle unless otherwise specifically indicated, so check local ordinances.Oklahoma Legislature — Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47 | No Oklahoma vehicle insurance or statutory financial responsibility. Section 47-11-1209 expressly exempts a qualifying e-bike and its operator from both sets of provisions; this does not address optional bicycle or personal-liability coverage.Oklahoma Legislature — Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47 |
| Oregon | No. A person age 16 or older may operate any of Oregon's three e-bike classes without any grant of driving privileges.Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 807 | No Oregon title or state vehicle registration. ORS 814.405 treats an electric assisted bicycle as a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle, and ORS 803.030 and 803.305 exempt bicycles from title and registration requirements.Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 803· Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 814 | No Oregon motor-vehicle liability insurance under ORS 806.010. That offense applies to operating a motor vehicle, while ORS 814.405 expressly treats an electric assisted bicycle as a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle for the Oregon Vehicle Code unless a statute says otherwise.Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 806· Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 814 |
| Pennsylvania | No. DCNR’s current Pennsylvania e-bike FAQ says no license is required to operate an e-bike as defined in the Vehicle Code.Pennsylvania DCNR e-bike policy and FAQ | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Rhode Island | Unsettled — see state page | No. R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2.2 says electric motorized bicycles are not required to register, and Rhode Island DMV says it does not register electric bicycles.Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2.2· Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles — Motorcycles and electric bicycles | Unsettled — see state page |
| South Carolina | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| South Dakota | No state driver's license is required by the cited provisions. Chapter 32-12 requires a license to drive a motor vehicle on a highway, while its controlling definitions expressly exclude an electric bicycle from the term motor vehicle.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-14-1· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-12-22 | No. SDCL § 32-3-78 exempts a qualifying e-bike from the title chapter, and § 32-5-187 exempts it from the motor-vehicle registration and licensing chapter.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-3-78· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-5-187 | South Dakota's motor-vehicle financial-responsibility mandate applies to the owner or driver of a motor vehicle, and SDCL § 32-35-1 expressly excludes a qualifying electric bicycle from that term. These cited sections do not address optional private bicycle liability coverage.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-35-1· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-35-113 |
| Tennessee | No Tennessee motor-vehicle driver's license. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-302 expressly makes the Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act inapplicable to an electric bicycle and its operator.Tennessee Department of Transportation — Tennessee Bicycle Laws | No Tennessee motor-vehicle title or registration. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-302 expressly exempts an electric bicycle and its operator from Chapters 3 and 4 of Title 55, relating to titling and registration.Tennessee Department of Transportation — Tennessee Bicycle Laws | No state motor-vehicle financial-responsibility coverage is required for a qualifying e-bike. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-302 expressly makes the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law of 1977 inapplicable; this does not address optional bicycle or personal coverage.Tennessee Department of Transportation — Tennessee Bicycle Laws |
| Texas | No state driver's license. Texas Transportation Code § 551.107(a) makes Subtitle B—the driver's-license subtitle—inapplicable to operation of an electric bicycle.Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551· Texas Transportation Code Chapter 521 | No. Section 551.107(a) makes the title-and-registration subtitle inapplicable, and § 502.143 expressly says an owner may not register an electric bicycle for public-highway operation.Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551· Texas Transportation Code Chapter 502 | No state motor-vehicle financial-responsibility coverage is required for operation. Section 551.107(a) makes Subtitle D—the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility subtitle—inapplicable to an electric bicycle. This does not address optional bicycle coverage.Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551· Texas Transportation Code Chapter 601 |
| Utah | No. An individual operating an electric assisted bicycle as defined in § 41-6a-102 needs neither a valid Class D driver license nor a motorcycle endorsement; the Utah Driver License Division gives the same guidance.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 53-3-202· Utah Driver License Division — Electric-Assisted Bicycle | No. Utah Code § 41-1a-202 expressly lists an electric assisted bicycle defined under § 41-6a-102 among vehicles exempt from state registration.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-1a-202 | Utah's statutory owner's or operator's security requirement does not apply to electric assisted bicycles as defined in § 41-6a-102.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-12a-301 |
| Virginia | No. Va. Code § 46.2-904.1 expressly says a qualifying e-bike and its operator are not subject to Code provisions requiring a driver's license.Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-904.1 | No Virginia DMV registration, title, or state license plate is required under Va. Code § 46.2-904.1. Separately, § 15.2-1720 lets a locality require resident owners to obtain a local bicycle or e-bike license and attach a local plate, tag, or decal; check local ordinances.Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-904.1· Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 15.2-1720 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Vermont | No. Three-class electric bicycles and their operators are exempt from Vermont’s operator-license requirements, and the separate motor-assisted-bicycle rule also exempts those operators from operator’s-license requirements.Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136a· Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136 | No. A three-class electric bicycle and its operator are exempt from Vermont motor-vehicle registration, inspection, and certificate-of-title requirements.Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136a | No Vermont chapter 11 automobile-liability policy, bond, or self-insurance requirement applies to a qualifying three-class electric bicycle or its operator. Section 1136a expressly exempts them from chapter 11 financial-responsibility requirements, and § 800 states the automobile-liability policy, bond, or self-insurance rule within that chapter.Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136a· Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 800 |
| Washington | No. RCW 46.20.500 expressly says no driver's license is required to operate an electric-assisted bicycle.RCW 46.20.500 | No. RCW 46.16A.080 expressly exempts electric-assisted bicycles from state vehicle registration.RCW 46.16A.080 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Wisconsin | No. Wis. Stat. § 346.806(2) expressly exempts a qualifying e-bike operator from the operator-license provisions in Chapter 343.Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 346.806 | No state vehicle registration or certificate of title. Wis. Stat. § 346.806(2) expressly exempts qualifying e-bike operation from the registration and title provisions in Chapters 341 and 342.Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 346.806 | Unsettled — see state page |
| West Virginia | No West Virginia motor-vehicle driver's license. Section 17C-11-8(b) expressly exempts a person owning or operating an electric bicycle from the cited driver's-license provisions.West Virginia Legislature — enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 2062 | No West Virginia motor-vehicle registration or title. Section 17C-11-8(b) expressly exempts a person owning or operating an electric bicycle from the cited registration and title provisions.West Virginia Legislature — enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 2062 | No West Virginia motor-vehicle insurance requirement applies. Section 17C-11-8(b) expressly exempts a person owning or operating a qualifying electric bicycle from the motor-vehicle financial-responsibility requirements of §17D-1-1 et seq., which means no mandatory motor-vehicle insurance.West Virginia Legislature — enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 2062 |
| Wyoming | No Wyoming motor-vehicle driver's license. Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-707 expressly exempts an e-bike operator from Title 31 provisions relating to driver's licenses.Wyoming Legislature — current Title 31 | No Wyoming state motor-vehicle registration or certificate of title under § 31-5-707. Separately, § 31-5-109 lets a local authority require registration and licensing of bicycles and e-bikes, including a registration fee; check the local ordinance.Wyoming Legislature — current Title 31 | No Wyoming motor-vehicle insurance is required for a qualifying e-bike. Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-707(a) provides that an electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle and exempts its operator from Title 31 provisions relating to financial responsibility, so the state's motor-vehicle insurance requirement does not apply. A rider may still choose to carry private liability coverage, which the statute neither requires nor addresses.Wyoming Legislature — current Title 31 |
04 / Helmet & minimum age
Helmet rules and how young a rider can be
| State | Helmet | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Alabama | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Arkansas | Every Class 3 operator or passenger under 21 must wear a helmet meeting or exceeding the bicycle-helmet standard in 16 C.F.R. part 1203.Arkansas General Assembly — Act 956 of 2017 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Arizona | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| California | Every bicycle rider or passenger under 18 must wear an approved, properly fitted and fastened helmet on streets, bikeways, and public bicycle paths or trails. Class 3 operators and passengers must wear one at every age.Cal. Veh. Code §§ 21200–21214.7 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Colorado | Every Class 3 operator and passenger under 18 must wear a properly secured bicycle helmet meeting the named CPSC or ASTM standard. CDOT strongly recommends helmets for every class; the cited statewide e-bike provision states no corresponding Class 1 or Class 2 mandate.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42· Colorado Department of Transportation — E-Bike Safety Campaign | Class 1 and Class 2 have no statewide operator age floor in the cited guidance. A Class 3 operator must be at least 16; a person under 16 may ride only as a passenger on a Class 3 bicycle designed for passengers.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42· Colorado Department of Transportation — E-Bike Safety Campaign |
| Connecticut | Every rider and passenger, at every age and on every class, must wear protective headgear meeting one of the standards named in § 14-289k(f).Connecticut General Assembly — Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 248 e-bike provisions· Connecticut Department of Transportation — E-Bikes: Riding Safely | Class 3 riders must be at least 16. A child under 16 may be a Class 3 passenger if the bicycle is equipped or designed for a passenger. CTDOT says no Connecticut law prohibits children from riding Class 1 or Class 2.Connecticut General Assembly — Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 248 e-bike provisions· Connecticut Department of Transportation — E-Bikes: Riding Safely |
| District of Columbia | Unsettled — see state page | Sixteen. DDOT's current e-bike guide says riders of e-bikes in the District must be at least 16 years old.District Department of Transportation — E-Bike Guide |
| Delaware | Every e-bike operator and passenger under 18 must wear an approved, properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet on property open to or used by the public. Every Class 3 operator and passenger must wear one at any age. The statute provides a religious-conviction affirmative defense.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. §§ 4192-4198Q | A Class 3 operator must be at least 16. A person under 16 may ride only as a passenger on a Class 3 bicycle designed for passengers. The cited e-bike section states no operator-age condition for Class 1 or Class 2.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. §§ 4192-4198Q |
| Florida | An e-bike rider or passenger under 16 must wear a properly fitted, fastened helmet meeting the federal bicycle-helmet standard. Fla. Stat. § 316.20655 gives e-bike operators the duties of bicycle operators, including § 316.2065.Fla. Stat. § 316.20655· Fla. Stat. § 316.2065 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Georgia | Georgia DNR says e-bike riders age 15 or younger must wear a helmet. Separately, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety reproduces O.C.G.A. § 40-6-296's rule that an under-16 bicycle operator or passenger must wear a properly fitted helmet on a highway, bicycle path, bicycle lane, or sidewalk.Georgia DNR state-parks biking guidance· Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety bicycle laws | Class 3 operator age: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-303(b) provides the only operative e-bike operator-age floor: a person under 15 may not operate a Class 3 e-bike, though an under-15 passenger may ride on one designed to carry passengers. HB 454 struck the phrase that would have applied § 40-6-351's under-15 highway provision to electric assisted bicycles, so there is no general under-15 e-bike highway bar.Georgia General Assembly — enacted HB 454 |
| Hawaii | A person under 18 may not operate a bicycle on a street, bikeway, or other public property without a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet meeting the statute's stated testing and protective criteria. Because Act 259 includes an electric bicycle in the bicycle definition, this rule reaches all three e-bike classes.Hawaii State Legislature — HB 2021 HD2 SD2 CD1 (Act 259)· Hawaii State Legislature — HRS § 291C-150 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Iowa | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Idaho | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Illinois | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Indiana | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Kansas | Unsettled — see state page | A Class 3 operator must be at least 16. A person under 16 may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 e-bike designed to accommodate passengers.Kansas Legislature — K.S.A. 8-1592b |
| Kentucky | KRS 189.285's protective-headgear rule applies to specified motorcycle riders and passengers, and the same section expressly excludes a moped from its definition of “motorcycle.” The section contains no separate moped headgear requirement, so its motorcycle helmet mandate does not reach a qualifying moped. Wearing a helmet remains the safe choice.Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 189.285 current section PDF | Age 15 is the earliest statutory credential route: KRS 186.450 allows a person at least 15 to apply for a motor-vehicle instruction permit and expressly lets the holder operate a moped under that permit. KRS 186.410 requires a license before moped operation on a highway.Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.410 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.450 current section PDF |
| Louisiana | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Massachusetts | Riders and passengers age 16 or younger must wear a properly secured helmet meeting federal Consumer Product Safety Commission standards on a public way, bicycle path, or other public right-of-way. An enclosed trailer or comparable protective device is exempt.Massachusetts General Laws c. 85, § 11B¾· Massachusetts General Laws c. 85, § 11B | Unsettled — see state page |
| Maryland | Every operator or passenger under 16 must wear a helmet meeting or exceeding one of the standards named in § 21-1207.1 whenever the bicycle is operated on a highway, bicycle way, or other property open to or used by the public, subject to the Ocean City Boardwalk exception.Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-104· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 21-1207.1 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Maine | Every electric-bicycle operator or passenger under 16 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. The referenced helmet definition requires headgear intended for bicyclists that meets or exceeds Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 2063· Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 2322 | The operator must be at least 16. Maine expressly prohibits a person under 16 from operating Class 2 or Class 3.Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 2063 |
| Michigan | Anyone under 18 who operates or rides as a passenger on a Class 3 e-bike must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet meeting the federal standards named in MCL § 257.662a. That section imposes no class-specific helmet requirement on Class 1 or Class 2.Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.662a | MCL § 257.662a bars an individual under 14 from operating a Class 3 e-bike, although a child under 14 may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 designed for passengers. The section imposes no class-specific minimum operating age on Class 1 or Class 2.Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.662a |
| Minnesota | Unsettled — see state page | An operator must be at least 15 years old. Minn. Stat. § 169.222 expressly prohibits anyone under 15 from operating an electric-assisted bicycle.Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 169.222· Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — E-bikes on state trails |
| Missouri | Unsettled — see state page | Class 3 operators must be at least 16. A person under 16 may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 e-bike designed for passengers. The cited statewide e-bike section states no operator-age condition for Class 1 or Class 2.Missouri Revisor of Statutes — RSMo § 307.194 |
| Mississippi | Unsettled — see state page | Class 3 operators must be at least 16. A person under 16 may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 e-bike designed for passengers. The cited statewide e-bike section states no operator-age condition for Class 1 or Class 2.Mississippi Legislature — HB 1195 (2021), as sent to Governor |
| Montana | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| North Carolina | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| North Dakota | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Nebraska | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| New Hampshire | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| New Jersey | Motorized-bicycle riders must wear an approved helmet at every age. Low-speed riders under 17 fall under the bicycle helmet rule.N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3q· N.J.S.A. 39:4-10.1 | Under 15 may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle.P.L.2025, c.285 |
| New Mexico | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Nevada | No statewide helmet requirement applies to a qualifying e-bike operator or passenger at any age. NRS 486.231 requires headgear for motorcycles and mopeds, while NRS 486.038 and 486.041 expressly exclude electric bicycles defined by NRS 484B.017; Nevada DMV guidance separately says electric bicycles do not require helmet use.Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 486· Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles — Motorcycles and Three-Wheeled Vehicles· Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 484B | Unsettled — see state page |
| New York | Every class 3 operator must wear an approved helmet. The statewide bicycle rule also requires helmets for riders under 14, but e-bike operation is separately prohibited below age 16. Local governments may require helmets more broadly.N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1238· N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1242 | A person under 16 may not operate any class of bicycle with electric assist.N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1242 |
| Ohio | Every class 3 operator and passenger must wear a helmet meeting Consumer Product Safety Commission or ASTM standards.Ohio Revised Code § 4511.522 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Oklahoma | Unsettled — see state page | Class 3 operators must be at least 16. A person under 16 may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 e-bike designed to accommodate passengers. The cited statewide e-bike section states no operator-age condition for Class 1 or Class 2.Oklahoma Legislature — Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47 |
| Oregon | ORS 814.485 requires approved protective headgear for a bicycle operator or rider under 16 on a highway or premises open to the public. Because every lawful e-bike operator is currently at least 16, that provision does not impose a helmet on a lawful operator; an e-bike passenger under 16 must wear one. A religious-belief-or-practice exemption applies.Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 807· Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 814 | At least 16 for Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. ORS 807.020 currently allows each class to be operated without a grant of driving privileges only when the person is 16 or older.Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 807 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania’s pedalcycle helmet law covers riders and passengers under 12, including a child in a restraining seat or trailer (75 Pa.C.S. § 3510). A child under 16 may not operate an e-bike at all under § 3514.75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 35· Pennsylvania DCNR e-bike policy and FAQ | No one under 16 may operate a pedalcycle with electric assist (75 Pa.C.S. § 3514).75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 35 |
| Rhode Island | Every operator or passenger under 21 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet meeting the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standard or a subsequent standard when on a public highway, bicycle trail or path, shared-use path, park or recreational area, school property, or another public right-of-way.Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19.7-3 | Sixteen. R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2.2 says an electric motorized bicycle may not be operated in Rhode Island by a person under age 16; the text does not vary the floor by class.Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2.2 |
| South Carolina | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| South Dakota | A Class III operator under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. Every Class III passenger must wear one regardless of age. The cited e-bike helmet section states no Class I or Class II requirement.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-14 | A Class III operator must be at least 16. A younger person may ride as a passenger if the Class III bicycle is designed to carry a passenger. The cited age section states no minimum age for Class I or Class II.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-13 |
| Tennessee | Every Class 3 operator and passenger, regardless of age, must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet meeting the named federal or ASTM standards, with a label showing compliance.Tennessee Department of Transportation — Tennessee Bicycle Laws | Unsettled — see state page |
| Texas | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| Utah | On a highway, an individual under 21 may not operate or ride an electric assisted bicycle without compliant protective headgear. The adopted bicycle-headgear standard is 16 C.F.R. Part 1203, and violating this section on an e-bike is an infraction with a maximum $25 fine.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-6a-1505 | An operator must be at least 16 for Class 3. A child under 14 may not operate any electric assisted bicycle with the motor engaged on public property, a highway, path, or sidewalk without direct supervision by the child's parent or guardian; a child under eight may not operate there with the motor engaged at all.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-6a-1115.5 |
| Virginia | Every Class 3 operator and passenger must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet meeting the named safety standards. A locality may also require a qualifying helmet for riders and passengers age 14 or younger on highways, sidewalks, or public bicycle paths.Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-904.1· Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-906.1 | Virginia's cited e-bike provisions set no flat minimum age. A person under 14 may operate a Class 3 e-bike only under the immediate supervision of a person who is at least 18; the cited section states no age condition for Class 1 or Class 2.Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-908.1 |
| Vermont | Unsettled — see state page | Vermont sets a minimum age only for the fastest e-bikes: an individual under 16 may not operate a Class 3 electric bicycle, though an under-16 rider may be a passenger on a Class 3 bike designed for passengers. Class 1 and Class 2 have no operator-age floor. Separately, an individual under 16 may not operate a motor-assisted bicycle on a highway.Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136a· Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136 |
| Washington | Washington has no statewide bicycle-helmet mandate. RCW 46.37.530 makes e-bike riders comply with bicycle-helmet laws and regulations, so a local bicycle-helmet rule also applies to e-bikes in that jurisdiction.RCW 46.37.530· WSDOT bicyclist laws and safety guidance | Unsettled — see state page |
| Wisconsin | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
| West Virginia | Every operator or passenger under 15 years old must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet pursuant to West Virginia's Child Bicycle Safety Act.West Virginia Legislature — enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 2062 | Unsettled — see state page |
| Wyoming | Unsettled — see state page | Unsettled — see state page |
05 / Where you can ride
Riding on public roads by state
| State | On public roads |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Unsettled — see state page |
| Alabama | A qualifying e-bike may ride where bicycles are allowed, including streets, roadways, highways, shoulders, and bicycle lanes. Its operator has bicycle rights and duties, and a bicycle rider on a roadway has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver unless an exception applies.Alabama Legislature — Ala. Code § 32-5A-267· Alabama Legislature — Ala. Code § 32-5A-260 |
| Arkansas | Unsettled — see state page |
| Arizona | 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 |
| California | Yes. Cal. Veh. Code § 312.5 subjects e-bike riders to the bicycle rules in Article 4, and § 21200 gives a bicycle rider on a highway the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver unless a provision cannot apply.Cal. Veh. Code § 312.5· Cal. Veh. Code §§ 21200–21214.7 |
| Colorado | Yes, subject to the bicycle framework and local ordinances. An e-bike rider has the rights and duties of other vehicle drivers where those rules can apply; a slower rider generally uses the right-hand lane with statutory exceptions for turns, passing, hazards, and safety margins.Colorado General Assembly OLLS — 2024 C.R.S. Title 42 |
| Connecticut | Yes where bicycles are permitted. On the traveled portion of a highway, an e-bike rider has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver except where the provisions cannot apply. Section 14-286b expressly includes roadway parts set aside for bicycles and e-bikes, subject to traffic rules and local regulation.Connecticut General Assembly — Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 248 e-bike provisions· Connecticut Department of Transportation — E-Bikes: Riding Safely |
| District of Columbia | Yes. DDOT says users of legal e-bikes on roads are treated like users of other bicycles and must follow bicycle and general traffic rules.District Department of Transportation — E-Bike Guide |
| Delaware | A qualifying e-bike has the rights and duties of a bicycle and may ride anywhere bicycles are allowed, including streets, highways, roadways, shoulders, bicycle lanes, and bikeways, subject to other traffic rules and posted restrictions.Delaware General Assembly — 21 Del. C. §§ 4192-4198Q |
| Florida | A qualifying e-bike may ride where bicycles are allowed, including streets, highways, roadways, shoulders, and bicycle lanes. Bicycle roadway-position rules apply, and local governments may regulate e-bikes on roads within their jurisdiction (Fla. Stat. §§ 316.2065 and 316.20655).Fla. Stat. § 316.20655· Fla. Stat. § 316.2065 |
| Georgia | Bicycle rights on roads: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-301 grants electric assisted bicycle operators the rights and duties of bicycle riders. HB 454 struck the phrase that would have applied § 40-6-351's under-15 highway provision to electric assisted bicycles, so there is no general age-15 floor for e-bike highway operation. The current DNR page also confirms Class 1 road access inside state parks where bicycles are allowed.Georgia DNR state-parks biking guidance· Georgia General Assembly — enacted HB 454 |
| Hawaii | Yes, under bicycle rules. On a roadway, a bicycle rider has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver except where special bicycle rules or context say otherwise. Slower riders generally keep near the right curb, roadway edge, or shoulder, subject to the statute's left-turn, hazard, and one-way-road exceptions.Hawaii State Legislature — HB 2021 HD2 SD2 CD1 (Act 259)· Hawaii State Legislature — HRS § 291C-142· Hawaii State Legislature — HRS § 291C-145 |
| Iowa | A qualifying e-bike may operate wherever a bicycle is allowed, expressly including streets, highways, roadways, and shoulders. On a highway, the e-bike rider has the rights and duties Iowa gives a bicycle rider, and the bicycle rider generally has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver.Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.235B· Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code § 321.234 |
| Idaho | Yes where bicycles may travel. Idaho gives an e-bike rider the same rights, privileges, duties, and safety requirements as a bicycle rider, and the current traffic-law section expressly includes e-bike operators and riders. Local ordinances or properly noticed public-agency signs may exclude e-bikes from a location.Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-714· Idaho Legislature — Idaho Code § 49-725 |
| Illinois | A qualifying e-bike may use any highway, street, or roadway authorized for bicycles, including bicycle lanes. The bicycle provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code apply unless § 11-1517 provides otherwise.625 ILCS 5/11-1517 |
| Indiana | Yes where bicycles are permitted. An e-bike operator has the rights, privileges, and duties of a bicycle operator, and a bicycle rider on a roadway generally has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver, subject to bicycle-specific rules and provisions that do not apply by their nature.Indiana General Assembly — 2026 Indiana Code Title 9 |
| Kansas | Yes where bicycles are allowed. K.S.A. 8-1592b expressly includes streets, highways, roadways, and bicycle lanes, while preserving a city's home-rule power to govern e-bike operation on streets, highways, and roadways under its jurisdiction.Kansas Legislature — K.S.A. 8-1592b |
| Kentucky | Yes, with the required operator credential and subject to traffic rules. KRS 186.410 expressly regulates operating a moped “upon a highway,” and KRS 189.010's traffic-code vehicle and motor-vehicle definitions do not exclude mopeds.Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 186.410 current section PDF· Kentucky General Assembly — KRS 189.010 current section PDF |
| Louisiana | Yes where bicycles are allowed. R.S. 32:204 expressly lists streets, highways, and roadways and gives e-bike operators bicycle rights and duties. The bicycle roadway rules require right-side operation subject to safety exceptions and expressly allow shoulder use.Louisiana State Legislature — La. R.S. 32:204· Louisiana State Legislature — La. R.S. 32:197 |
| Massachusetts | It generally has a bicycle's right to use all public ways except limited-access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibit bicycles. State traffic laws, bicycle duties, regulations, and local ordinances still apply.Massachusetts General Laws c. 85, § 11B¾· Massachusetts General Laws c. 85, § 11B |
| Maryland | Yes, subject to bicycle rules and road restrictions. Where there is no smooth-surface bike lane, a bicycle may use the roadway or shoulder. A bicycle generally may not use a roadway posted above 50 mph, although a lawful shoulder rider may enter for the limited movements listed in § 21-1205.1.Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 11-104· Maryland General Assembly — Md. Code, Transportation § 21-1205.1 |
| Maine | For § 2063, “bicycle” expressly includes an electric bicycle. A person riding a bicycle on a way has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle operator, subject to bicycle-specific rules, and may travel on paved shoulders. Riders traveling slower than traffic generally keep to the right except in the listed situations.Maine Legislature — 29-A M.R.S. § 2063 |
| Michigan | MCL § 257.662a allows an electric bicycle on any part of a highway open to bicycles, including bicycle-only lanes and shoulders. A city that prohibits nonemergency motor vehicles and Mackinac Island State Park are statutory exceptions unless the named authority allows e-bikes.Michigan Legislature — MCL § 257.662a |
| Minnesota | Yes, under the bicycle framework. Section 169.222 permits e-bikes to operate like other bicycles, expressly including roadway shoulders, bicycle lanes, and bicycle routes; bicycle traffic duties and the same-direction shoulder rule apply.Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 169.011· Minnesota Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 169.222 |
| Missouri | A qualifying e-bike may travel wherever bicycles are permitted. On a street or highway, its rider has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver, subject to the cited bicycle-specific exceptions. A bicycle lane is therefore available when bicycles are permitted there; the cited statutes do not create e-bike access where bicycles are barred.Missouri Revisor of Statutes — RSMo § 307.194· Missouri Revisor of Statutes — RSMo § 307.188 |
| Mississippi | Yes where bicycles are permitted. Miss. Code § 63-3-1315 expressly lists streets, highways, roadways, and bicycle lanes, while making an e-bike and its operator subject to bicycle rights and duties. MDOT's bicycle guidance says roadway bicyclists have the rights and duties applicable to vehicle drivers, subject to bicycle-specific rules.Mississippi Legislature — HB 1195 (2021), as sent to Governor· Mississippi DOT — Mississippi Bicycle Laws |
| Montana | Yes. As a bicycle, it may operate on a roadway or paved shoulder and receives the rights and duties applicable to other vehicle drivers unless a rule cannot naturally apply. When moving below normal traffic speed, the rider generally uses the right-hand lane or a reasonably safe paved shoulder, subject to the listed exceptions.Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-102· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-602· Montana Legislature — MCA § 61-8-605 |
| North Carolina | On a highway, a qualifying e-bike is deemed a vehicle and its rider is subject to the Chapter 20 rules applicable to vehicle drivers unless a rule cannot naturally apply. Part 10A also includes an electric assisted bicycle in its bicycle definition.N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-4.01· N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-171.1 |
| North Dakota | Yes, under the bicycle framework. North Dakota includes an electric bicycle in its bicycle definition, gives a bicycle rider roadway rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver, and generally directs a bicycle operator to ride as near the right side as practicable while exercising the stated passing care.North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-01· North Dakota Legislative Branch — N.D.C.C. ch. 39-10.1 |
| Nebraska | A qualifying e-bike is a bicycle. On a highway, its operator has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver, subject to bicycle-specific rules and rules that cannot apply by their nature. On a roadway, a slower bicyclist generally rides as near the right edge as practicable, with the listed safety and turning exceptions.Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-611· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,314· Nebraska Legislature — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,317 |
| New Hampshire | A qualifying e-bike may be operated wherever a bicycle may be operated and receives the rights and duties of a bicycle operator. On a way, a slower bicyclist generally must remain as far right as practicable, subject to the statute's listed safety and maneuver exceptions.New Hampshire General Court — RSA 265:144-a· New Hampshire General Court — RSA 265:143· New Hampshire General Court — RSA 265:144 |
| New Jersey | Allowed by state law on streets, highways, roadways, and bicycle paths. A local government or State agency may prohibit it on paths it controls.P.L.2019, c.121 |
| New Mexico | Unsettled — see state page |
| Nevada | A qualifying e-bike may ride wherever bicycles are allowed, including streets, highways, roads, roadways and bicycle lanes. On a roadway the rider has vehicle-driver rights and duties, generally rides as near the right side as practicable subject to stated safety exceptions, and may ride no more than two abreast.Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 484A· Nevada Legislature — NRS Chapter 484B |
| New York | Unless a local rule provides otherwise, a qualifying e-bike may use highways posted at 30 mph or less, including non-interstate public highways, private roads open to motor-vehicle traffic, and designated bicycle or in-line-skate lanes. Local governments may further limit or prohibit e-bikes.N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1242· New York DMV e-bike guidance |
| Ohio | Yes. Ohio R.C. § 4511.55 directs electric-bicycle riders how to operate on roadways: obey vehicle traffic rules, generally ride as far right as practicable, and move away from the edge when staying there would be unreasonable or unsafe. Ohio R.C. § 4511.07 does not let local authorities prohibit bicycles on public streets or highways except as provided for freeways, and Ohio's traffic definition includes electric bicycles within “bicycle.”Ohio Revised Code § 4511.55· Ohio Revised Code § 4511.07· Ohio Revised Code § 4511.01 |
| Oklahoma | A qualifying e-bike may travel wherever bicycles are permitted. On a roadway, a bicycle rider has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver, subject to the bicycle-specific rules, and Oklahoma's definition of “bicycle” includes electric-assisted bicycles unless otherwise specifically indicated. Bicycle lanes are therefore available where bicycles are permitted; local traffic rules and posted restrictions still apply.Oklahoma Legislature — Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47 |
| Oregon | Yes where bicycles are allowed. An e-bike is treated as a bicycle, and a person riding a bicycle on a public way has the rights and duties applicable to other vehicle drivers for highway operation, subject to bicycle-specific rules and posted restrictions.Oregon Legislative Assembly — ORS chapter 814 |
| Pennsylvania | Because a qualifying e-bike is a pedalcycle, its rider has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver on roadways, subject to pedalcycle-specific rules. A pedalcycle may use the highway shoulder in the direction of traffic (75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3501, 3505).75 Pa.C.S. § 102· 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 35 |
| Rhode Island | Yes, subject to ordinary traffic restrictions. Section 31-19-3 gives an electric motorized bicycle rider the rights and duties applicable to other vehicle drivers under chapters 12 through 27 where those rules can apply, and expressly permits highway-shoulder travel except on highways that prohibit bicyclists.Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19-3 |
| South Carolina | Yes, under bicycle road rules. Section 56-5-3520 makes riders of qualifying bicycles with helper motors subject to the statutory provisions applicable to bicyclists; on a roadway, bicyclists receive vehicle-driver rights and duties, generally ride as near the right side as practicable, and may use but need not use the shoulder.South Carolina Legislature — Title 56, Chapter 5 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle or tricycle for the bicycle-regulation chapter and includes electric bicycles in the general term vehicle. On a roadway, the bicycle rule requires riding as close as practicable to the right edge when moving slower than traffic, with exceptions for passing, left turns, hazards, and narrow lanes.South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-9· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-20B-5· South Dakota Legislature — SDCL § 32-14-1 |
| Tennessee | Tennessee generally applies bicycle laws to qualifying e-bikes. Class 1 and Class 2 may use bicycle-authorized parts of streets and highways, including bicycle lanes, shoulders, and berms; local governments and state agencies may now regulate or prohibit them on bicycle-authorized street or highway areas within their jurisdiction.Tennessee Department of Transportation — Tennessee Bicycle Laws· Tennessee General Assembly — SB 1782 / Public Chapter 651 (2026) |
| Texas | Yes on highways used primarily by motor vehicles. Qualifying e-bikes receive the bicycle rights and duties in the rules of the road, including roadway-position rules, and state or local authorities may not prohibit them on those highways.Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551· TxDOT bicycle laws and regulations FAQ |
| Utah | Utah makes an electric assisted bicycle subject to the Traffic Code provisions for a bicycle. The bicycle roadway rule contemplates roadway operation, generally requires riding as near as practicable to the right edge when moving below normal traffic speed, and requires travel in the designated direction.Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-6a-1115.5· Utah Legislature — Utah Code § 41-6a-1105 |
| Virginia | A qualifying e-bike has the rights and duties of a bicycle and may ride where bicycles are allowed, including streets, highways, roads, shoulders, and bicycle lanes. On a highway, the rider also has the rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver unless context says otherwise.Virginia General Assembly — Va. Code § 46.2-904.1 |
| Vermont | Yes. Section 1136a expressly allows a three-class e-bike where bicycles are allowed, including highways and bicycle lanes. Bicycle roadway duties apply, and bicycles may use shoulders of partially controlled-access highways unless the Traffic Committee closes an unsafe portion.Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136a· Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1136· Vermont General Assembly — 23 V.S.A. § 1139 |
| Washington | All three classes may access state highways and park to the same extent as bicycles, subject to limited-access highway restrictions. Classes 1 and 2 may use highway areas designated for bicycles; class 3 may use facilities within or next to a highway.RCW 46.61.710 |
| Wisconsin | Yes where bicycles are allowed. Wisconsin applies bicycle road rights and duties to e-bikes. A slower rider generally keeps as far right as practicable, subject to the listed passing, turning, and safety exceptions, and must obey posted bicycle prohibitions.Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 346.02(4)(a)· Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 346.806· Wisconsin Legislature — Wis. Stat. § 346.80 |
| West Virginia | Yes where bicycle travel is allowed, subject to traffic duties and posted restrictions. Every e-bike operator has the rights, privileges, and duties applicable to a vehicle driver under Chapter 17C; Class 1 and Class 2 also receive traditional-bicycle rights and duties on bicycle-legal roads. No e-bike receives access to a road or area where traditional bicycles are prohibited.West Virginia Legislature — enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 2062 |
| Wyoming | Wyoming supplies an on-road framework: § 31-5-702 gives every e-bike rider all rights and duties applicable to a vehicle driver, except special regulations and provisions that cannot apply. State traffic rules and valid local regulations still govern the ride.Wyoming Legislature — current Title 31 |
Path, sidewalk, and trail access vary within a single state and often turn on local rules. Each state page carries the full access breakdown with the statute beside every answer.
Why some cells are blank on the verdict
An “unsettled” cell is a finding, not a gap
- A cell reads “Unsettled” when the primary sources do not answer the question cleanly for that state—so we mark it rather than assert a verdict we cannot cite.
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