One of the benefits of having an E-bike is that you do not need a licence to ride it, plus it does not need to be registered, taxed, or insured. We have seen a number of couriers manually alter the E-bike motors. Not only is this incredibly dangerous for yourself but also for members of the public. It’s also illegal and can lead to hefty fines from the police. It can also lead to your account being revoked.

What counts as an E-bike:

It must show:

• The power output or the manufacturer of the motor
• The battery’s voltage or the maximum speed of the bike

It’s electric motor:

• Must have a maximum power output of 250 watts
• Should not be able to propel the bike when it’s traveling more than 15.5mph

Any electric bike that does not meet the above rules is classed as a motorcycle or moped and needs to be registered and taxed. You can do this through the Gov.uk website. You’ll need a driving licence to ride one and you must wear a helmet.

Where you can ride your E-bike

If an e-bike meets the requirements it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. So you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed.

E-bike regulations

It’s important to know the the legislation around e-bikes, so you avoid having your e-bike seized by local police.

The police are able to seize illegal bikes under S165 Road Traffic Act 1988 and these will then be destroyed. Keep note that current regulations are as follows;

• The power on the motor or battery must NOT exceed 250 watts.
• A motor in excess of 250 watts is classed as a motor vehicle.
• Motor vehicles are subject to Road Traffic Laws. Therefore under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, illegal e-bikes above 250 watts will be SEIZED for no insurance. You could then be fined.
• E-bikes should not go over 3.7 mph / 5.95km/h unassisted. This means without pedalling.
• The maximum speed at which the motor can propel the bike whilst pedalling must not exceed 15.5 mph / 24.94 km/h.