Short answer: no licence, no insurance, no tax and no registration — provided the bike meets the EAPC rules. Here is exactly what those are, and the three things that quietly take a bike outside them.
The rules, in full
Under UK law an electric bike is an EAPC — an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle — if its motor is rated at no more than 250W continuous, assistance cuts out at 15.5mph, and the rider is 14 or over. Meet those and it is legally a bicycle: no licence, no registration, no insurance, no road tax.
There are two more conditions people forget. The bike must have working pedals that drive it, and the motor’s power rating and either its manufacturer or the battery voltage must be marked on it. A machine without pedals is not a bicycle in law no matter what the seller calls it.
The three things that take a bike outside the rules
1. A throttle that works above walking pace
A throttle is allowed only as walk assist, up to 6km/h (3.7mph) — enough to help you push the bike up a ramp. A twist-and-go throttle that propels you at riding speed without pedalling needs full type approval, which makes the machine a moped in law: licence, insurance, registration plate, helmet, MOT. Many bikes sold online from outside the UK have exactly this throttle.
2. More than 250W continuous
Note the word continuous. A motor can have a much higher peak output and still be legal — peak is the short burst it can deliver, continuous is what it sustains. A bike advertised as “750W” or “1000W” continuous is not road-legal in the UK, whoever is selling it.
3. Assistance past 15.5mph
You may pedal an EAPC as fast as you like. The motor must stop helping at 15.5mph. Bikes sold with a “dongle”, an unlock code or a menu option to remove the limiter are being sold to be made illegal, and removing the limiter also voids the manufacturer’s warranty and, almost certainly, your home insurance cover for the bike.
What was going to change, and did not
In 2024 the government consulted on raising the limit to 500W and legalising twist-and-go throttles. That proposal was dropped in February 2025. The 250W and 15.5mph limits still stand. If you read an article suggesting otherwise, check its date.
Where you can ride
- Roads and cycle lanes: yes, anywhere a bicycle may go.
- Bridleways: yes in England and Wales — the same right of way as a pedal cycle, giving way to horses and walkers.
- Footpaths and pavements: no, same as any bicycle.
- Scotland: broader access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act, exercised responsibly.
Insurance: not required, often worth it
You are not legally obliged to insure an EAPC. But an e-bike is a two to ten thousand pound object that is easy to steal, and most home contents policies cap bicycle cover well below that or exclude it away from the home entirely. Check the single-item limit on your policy before you assume you are covered. Specialist cycle insurance typically costs a few pounds a month and covers theft away from home, accidental damage and third-party liability.
If you are buying secondhand
The seller’s description is not a legal defence. Check the motor rating marked on the housing, check the throttle behaviour, and be suspicious of anything imported directly. If a machine turns out to be a moped in law, you are the one riding it uninsured.
Every electric bike we sell is inside the EAPC limits — 250W continuous, assistance to 15.5mph, no throttle beyond walk assist.