🇬🇧 Riding laws in the United Kingdom
Privately owned e-scooters are still illegal on public roads and pavements in Great Britain; only rental e-scooters in official trial areas in England may be ridden. E-bikes that meet the EAPC rules (250 W, assistance up to 15.5 mph, rider aged 14+) count as ordinary bicycles, while anything faster or more powerful is a moped or motorcycle that must be approved, registered, taxed and insured.
Checked 9 Nov 2026. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice.
Electric scooters
Stand-up e-scooters (personal light electric vehicles).
| Status | Private land only |
|---|---|
| Where to ride | Private land only, with the landowner's permission; never on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes or other public places. |
| Notes | In law an e-scooter is a motor vehicle, and a private one cannot be insured, so riding it in public usually means a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points for no insurance, and police can seize it. The only legal exception is rental e-scooters in official trial areas in England, now extended to 31 May 2028: max 15.5 mph (25 km/h) and 500 W, full or provisional licence with category Q (given with AM, A or B), helmet recommended, operator insurance, roads (not motorways) and cycle lanes only, never pavements. No law legalising private e-scooters had been passed by November 2026. Northern Ireland: no rental trials, and e-scooters are illegal on roads and in public places. |
Pedal-assist e-bikes (EPAC)
Motor helps only while you pedal, up to 25 km/h and 250 W rated power.
| Status | Allowed on public roads |
|---|---|
| Speed limit | 25 km/h (16 mph) |
| Power limit | 250 W rated |
| Minimum age | 14 |
| Helmet | Recommended, not required |
| Insurance | No |
| Plate or sticker | No |
| Licence | Not required for adults |
| Where to ride | Roads, cycle lanes, cycle tracks and anywhere else pedal cycles are allowed; not on pavements or motorways. |
| Notes | Motor assistance must cut out at 15.5 mph (25 km/h), and the bike must be marked with its power, maker and battery voltage or top speed. A throttle that moves the bike without pedalling is only allowed if the bike is type-approved; otherwise, like any e-bike over 250 W or 15.5 mph, it is legally a moped. Dangerous cycling currently carries a fine of up to £2,500 (careless cycling £1,000). The Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Royal Assent 29 April 2026) adds offences across Great Britain such as causing death by dangerous cycling (up to life imprisonment), but they were not yet in force on 9 November 2026. Plans to allow 500 W motors and throttles were dropped in January 2025. Northern Ireland: same rules, minimum age 14. |
Speed pedelecs
Pedal assist up to 45 km/h, type-approved as L1e-B.
The United Kingdom has no separate class for these: moped rules apply.
Mopeds and light e-motos
Up to 45 km/h: e-mopeds, throttle e-bikes and approved light e-motos.
| Status | Allowed under moped or motorcycle rules |
|---|---|
| Speed limit | 45 km/h (28 mph) |
| Power limit | 4,000 W rated |
| Minimum age | 16 |
| Helmet | Required |
| Insurance | Yes |
| Plate or sticker | Yes |
| Licence | AM (learners: CBT plus a provisional licence and L plates) |
| Approval | EU type approval |
| Where to ride | Public roads only; not on motorways, pavements, cycle tracks or cycle lanes. |
| Notes | Speed pedelecs (pedal assistance up to 45 km/h, L1e-B) have no separate category and are treated as mopeds, as are e-bikes that fail the EAPC rules (over 250 W, assistance above 15.5 mph or an unapproved throttle): they need approval, registration, tax, insurance, a licence and a motorcycle helmet. A car test passed on or after 1 February 2001 plus CBT gives full moped entitlement; older car licences already cover mopeds. Riding an uninsured e-bike or moped usually means a £300 fixed penalty and 6 points, and police can seize it; since 29 June 2026 police in England and Wales can seize vehicles ridden antisocially without a prior warning. Northern Ireland: same AM category (DVA licences), but a CBT certificate is needed even with a car licence unless you hold a full motorcycle category. |
Motorcycles
Faster electric motorbikes, such as L3e-A1 models.
| Status | Allowed under moped or motorcycle rules |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 17 |
| Helmet | Required |
| Insurance | Yes |
| Plate or sticker | Yes |
| Licence | A1 up to 11 kW from 17, A2 up to 35 kW from 19, A above that (learners: CBT plus a provisional licence and L plates) |
| Approval | EU type approval |
| Where to ride | Public roads, including motorways once you hold a full licence; learners may not use motorways. |
| Notes | A1 covers motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW with a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.1 kW/kg. After CBT, learners aged 17+ may ride up to 125 cc and 11 kW with L plates (D plates in Wales) and no pillion passenger, and must pass the full test within 2 years or retake CBT. Helmets must meet BS 6658, UNECE 22.05 or 22.06; Sikhs wearing a turban are exempt. A government consultation on CBT and licence reform closed on 11 May 2026 with no changes made yet. Northern Ireland: same categories via DVA; vehicles on L plates are limited to 45 mph and newly qualified riders must display R plates. |
Models we cover, as sold
| ADO Air 20S | Not confirmed |
|---|---|
| ADO Air 28 Pro | Road-legal |
| ADO Air 30 Pro | Road-legal |
| Ampler Nova | Road-legal |
| Ausom DT2 Pro | Not road-legal as sold |
| Ausom F1 Max | Not road-legal as sold |
| Ausom L1 | Not road-legal as sold |
| Ausom L1 ABE | Not road-legal as sold |
| Brompton Electric C Line with Advance Roller Frame - e-Motiq system - 4-speed | Road-legal |
| BTWIN E-Fold 500 | Road-legal |
| Canyon Precede:ON 6 | Road-legal |
| Carrera Crossfuse | Road-legal |
| Cowboy Cross | Road-legal |
| Cowboy Cruiser | Road-legal |
| Cube Kathmandu Hybrid Pro 800 | Road-legal |
| DYU C6 | Not confirmed |
| DYU D3S | Road-legal |
| Egret Pro FX | Not road-legal as sold |
| Eleglide Mopride 2 | Road-legal |
| ENGWE E26 | Road-legal |
| ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0 | Not confirmed |
| ENGWE Engine X | Not confirmed |
| ENGWE EP-2 Boost | Road-legal |
| ENGWE EP-2 Pro | Not confirmed |
| ENGWE L20 3.0 Boost | Road-legal |
| ENGWE M20 | Not confirmed |
| ENGWE N1 Pro | Road-legal |
| ENGWE P20 | Not confirmed |
| ENGWE P275 Pro | Road-legal |
| ENGWE X26 | Not confirmed |
| Fafrees F20 Pro | Road-legal |
| Fiido Air | Road-legal |
| Fiido C11 Pro | Road-legal |
| Fiido C21 | Road-legal |
| Fiido D11 | Road-legal |
| Fiido M1 Pro | Road-legal |
| Fiido Titan | Road-legal |
| Fiido X | Road-legal |
| Gazelle Ultimate C380 | Road-legal |
| Hiboy MAX Pro | Not road-legal as sold |
| Himiway C5 Ultra | Road-legal |
| Himiway D5 (Zebra) | Not confirmed |
| iENYRID M4 Pro S+ | Not road-legal as sold |
| iENYRID M4 Pro S+ Max | Not road-legal as sold |
| iScooter i9Max | Not road-legal as sold |
| isinwheel S9Pro ABE | Not road-legal as sold |
| JOBOBIKE Sam | Not confirmed |
| Joyor S5 Pro ABE | Not road-legal as sold |
| Kaabo Mantis 10 Plus | Not road-legal as sold |
| Kawasaki Z e-1 | Road-legal with conditions |
| KuKirin G2 | Not road-legal as sold |
| KuKirin G2 Max | Not road-legal as sold |
| KuKirin G2 Pro | Not road-legal as sold |
| KuKirin G3 | Not road-legal as sold |
| KuKirin G4 | Not road-legal as sold |
| Lankeleisi X3000Plus-UP | Not confirmed |
| Maeving RM1 | Road-legal with conditions |
| Maeving RM1S | Road-legal with conditions |
| MATE X EVO | Road-legal |
| Mukuta 10 Plus | Not road-legal as sold |
| NAVEE N65i II | Not road-legal as sold |
| NAVEE N65i II (German version) | Not road-legal as sold |
| NIU KQi 300X | Not road-legal as sold |
| NIU KQi Air | Not road-legal as sold |
| NIU KQi Air DE | Not road-legal as sold |
| NIU KQi3 Pro | Not road-legal as sold |
| NIU KQi3 Pro DE | Not road-legal as sold |
| OneSport OT05 | Road-legal |
| OUXI V8 | Not confirmed |
| Pure Air⁶ Suspension | Not road-legal as sold |
| Rockrider E-EXPL 100 | Not confirmed |
| SAMEBIKE CY20 | Not confirmed |
| Segway Ninebot E2 Pro E | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway Ninebot F2 Pro E | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway Ninebot F3 E | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway Ninebot Max G2 E | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway Ninebot Max G3 D | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway Ninebot Max G3 E | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway SuperScooter GT3 E | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway ZT3 Pro D | Not road-legal as sold |
| Segway ZT3 Pro E | Not road-legal as sold |
| SoFlow SO4 Pro Max 2 | Not road-legal as sold |
| Specialized Turbo Vado 3 4.0 | Not confirmed |
| Stark VARG EX | Road-legal with conditions |
| Stark VARG MX 1.2 | Not road-legal as sold |
| Stromer ST3 Pinion | Road-legal with conditions |
| Super Soco TC Max | Road-legal with conditions |
| Sur-Ron Light Bee L1e | Road-legal with conditions |
| Sur-Ron Light Bee X | Not road-legal as sold |
| Sur-Ron Storm Bee | Not confirmed |
| Sur-Ron Ultra Bee HP T | Not confirmed |
| Sur-Ron Ultra Bee HP X | Not road-legal as sold |
| Talaria Sting R MX4 | Not road-legal as sold |
| Talaria X3 MX Pro | Not road-legal as sold |
| Talaria XXX L1e | Road-legal with conditions |
| Tern GSD S10 (Gen 3) | Road-legal |
| Touroll J1 ST | Road-legal |
| Urban Arrow Family Active Line Plus | Road-legal |
| VanMoof S6 | Road-legal |
| VSETT 9+ | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 5 | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 5 DE | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 5 Max | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 5 Max DE | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 5 Pro | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 5 Pro DE | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 | Not road-legal as sold |
| Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 Pro | Not road-legal as sold |
| Zoom Stryder | Not road-legal as sold |
Official sources
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/powered-transporters/information-sheet-guidance-on-powered-transporters
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rental-e-scooter-trials/rental-e-scooter-trials
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/663/made
- https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-without-insurance
- https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/24/made
- https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/smarter-regulation-proposed-changes-to-legislation-for-electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-act-2026-factsheets/crime-and-policing-act-2026-dangerous-cycling-offences-factsheet
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/section/141
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0042026-crime-and-policing-act-2026/circular-0042026-crime-and-policing-act-2026-accessible
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/30/section/59
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2013/168/annex/I
- https://www.gov.uk/ride-motorcycle-moped/bike-categories-ages-and-licence-requirements
- https://www.gov.uk/cbt-compulsory-basic-training
- https://www.gov.uk/cbt-compulsory-basic-training/cbt-if-you-have-a-car-driving-licence
- https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-helmet-law
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-motorcyclists-83-to-88
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/motorways-253-to-273
- https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-moped-and-motorcycle-training-testing-and-licensing
- https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/electric-bikes-electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles
- https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/minister-thanks-community-sharing-their-concerns-about-e-scooters
- https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/information-moped-riders
- https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/minimum-ages-and-rules-learner-drivers-and-riders
- https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/motor-vehicle-documentation-learner-and-restricted-driver-requirements