Check an electric bicycle’s basic legal criteria
This is a screening tool, not type approval or legal advice. Complete every field and enter continuous rated power, not a marketing “peak” figure.
Appears consistent with the basic EAPC criteria
Approval, construction, use and product-safety requirements can still matter even when these headline criteria are met. A missing or “not sure” answer is not a pass; check the official guidance below.
The criteria the checker uses
In Great Britain, GOV.UK states that an EAPC must have pedals capable of propelling it. The motor’s continuous rated power must be no more than 250 watts and it must not propel the cycle above 15.5mph. The rider must be at least 14.
Required markings identify the manufacturer and continuous rated power, plus either battery voltage or the maximum speed at which the motor can propel the bicycle. Northern Ireland’s official summary uses the same 250W, 15.5mph, pedal and minimum-age headline tests.
Why throttle and off-road modes need care
A throttle or “twist and go” function does not always produce the same legal result. GOV.UK says a cycle that can be propelled without pedalling up to 15.5mph must be approved. The detailed Great Britain guidance says post-January-2016 twist-and-go cycles normally establish this through type approval, while walk assist that does not exceed 3.7mph is outside the scope of type approval.
DfT also says a selectable “off-road” mode that lets the motor propel the vehicle above 15.5mph means the vehicle does not, in its opinion, comply with the EAPC regulations. Check the exact behaviour and approval marking rather than relying on a seller’s “road legal” label.
If the bike falls outside the EAPC rules
In Great Britain, a non-compliant electric bike is classed as a motorcycle or moped. It must be registered, taxed and insured; the rider needs the appropriate driving licence and an approved motorcycle helmet. It cannot be ridden in cycle lanes or on cycle tracks. The official Northern Ireland guidance likewise says a bike outside the EAPC rules is a motorcycle or moped requiring registration, tax, insurance, a licence and a motorcycle helmet.
The 500W proposal did not become law
The government consulted in 2024 on raising the maximum continuous power from 250W to 500W and allowing full throttle assistance without type approval. Its January 2025 outcome said it would not continue with those proposals at that time. The current headline limit remains 250W; a retailer or social post describing the proposal as current law is wrong.
Definitions and live source material
Use the linked publisher pages for the complete dataset, current policy and any revisions made after this RideIn summary.
- GOV.UK: riding an electric bike — the rules↗Public summary for Great Britain.
- DfT and DVSA: EAPC standards and legal requirements↗Detailed Great Britain guidance, including twist-and-go and off-road modes.
- nidirect: electric bikes in Northern Ireland↗Official Northern Ireland guidance.
- DfT: outcome of proposed EAPC rule changes↗The government did not continue with the proposed 500W and throttle changes.