Well done, you passed the first test. 

For an ebike to be a bike and not a motorbike or e-scooter, it needs to have pedals to make it go.

Hmmm, it sounds a lot like a motorbike or moped to us.

To have an ebike without the need for registration, tax, a driving license and helmet, it must:

• have pedals to be pedal-assisted, not ‘twist and go’
• have a maximum motor power output of 250w
• not have a motor that propels the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph

Good to hear! You're on the right track. 

Regular ebikes are also known as pedelecs or pedal-assisted electric bicycles. This means you need to pedal to activate the electrically driven assistance that feels lovely going up a hill.

'Twist and go' ones aren't pedal-assisted, so they're classed as motor vehicles: with all the licensing, tax and insurance needs that come with it.

Although that's fun, that ultimately means it's not classed as a pedelec or pedal-assisted electric bicycle.

'Twist and go' or push-button activated ebikes aren't pedal-assisted so are classed as motor vehicles: with all the licensing, tax and insurance needs that come with it.

Check out more here at the DfT.

Good work - you're on track to a clean sweep.

Any ebike motor that outputs more than 250w - such as on S-pedelecs and R-pedelecs - are classed as motor vehicles in the UK and need all the licensing, tax and insurance that cars do.

That's fun but any ebike motor that outputs more than 250w, such as on S-pedelecs and R-pedelecs, are classed as motor vehicles in the UK and need all the licensing, tax and insurance that cars do.

Check out the Gov.uk here for more about what you need to do now.

Hurrah! Sounds like you passed all the tests and you have an ebike that doesn't require tax or licensing in the UK. You also don't need insurance but we recommend you do consider a specialist policy (such as Bikmo) to cover your ride.

Ebikes that propel you above 15.5mph/25kph are again classed as a motor vehicle - so you need a license, tax and motor insurance.

Sounds like fun but any ebike motor that outputs more than 250w - such as on S-pedelecs and R-pedelecs - are classed as motor vehicles in the UK and need all the licensing, tax and insurance that cars do.

Check out the Gov.uk website here for more about what you need to do now.

That's it. Is yours legal?

Hopefully, this tool helped you understand and remember the Gov.uk rules to avoid your bike needing a license:

• It must have pedals to be a pedelec/EAPC
• It must be pedal-assisted, not ‘twist and go’
• It must have a maximum motor power output of 250w
• The motor must not propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph

Bikmo is a cycle insurance specialist with a mission to protect the world's riders. We can insure legal ebikes and would love the opportunity to protect yours. 

Just click 'submit' and you'll be taken to our bike page, where you can benefit from our 25% discounted pricing* for your ebike.

*minimum premium applies.