California e-bike laws divide electric bicycles into three classes, set age and helmet rules for each, and limit where some e-bikes can ride. If you ride an e-bike in Burbank, Glendale or anywhere in Los Angeles County, knowing these rules can keep you safe and protect your rights if a driver hits you.
Here are the key ebike laws California riders should know:
- Three classes: Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are limited to 20 mph of motor assistance, and Class 3 e-bikes to 28 mph.
- 750-watt limit: A legal e-bike must have working pedals and a motor of no more than 750 watts.
- No license or registration is required for a legal Class 1, 2 or 3 e-bike.
- Helmets: Required for all riders under 18, and for every Class 3 rider and passenger at any age.
- Class 3 age limit: Riders must be at least 16.
These rules apply statewide, but cities and counties can add their own rules for bike paths, trails and sidewalks.
The 3 Classes of E-Bikes in California
California Vehicle Code § 312.5 defines an electric bicycle and sorts it into one of three classes. The class decides where you can ride and who can ride it. Here’s how they compare:
| Class | How the motor works | Top assisted speed | Minimum age | Helmet required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Pedal-assist only, no throttle | 20 mph | None statewide | Under 18 |
| Class 2 | Throttle allowed | 20 mph | None statewide | Under 18 |
| Class 3 | Pedal-assist only; must have a speedometer | 28 mph | 16 | All riders and passengers |
Every legal e-bike must carry a permanent label showing its class, top assisted speed and motor wattage. If a bike goes faster or has a stronger motor than these limits allow, it is not an e-bike under California law. It may be treated as a moped or motorcycle, which requires a license, registration and insurance.
Age, Helmet and License Rules
California’s e-bike rules focus on younger riders and on the faster Class 3 bikes. Keep these rules in mind:
- Helmets for minors: Anyone under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet on any e-bike, as a rider or a passenger.
- Class 3 helmets: Every Class 3 rider and passenger must wear a helmet, regardless of age.
- Class 3 age: Riders must be at least 16. Since January 1, 2026, selling a Class 3 e-bike to someone under 16 is an infraction.
- No license or registration: Legal Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes don’t need a driver’s license, DMV registration or insurance.
If an e-bike has been modified to go faster than its class allows, these exemptions may no longer apply, and the rider may need a motorcycle license and registration.
Where You Can and Can’t Ride an E-Bike
E-bike riders generally have the same rights and duties as regular bicycle riders on California roads. Where you can ride depends on the class and on local rules:
- Streets and bike lanes: All three classes can ride on streets and in bike lanes.
- Bike paths and trails: Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are generally allowed. Class 3 e-bikes are usually not allowed on bike paths or trails unless the local agency permits them.
- Parks and trails: Cities, counties and park agencies can restrict certain classes on their property.
- Sidewalks: Sidewalk riding is mostly regulated by each city, so the rules in Burbank may differ from Glendale or Los Angeles.
Before riding on a path, trail or sidewalk, check posted signs and your city’s rules. Riding where e-bikes aren’t allowed can lead to a ticket, and insurers may use it to argue you were partly at fault after a crash.
Recent Changes to California E-Bike Laws
California has updated its e-bike laws several times in the past two years. Here are the changes riders should know about:
- AB 1774 (2025): Bans modifying an e-bike so it no longer fits its class, and bans selling devices or software designed to do that.
- SB 1271 (2025): Updated the e-bike definition and set battery and electrical safety standards, with testing and labeling requirements. Rules for rental e-bikes start in 2028.
- AB 544 (2026): Requires a red rear reflector or light at all times, not just at night.
- AB 965 (2026): Makes it an infraction to sell a Class 3 e-bike to anyone under 16.
- Local pilots: Marin County and San Diego County can set stricter age rules for younger riders under pilot programs.
More changes are scheduled for 2027, including stronger labeling rules aimed at stopping high-powered “e-motos” from being sold as e-bikes, and new speed limits on paths and sidewalks. Laws change often, so check the California DMV or the California Legislative Information website for the latest rules.
E-Bikes vs. Electric Scooters and E-Motos
Not every electric vehicle on two wheels is an e-bike. The rules depend on what you’re riding:
- Electric scooters (including rental Lime and Bird scooters) are covered by separate motorized scooter rules. Riders need a driver’s license or permit, can’t ride on sidewalks, and riders under 18 must wear a helmet.
- E-motos and modified e-bikes that exceed 750 watts or the class speed limits are not legal e-bikes. They may need a motorcycle license, registration and insurance, and can be impounded.
If you were hurt on a rental scooter or by someone riding an e-moto, the rules that apply to the rider, the rental company and the vehicle can all affect your claim.
Who Is at Fault in an E-Bike Accident?
Fault in an e-bike crash depends on who failed to use reasonable care. Common causes include drivers turning left in front of riders, opening a car door into a bike lane, or failing to see a rider at an intersection.
California follows a pure comparative fault rule. If you were partly at fault, for example by riding a Class 3 e-bike on a trail where it isn’t allowed, your compensation may be reduced by your share of the blame, but you can still recover the rest. Not wearing a required helmet can also be raised by the insurance company if you suffered a head injury.
Depending on what happened, the driver’s auto insurance, a business whose employee caused the crash, or a rental company may be responsible. Your own auto policy’s uninsured motorist coverage may also help if a driver had no insurance or left the scene.
What to Do After an E-Bike or Scooter Accident
The steps you take right after a crash protect both your health and your claim. If you were hurt on an e-bike or scooter in Burbank or Glendale, follow these steps:
- Get to safety and call 911. Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine. Head and back injuries don’t always show up immediately.
- Get a police report. Ask the Burbank Police Department, Glendale Police Department or CHP for a report number.
- Photograph everything: the scene, the vehicles, your e-bike and its class label, your helmet and your injuries.
- Get the driver’s information and the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
- Keep your e-bike and helmet as they are. Don’t repair or throw them away, because they may be evidence.
- Save your records: medical bills, repair estimates, and any rental app receipts if you were on a rental bike or scooter.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.
In California, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, and only six months to file a claim if a city vehicle or a dangerous public road was involved.
Hurt in an E-Bike Crash? When to Talk to an E-Bike Accident Lawyer
E-bike riders can suffer serious injuries, including broken bones, head injuries and road rash, even at moderate speeds. Insurance companies often try to blame riders, especially if the e-bike’s class or the riding location is in question.
An e-bike accident lawyer can review the crash, identify every insurance policy that may apply and push back when the insurer tries to shift blame. Learn more on our Burbank bicycle accident lawyer page, or read Do Bicycles Have to Stop at Stop Signs in California?
The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti helps injured riders in Burbank, Glendale and throughout Los Angeles County. We offer a free case review, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (626) 793-8607, 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions About California E-Bike Laws
Here are answers to common questions about electric bike laws in California.
Do you need a license for an e-bike in California?
No. You don’t need a driver’s license, registration or insurance for a legal Class 1, 2 or 3 e-bike. If the bike exceeds 750 watts or the class speed limits, it may be treated as a moped or motorcycle that requires a license.
How old do you have to be to ride an e-bike in California?
There’s no statewide minimum age for Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes. Class 3 riders must be at least 16. Some counties, like Marin and San Diego, can set stricter age rules.
Do you have to wear a helmet on an e-bike in California?
Riders and passengers under 18 must wear a helmet on any e-bike. Everyone riding a Class 3 e-bike must wear a helmet, regardless of age.
Can you ride an e-bike on the sidewalk in California?
It depends on the city. Sidewalk riding is mostly regulated locally, so check the rules in Burbank, Glendale or wherever you ride.
Who pays if a car hits me on an e-bike?
Usually the at-fault driver’s auto insurance. If the driver had no insurance or fled, your own uninsured motorist coverage may help. A lawyer can identify every policy that applies.
Can I still recover if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Often, yes. Under California’s pure comparative fault rule, the insurer may argue that a helmet would have reduced a head injury, but that does not erase compensation for other injuries the crash caused.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by jurisdiction and change over time. Speak to a qualified attorney about your own situation.
