NSW e-bike laws in 2026: what is legal now, and what changes in 2029

Motor help on a legal NSW e-bike, by speed

Throttle OK0 to 6 km/hPedal assist only6 to 25 km/hNo motorabove 25 km/h

Power limit: 500 W now; 250 W and EN 15194 from 1 March 2029.

The three tests a legal NSW e-bike has to pass

Transport for NSW sets out the requirements. A road-legal e-bike today must have all three:

1. Power: a maximum continuous rated power of 500 watts (250 watts from 1 March 2029).
2. Speed: a motor that gives no help above 25 km/h.
3. Pedalling: a throttle-only function (the motor driving you without pedalling) that cuts out at 6 km/h.

Fail any one and the bike is illegal, "even if its power or speed is restricted by an app or switch." That last point catches a lot of people. A 1,000 watt bike sold with a switch that limits it to 500 watts is still a 1,000 watt bike in the eyes of the law. So is a bike with a hidden "off-road mode" that unlocks a full-power throttle.

What you can ride in NSW today

Checked 13 October 2026

• Private e-scootersNot allowed

  Illegal in public

• Shared hire e-scootersTrial areas only

  Legal in 2 trial areas

• E-bikesAllowed

  Legal up to 500 W

• Illegal e-bikesIn force

  Can be seized and crushed

• E-bike minimum ageUnder review

  Under review

What changes on 1 March 2029

In February 2026 the Government announced that NSW would adopt EN 15194, the European safety and performance standard for e-bikes, to "ensure e-bikes perform like bicycles, and not motorbikes." Under it:

• the motor's maximum continuous rated power is 250 watts,
• help cuts out at 25 km/h,
• there is no help at all above 6 km/h unless you are pedalling,
• the bike, battery, charger and electrics have to pass the standard's safety tests, including protection against tampering.

The 500 watt limit was introduced in 2023, and the Government estimates about 760,000 e-bikes are now in NSW. To be fair to people who bought under the 2023 rules, it gave a three-year transition: from 1 March 2029 only e-bikes meeting the European standard will be road legal. Until then a 500 watt bike that meets the speed and pedalling tests stays legal.

The practical advice from Transport for NSW is simple: if you are buying now, "choose a bike that complies with European Standard EN 15194, it's legal now and in the future." Look for the EN 15194 EPAC mark, or ask the shop in writing. Our EN 15194 explainer covers what the mark means.

Riding rules: the same as a pushbike

A legal e-bike is a bicycle, so bicycle road rules apply:

• Helmet: an approved helmet, securely fitted and fastened.
• Footpaths: if you are 16 or older you cannot ride on the footpath, unless you are supervising a child under 16 who is riding. Children under 16 can ride on footpaths.
• Passengers: only as many people as the bike is designed to carry, and a passenger must wear a helmet too.
• Roads: e-bikes can use roads, bike lanes, bike paths and shared paths like any bicycle. There is no separate e-bike speed limit on roads; the posted limit and the 25 km/h motor cut-out apply.
• Licence and registration: none, for a legal e-bike.
• Alcohol: riding a bicycle under the influence is an offence, and a court can fine or jail you for it.

There is currently no minimum age to ride a legal e-bike in NSW. A review is due to set one between 12 and 16; see the age limit page.

Illegal e-bikes: seize and crush

The Road Transport Amendment (Non-registrable Motor Vehicles) Act 2026 passed Parliament on 28 May 2026 and was assented to on 1 June 2026. Its seize-and-dispose powers took effect on 21 August 2026. Police and authorised officers can now stop and inspect a suspected illegal device, seize it if they reasonably suspect it was ridden on a road or public place in the last 28 days, and have it destroyed if it is not returned through the legal process. The Government's line: "If it behaves like a motorbike, it's probably illegal and could end up in the crusher." Detail on the seizure laws.

NSW is also the first state to use roadside "dyno" units, which test whether an e-bike's motor keeps pushing past 25 km/h.

Fat bikes, throttles and "e-motorbikes"

The bikes most often caught are the heavy fat-tyre models with a twist throttle. They are not illegal because of their tyres. They are illegal when the throttle drives them above 6 km/h without pedalling, when the motor keeps helping above 25 km/h, or when the motor is over 500 watts. Bicycle NSW told the ABC that common high-powered models often start at 1,000 watts. Many of these bikes are sold online with a legal mode and an unlocked mode; the unlocked mode is what makes them illegal.

If you already own one, check three things: the rated power printed on the motor, whether the throttle works above walking pace, and whether the display lets you change the speed limit. If any fails, the bike can only be ridden on private property.

Trains, metros and batteries

Modified e-bikes are banned from NSW trains and metros, and new safety standards apply to the lithium-ion batteries sold for e-bikes and e-scooters. NSW Fair Trading's battery standards for sellers came in before October 2024, with penalties of up to $825,000 for sellers who breach them.

Common questions