10/11/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CEEYC4ZQs/
Think Before Purchasing an E-Bike, E-Moto, or E-Scooter!
New Illinois laws take effect January 1, 2027, and they will establish new requirements for e-bikes, e-motos, e-scooters and other electric micromobility devices.
Before purchasing one of these devices, make sure you understand what you are buying and the laws that apply to it.
Under the new law:
• Class 1 and Class 2 e-bike riders must be at least 15 years old.
• Class 3 e-bike riders must be at least 16 years old.
• E-scooter and other electric micromobility device riders must be at least 16 years old.
• E-bikes and covered electric micromobility devices are prohibited on sidewalks.
• Low-speed e-bikes may be operated on streets, bike lanes, bike paths and shared-use trails, subject to applicable restrictions.
• Some high-speed e-bikes and e-motos will be regulated as motor-driven cycles and will require a valid driver's license, title, registration and insurance.
With the wide variety of electric bikes and motorized devices now being sold, don't assume that something advertised as an “e-bike” is legally an e-bike under Illinois law. Some devices can look like bicycles but may actually fall into a different classification with significantly different requirements. Online marketplaces may advertise motorcycle-style, high-powered devices as “e-bikes,” even though they can fall under the new e-moto/high-speed e-bike regulations. See the Illinois Secretary of State's comparison table: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/traffic-safety/micromobility-in-illinois/know-the-rules.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawU0vMtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMVNiRXFMRmlieUlzYjVkWWNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeVFM9NCjXCEooReAdFAPS7m3uqat7lKKMY3qG10Z7Slm85_ItElA-lRSJyO4_aem_2mbjF0RoBMYYm1iqBrWI8A
