New Jersey Cracks Down on E-Bikes, Becoming the First State to Require Licensing, Registration, and Insurance

New Jersey’s newly signed 2026 e-bike law has ignited widespread controversy across the cycling industry, advocacy community, and mobility sector. The legislation eliminates the long-standing three-class e-bike framework and replaces it with a motor-vehicle-style regulatory system that treats electric bicycles like mopeds.

In January 2026, Governor Phil Murphy signed S4834/A6235 into law, creating sweeping new requirements for both “low-speed electric bicycles” and “motorized bicycles.”

Electric bicycle Riders will be required to obtain a license, register their bike, and carry insurance through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC).

E-bike riders have until July 19, 2026, to comply. NJMVC procedures for licensing and registration are still under development.

As a result, everyday e-bike riders — including commuters, seniors, delivery workers, and teens- will soon face requirements that were never intended for low-speed bicycles.

What the 2026 New Jersey E-Bike Law Requires

New Jersey’s 2026 e-bike law fundamentally changes how electric bicycles are regulated in the state. Instead of treating low-speed e-bikes like traditional bicycles, the new law places them into a motor vehicle-style compliance system.

Under the new legislation:

1.  New Jersey redefines “low-speed electric bicycle” as pedal-assist-only (two wheels, assist only while pedaling, with assistance ending at 20 mph) and creates separate categories for motorized bicycles and high-powered “electric motorized bicycles.”
   
   
2. Riders must be at least 15 years old to operate a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle.
   
   
3. Riders 17 and older must have a basic driver’s license, a motorized bicycle license, or a permit.
   
   
4. Riders ages 15 and 16, and anyone without a driver’s license, must obtain a motorized bicycle license or permit by passing a test on traffic laws and safe operation.
   
   
5. Low-speed electric bicycles and motorized bicycles must be registered with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission before being operated on public highways or public lands.
   
   
6. When operating a low-speed electric bicycle with the motor engaged on public highways, riders must carry their driver’s license, registration certificate, and insurance identification card.
   
   
7. Existing owners are given a six-month compliance window, with a deadline of July 19, 2026, to obtain required documentation.
   
   
8. Examination, licensing, and registration fees are waived for the first year after the law takes effect.
   
   
9. Violations of the document-carry requirement may result in a fine of up to $50, though courts may dismiss the charge if valid documents are later produced.
   
   
10. Riders renting shared low-speed electric bicycles through municipal programs are exempt from licensing requirements if the operator is at least 16 years old.
    
    
11. For one year following the law’s effective date, New Jersey bans the online sale of “electric motorized bicycles,” targeting high-powered devices marketed as e-bikes.
    
    

In practical terms, New Jersey is shifting low-speed e-bikes into a motor-vehicle regulatory framework, even though many riders use them as everyday bicycles for commuting and transportation.

Helmet Requirements Under New Jersey’s New E-Bike Law

Helmet requirements in New Jersey now depend on how an electric bike is classified.

Under New Jersey law (Title 39:4-10.1), anyone under 17 years old riding a bicycle or a low-speed electric bicycle must wear a safety helmet.

Riders of motorized bicycles (mopeds or high-speed e-bikes) must wear a helmet at all times, regardless of age. These helmets must meet motor vehicle safety standards.

Because the 2026 law expands the definition of motorized bicycles, more riders may now be required to wear DOT-approved motorcycle helmets instead of standard bicycle helmets.

Why the New Jersey Law Is So Controversial

The law was passed in response to rising concern about high-powered electric motorcycles being marketed as e-bikes and ridden by teenagers. Governor Phil Murphy signed the bill on January 19, 2026, citing several recent fatal crashes involving electric bikes in Scotch Plains and Orange. He said New Jersey’s e-bike laws had not been updated in six years and that rising usage required new safety regulations.

The bill passed the Senate 27–11 and the Assembly 52–10 and was sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari.

But critics say the bill wildly overreaches.

By deleting the e-bike class system entirely, New Jersey has swept every pedal-assist and throttle e-bike into moped regulation, including 20 mph commuter bikes designed to replace car trips.

Advocates warn this creates:

• A major barrier to affordable transportation
  
  
• A blow to small bike shops that rely on e-bike sales and service
  
  
• A patchwork of incompatible state laws
  
  
• A chilling effect on clean transportation adoption
  
  

A rider from New York or Pennsylvania will soon be unable to legally cross into New Jersey on their e-bike without a driver’s license, registration, and insurance.

Accessibility and Equity Concerns

The law also raises serious access issues.

E-bikes have become a critical mobility tool for:

• People with disabilities
  
  
• Seniors
  
  
• Low-vision riders
  
  
• People who cannot obtain a driver’s license
  
  
• Workers who rely on e-bikes for delivery jobs
  
  

Requiring a driver’s license and insurance for a bicycle eliminates e-bike access for many of these riders entirely. Insuring a vehicle without a driver’s license is often difficult or impossible.

Advocates argue the law effectively discriminates against people who rely on e-bikes as their primary form of transportation.

A National Bicycle Industry at Risk

Over the past decade, the cycling industry worked state by state to establish the three-class e-bike system that distinguishes low-speed pedal-assist bicycles from electric mopeds and motorcycles.

New Jersey is now the first state to dismantle that framework entirely.

There is growing concern that other states could follow suit, creating a fragmented regulatory landscape that undermines consumer confidence, interstate travel, and manufacturer compliance.

New Jersey is now the only state in the country that requires e-bike insurance for low-speed e-bikes.

Forty-five states regulate e-bikes using the three-class system promoted by PeopleForBikes and based on the federal low-speed electric bicycle law.

Washington State, by contrast, is currently considering legislation that would preserve e-bike protections while cracking down on high-powered electric motorcycles masquerading as bicycles.

The Throttle Debate

In the wake of New Jersey’s law, some commentators have called for removing throttle-equipped bikes from the e-bike definition entirely, grouping them instead with mopeds.

Supporters argue this would help draw a clearer line between bicycles and electric motorcycles.

But disability advocates and accessibility groups warn that throttles serve legitimate mobility needs and that banning them would leave many riders behind.