New Jersey’s new e-bike regulations are going into effect on July 19. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the law’s implementation.

The law — which passed earlier this year under then-lame-duck Gov. Phil Murphy — establishes a slew of new rules for e-biking in the Garden State. They require riders to be at least 15 years old, licensed, registered, and, in some cases, insured.

The bill followed a series of crashes in 2024 and 2025, with its sponsor, state Sen. Nick Scutari, arguing that the increased use of e-bikes called for new regulations to keep riders, motorists and pedestrians safe.

But since the law’s inception, cycling advocates have been critical of the legislation, arguing that it unfairly lumps low-speed e-bikes that go under 20 mph with higher-speed and more dangerous vehicles.

New York legislators have also considered e-bike registration rules, but the chair of that state’s Assembly transportation committee said they won’t happen this year. And city hospitals have seen a spike in crashes involving e-bikes and scooters.

The new definitions under the law

The New Jersey law replaced the three-class e-bike system with just two categories. The first is pedal-assist-only e-bikes that go up to 20 mph. The second includes motorized bicycles and mopeds — bikes that can go up to 21 to 28 mph, or bikes that use throttles to reach up to 15 mph.

Those that go faster than 28 mph are now classified as electric motorized bicycles and regulated like motorcycles.

In most three-class states, e-bikes with speed caps of 20 mph are treated like regular bikes, with no license, registration or insurance required.

Requirements for e-bike riders

According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, any e-bike rider must be at least 15 years old and have a valid driver's license, e-bike license or e-bike permit. Adults with driver’s licenses don’t need any additional license to ride e-bikes in New Jersey.

Motorized bicycles or mopeds — that’s the 21-28 mph category — must be registered and insured.

Lower-speed e-bikes don't need insurance but must still be registered with the MVC.

How they’re licensed and registered

Riders ages 15 and 16, and adults without driver’s licenses, must obtain e-bike licenses through the state Motor Vehicle Commission. Riders must schedule appointments with the MVC to take knowledge tests and get their permits.

If they pass, they have 45 days to complete 20 days of unsupervised practice riding and schedule a road test. Once they pass, they’ll be able to receive their e-bike license.

Those with suspended or revoked licenses will not be able to obtain e-bike licenses.

To register their vehicles, moped riders must first obtain insurance. From there, the process for both e-bikes and mopeds is the same. A rider must schedule a registration appointment and bring 6 points of identification, along with documentation proving vehicle ownership, such as a purchase receipt. If the rider doesn’t have proof of ownership, they can also fill out this affidavit form. They’ll then receive registration stickers to stick onto their e-bikes.

The registration fee for an e-bike is $15, but those fees will be waived until January of 2027.

Who needs insurance (and how to get it)?

Vehicles in the low-speed e-bike category will not need insurance. But those in the moped category will. When the law was first proposed, many insurance companies didn’t have product categories for e-bikes and mopeds. Since then, some insurers have begun to roll out dedicated e-bike and moped insurance. Riders can also check with their regular auto or homeowner's insurer.

Does this affect renting e-bikes in New Jersey?

The law will not affect rented low-speed e-bikes, which go up to 21 miles per hour. According to the MVC, renters of e-bikes must be 16 years old and are not required to possess a driver’s license or an e-bike license.

Cycling advocate and industry reaction

Debra Kagan, executive director of the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition, said the new law doesn’t do enough to regulate the more dangerous high-speed vehicles, and instead unfairly groups low-speed bikes with them when it comes to certain requirements. She said lawmakers should be making it easier, not harder, for people to ride e-bikes.

“These new restrictions and treating low-speed e-bikes as though they were motor vehicles are creating a real economic burden for a lot of people, and a lot of barriers to helping grow a part of our transportation system that really solves some problems, especially replacing short trips that are usually done by cars,” she said. “So instead of trying to support this low-cost, greener, less polluting form of transportation, we've created these barriers and economic barriers to getting an e-bike.”

Kagan also said there’s been confusion about the distinction between the categories, and that confusion may affect enforcement.

Russ White, co-founder of e-bike retailer Princeton E-bikes, said the new rules haven’t affected sales yet, but he worries about the future of the store. He said while regulations are to be expected for new and widespread technology, they shouldn’t create obstacles for low-speed vehicles.

“It'll affect seniors, for example, they have to register their bikes, which is a real pain in the neck at the local DMV,” he said. “The bikes that we sell have a maximum speed under power of 20 miles an hour, and they're ridden by mostly senior citizens, and they use them for Sunday afternoon, and they're caught up in this, and it's just wrong.”

White also said he’s skeptical about how well police will enforce the rules once they’re in effect.

Correction: This story has been updated to correctly describe identification requirements for e-bike licenses, because of an earlier editing error.