A new bill is making its way through parliament that could change what you're legally allowed to buy, sell, and ride on UK roads. If you've been keeping an eye on the e-bike space — or you're considering getting into two-wheeled transport for the first time — this one's worth understanding.

Here's what's going on, what it means, and how to make sure you're on the right side of the law.

What Is the EAPC Bill?

The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Bill was introduced in January 2026 by Labour MP Julie Minns. In plain terms, it's designed to ban the sale and supply of e-bikes that don't meet the UK's legal definition of an electrically assisted pedal cycle — and, crucially, the conversion kits used to turn ordinary bicycles into vehicles that exceed those limits.

You might have seen these bikes around. They look like regular bicycles. They're ridden on cycle paths and pavements. But under the skin, they've been modified to go far faster and push far more power than the law allows. MPs pushing the bill have called them "monster bikes" — and the name gives you a sense of the concern.

The bill isn't yet law, but it's gathering momentum, and the direction of travel from government is clear: the tolerance for illegal e-bikes on UK roads is running out.

What Are the Current Rules?

To legally ride an e-bike on UK roads without a licence or registration, it must meet three conditions:

1. The motor must not exceed 250 watts of continuous rated power
2. Electrical assistance must cut off once you reach 15.5mph (25km/h)
3. The bike must have pedals capable of propelling it

An e-bike meeting these criteria is classified as an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC). You can ride it on cycle paths and roads, you don't need a licence, and it doesn't need to be registered or insured as a motor vehicle.

The moment a bike exceeds those limits — whether through a more powerful motor, a throttle that bypasses the speed cut-off, or a conversion kit bolted on after purchase — it is no longer legally an e-bike. It becomes a motor vehicle. And that changes everything.

So What Happens If Your E-Bike Isn't Legal?

If your e-bike exceeds those limits, it falls into motor vehicle territory. That means:

• You need a licence to ride it — at minimum a CBT certificate to ride on the road
• It must be registered with the DVLA
• It must be insured as a motor vehicle
• L-plates are required unless you hold a full motorcycle licence

Riding one without these in place isn't just a technicality. It's riding uninsured, unlicensed, and unregistered — all of which carry serious penalties.

The EAPC Bill won't change these underlying rules. What it aims to do is cut off the supply of the illegal bikes and kits in the first place, before they end up on the road.

Why This Matters Beyond E-Bikes

The conversation around the EAPC Bill is really a conversation about something bigger: the line between cycling and motorcycling, and what happens when that line gets blurry.

Powerful e-bikes that don't meet the EAPC definition are, functionally, small motorcycles. They accelerate quickly, reach speeds that far exceed 15.5mph, and share roads with cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. The problem is that many people riding them have no training, no licence, and no real understanding of the responsibilities that come with riding a motor vehicle.

This matters to road safety. And it matters to the wider riding community, who rightly feel that unregulated, undertrained riders on powerful bikes give two wheels a bad name.

If you're riding something that sits in a grey area, the EAPC Bill is a signal that that grey area is getting a lot smaller.

The Cleaner Path: Getting Your CBT

If you're currently riding — or thinking about riding — something that exceeds e-bike limits, there's a straightforward answer: get your CBT certificate.

CBT training is a one-day course that qualifies you to legally ride a motorcycle or scooter up to 125cc on UK roads. You don't need any prior experience. You don't need to have ridden before. You just need a valid provisional or full licence, suitable clothing, and to be at least 16 years old.

For anyone who's been riding an e-bike that's in the grey zone, completing a CBT also opens up the option of legitimately upgrading to a 125cc — a class of bike that genuinely gives you more freedom, more power, and more capability than any modified e-bike, but with the safety knowledge and legal standing to back it up.

Plenty of riders make exactly this transition: they start thinking about e-bikes as a commuting solution, realise the legal and practical limits, and decide that doing it properly with a CBT certificate is the smarter move. The cost is similar to a high-end e-bike. The outcome is considerably better.

What About the Proposed Power Increase?

You might have read about a separate government consultation — one that proposed raising the permitted motor power for EAPCs from 250W to 500W. This would have allowed more powerful e-bikes to remain classified as bicycles without needing registration or a licence.

That proposal has faced significant pushback from cycling safety groups and hasn't been enacted. As of now, the 250W limit remains. Any bike exceeding it is a motor vehicle.

The EAPC Bill from parliament moves in the opposite direction entirely — tightening up enforcement rather than expanding what's permitted. The two proposals represent genuinely different views of where e-bikes should fit in the transport landscape, and the debate is ongoing. But for now: the rules haven't changed, and the crackdown on bikes that break them is intensifying.

The Bottom Line

The EAPC Bill is a sign of where policy is heading. The UK wants cleaner roads, safer cyclists, and a clear distinction between bicycles and motor vehicles. Bikes that blur that line — regardless of what they look like — are going to face increasing scrutiny.

If you're on an e-bike that meets the legal definition, you've got nothing to worry about. If you're not sure whether yours does — or if you're already riding something that you suspect sits outside those limits — now is a good time to get that answered.

And if the answer is that what you're riding requires a licence? Getting a CBT certificate is simpler, cheaper, and more straightforward than most people expect. You could have it done in a day.

Find a CBT course near you and get on the right side of the road — legally.

Not sure whether you need a CBT or something else? Take our Getting Started quiz — a few quick questions and we'll tell you exactly where to begin.