California Passes Two More E-Bike Laws, Increasing Safety
Written by: Rémy Rossi | August 5, 2025 | Time to read 4 min
New e-Bike laws in California aim to increase safety, requiring rear reflectors or lights and banning app-facilitated top speed hacks.
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
There’s not much that feels more liberating than cycling under the California sun, but it’s not a total free-for-all— laws about electric bikes are designed to keep riders safe. Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two new laws that intend to increase the safety of riding an e-Bike. The pair of bills focused on improving e-Bike visibility and curbing illegally fast models in the state. Here’s the latest update on California electric bike laws.
California is playing catch-up
California is trying to stay ahead of the curve of ever-progressing electric bike tech and rider habits— and it’s doing better than most states— but the Golden State is inevitably still lagging behind. The two latest bills are reactionary tweaks to strengthen existing rules about e-Bikes, in order to clarify the law and increase safety.
This type of approach isn’t new for California legislators, who recently tightened up the definition of a Class 3 e-Bike to keep bikes squarely within the three-class system— and crack down on too-fast or unlocked electric bikes. And considering the skyrocketing popularity of electric bikes across the state, frequent updates are necessary to ensure that there’s proper regulation.
This type of approach isn’t new for California legislators, who recently tightened up the definition of a Class 3 e-Bike to keep bikes squarely within the three-class system— and crack down on too-fast or unlocked electric bikes. And considering the skyrocketing popularity of electric bikes across the state, frequent updates are necessary to ensure that there’s proper regulation.
Governor signs two new e-Bike bills
On July 14, 2025, the California Governor approved bills AB 544 and AB 545 focused on e-Bike safety. AB 544 requires that electric bikes have a rear red reflector or flashing red light while riding at night. The aim is to increase nighttime visibility for riders and reduce the possibility of collisions with cars. To be sure, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) already mandates that all bicycles and e-Bikes have front and rear reflectors, but the new California bill says the reflector must be visible from 500 feet away when a car’s headlight shines toward it.
Bill AB 545 received a small tweak or technical clarification regarding the rules against modifying the top speed of electric bikes. An existing law prohibits tampering with an e-Bike to bypass its speed limit (according to the three-class system), but the recent change also makes it illegal to exceed the maximum speed via an app. Class 1 and Class 2 e-Bikes can assist up to 20 mph, while Class 3 e-Bikes can travel up to 28 mph.
Some e-Bike manufacturers include apps that allow riders to “unlock” their e-Bikes to reach speeds beyond the class designation, and other third-party apps may also work to the same effect. This way, all electric bikes sold in the state of a specific class will maintain that designation and keep electric bike top speeds at their legal limits.
Bill AB 545 received a small tweak or technical clarification regarding the rules against modifying the top speed of electric bikes. An existing law prohibits tampering with an e-Bike to bypass its speed limit (according to the three-class system), but the recent change also makes it illegal to exceed the maximum speed via an app. Class 1 and Class 2 e-Bikes can assist up to 20 mph, while Class 3 e-Bikes can travel up to 28 mph.
Some e-Bike manufacturers include apps that allow riders to “unlock” their e-Bikes to reach speeds beyond the class designation, and other third-party apps may also work to the same effect. This way, all electric bikes sold in the state of a specific class will maintain that designation and keep electric bike top speeds at their legal limits.
Southern California “e-Bike” crackdown
The latest news frenzy in the Golden State revolves around a crackdown on illegal “electric bikes”, mainly in the southern part of California. High-powered, fast-accelerating two-wheeled electric vehicles like Surrons are increasingly popular, and occupy a kind of gray area between legal e-Bikes and full-on motorcycles. Most akin to electric dirt bikes, they are far more powerful and quicker than electric bikes, lack operable pedals, and some riders skip out on the required license plates or registration— many users are teenagers. The Santa Monica Police Department recently impounded 12 of these vehicles, explaining that they were “illegal off-highway vehicles”.
🤝 Looking for a sweet deal?
Get an even better discount when you sell your old electric bike!
Click here for a price estimation!
Upway’s Los Angeles UpCenter
Upway opened its first West Coast UpCenter this year in Redondo Beach, meaning the biggest e-Bike deals are even closer than ever. Browse our inventory of electric bikes in Los Angeles for faster and more affordable shipping for California residents!
Key Takeaways
- California passed AB 544, requiring a bright rear red reflector or light on e-Bikes for improved nighttime safety.
- California bill AB 545 now explicitly bans using apps to unlock e-Bikes beyond their legal speed classes.
- Recently, authorities in Southern California have been cracking down on illegal high-powered electric vehicles that fall outside e-Bikes’ legal definitions.
