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Colorado e-bike and e-trike laws

✓ Last verifiedVerified Sep 2026Every rule links to the statute or state agency page
In short

Yes. Colorado's e-bike law expressly covers vehicles with two or three wheels, so a pedal e-trike with a motor of 750 watts or less needs no license, registration or insurance. Ride it on roads and bike lanes, and on Class 1 or 2 bike paths unless the city or county bans e-bikes there. Adults do not need a helmet under state law.

Does an e-trike count as an e-bike here? Yes.
License
No driver's license, registration or insurance is needed; e-bikes are excluded from the definition of motor vehicle.
Helmet
Riders and passengers under 18 on a Class 3 must wear a properly fastened bicycle helmet; no state helmet requirement for Class 1/2 or adults. (Class 3)
Minimum age
You must be at least 16 to ride a Class 3 on streets or paths (younger riders may be passengers on one built for passengers); no state minimum age for Class 1/2. (Class 3)
Where you can ride
E-bike riders have the same rights and duties as other drivers on roads, and within cities and towns they are subject to local ordinances.
Sidewalks
No statewide ban; you may not ride on a sidewalk where signs or local ordinances prohibit it, and you must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing.
Three wheels

Does an e-trike count as an e-bike?

Yes
“Electrical assisted bicycle" means a vehicle having two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor not exceeding seven hundred fifty watts of power.”
C.R.S. § 42-1-102(28.5)(a) (as amended by HB25-1197) ↗
Classes

The e-bike classes

Class 1
Up to 750WAssist to 20 mphNo throttle
C.R.S. § 42-1-102(28.5)(a)(I) ↗
Class 2
Up to 750WAssist to 20 mphThrottle allowed to 20 mph
C.R.S. § 42-1-102(28.5)(a)(II) ↗
Class 3
Up to 750WAssist to 28 mphNo throttle
C.R.S. § 42-1-102(28.5)(a)(III) ↗
Outside the classes
Treated as a low-power scooter (electric up to 4,476 W, up to three wheels) or motorcycle/motor vehicle above that.
driver's license or minor driver's licenseregistrationhelmet under 18 (low-power scooter)for a motorcycle: motorcycle endorsement, title, registration, insurance
A vehicle that does not meet the e-bike definition is not exempt. An electric vehicle designed mainly for roadways with up to 3 wheels, no manual clutch and up to 4,476 W is a 'low-power scooter': the operator needs a driver's license, it must be registered ($5 fee), and it may not be ridden on interstates. Larger ones fall under motorcycle/motor vehicle rules. Insurance for low-power scooters was not confirmed.
Trikes in our guide

How the trikes we list are treated in Colorado

136 of the 191 trikes we list fit Colorado's e-bike rules on their published figures. 11 need checking before you buy, and 44 don't publish enough to tell. We check motor power, top speed and the stated class. Not legal advice.

Show the 136 that fit the rules
The rules

Every rule, with its source

License
  • No driver's license, registration or insurance is needed; e-bikes are excluded from the definition of motor vehicle. C.R.S. § 42-1-102(58)(a) ↗
Helmet
  • Class 3 Riders and passengers under 18 on a Class 3 must wear a properly fastened bicycle helmet; no state helmet requirement for Class 1/2 or adults. C.R.S. § 42-4-1412(15)(b) ↗
Minimum age
  • Class 3 You must be at least 16 to ride a Class 3 on streets or paths (younger riders may be passengers on one built for passengers); no state minimum age for Class 1/2. C.R.S. § 42-4-1412(15)(a) ↗
Where you can ride
  • E-bike riders have the same rights and duties as other drivers on roads, and within cities and towns they are subject to local ordinances. C.R.S. § 42-4-1412(1) ↗
Sidewalks
  • No statewide ban; you may not ride on a sidewalk where signs or local ordinances prohibit it, and you must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing. C.R.S. § 42-4-1412(10) ↗
Bike paths and trails
  • Class 1 Class 1 and 2 e-bikes may use bike and pedestrian paths where bicycles are allowed, but a local authority may ban them on its paths. C.R.S. § 42-4-1412(14)(a) ↗
  • Class 3 Class 3 e-bikes may not use bike or pedestrian paths unless the path is within a street or highway or the local authority allows them. C.R.S. § 42-4-1412(14)(b) ↗
Passengers
Labels
  • E-bikes must carry a class label; from Jan 1, 2027, multiple-mode e-bikes must also show the highest class or each class they can operate in. Sellers must not label or advertise non-qualifying vehicles as e-bikes without a written 'not an electrical assisted bicycle' disclosure, and e-bike batteries must be certified by an accredited lab. C.R.S. § 42-4-221(9)(c), (10)(d), (12)-(14) (HB25-1197) ↗
Changes and local rules

What's new, and what cities add

Statutes and sources
Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42 (2024 official printout) ↗HB25-1197 bill page ↗HB25-1197 signed act (PDF) ↗
What we couldn't confirm from official sources (4)
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife e-bike rules in state parks (generally reported as Class 1/2 allowed where bikes are allowed, Class 3 limited) were not confirmed; the CPW e-bike page URLs tried returned 404.
  • The effective date of 2025-08-06 is calculated from the bill's 90-day petition clause (2025 session adjourned May 7, 2025) and was not read from an official effective-date notice.
  • Whether low-power scooters need liability insurance was not confirmed.
  • HB26-1237 (enacted 2026) bars stopping or parking in bike lanes; not reviewed in detail.

This page explains the law in plain language. It is not legal advice. Cities, counties and park agencies can add their own rules; check posted signs and confirm with your state before you ride.

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