Virginia E-Bike & Scooter Laws
Virginia's three-class e-bike law treats e-bikes as bicycles with no licence or registration, but every Class 3 operator and passenger must wear a helmet at any age, and no one under 14 may ride a Class 3 e-bike or motorized scooter without supervision by someone at least 18.
Virginia uses the three-class e-bike system (definitions at Va. Code § 46.2-100) and treats an electric power-assisted bicycle as a vehicle to the same extent as a bicycle; e-bikes are exempt from driver's license, registration and title requirements. E-bikes may be ridden wherever bicycles are allowed, including roadways, shoulders, bike lanes and shared-use paths. Following notice and a public hearing, a locality or state agency may prohibit Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on a shared-use path for safety reasons; it may prohibit Class 3 e-bikes on such a path outright, and may regulate any class on natural-surface nonmotorized trails (§ 46.2-904.1(F)). HELMETS: every operator AND passenger of a Class 3 e-bike, at any age, must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet meeting current CPSC or ASTM International standards (§ 46.2-904.1(G)). AGE: no person under 14 may drive a Class 3 e-bike, a motorized skateboard or scooter, or an electric personal assistive mobility device unless under the immediate supervision of a person at least 18 years old (§ 46.2-908.1). Motorized skateboards and scooters are regulated separately and may not be operated faster than 20 miles per hour.