Speedy E-Bikes Join Motorcycles With Insurance, Registration Requirements

In June 2026, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation imposing new regulatory requirements on high-speed electric bicycles, e-scooters, and similar battery-powered vehicles, which may include registration, licensing, or traffic rules similar to those applicable to motor vehicles. 

Legislators passed these laws hoping to address an increase in emergency room visits by riders of high-speed electric vehicles. Their goal is to improve safety on Illinois roads.

Illinois Rules for Motorcycle Licenses and Registration

Illinois requires motor vehicles, including motorcycles, to be registered and titled under the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5) before taking them out on the state’s roads. Registration typically requires proof of Illinois residency, proof of ownership of the motorcycle, and completed forms available through the Illinois Secretary of State. Motorcycle owners must also pay a registration fee, along with any other fees or taxes that apply. Many dealerships will take care of title, registration, and tax paperwork, but private sellers typically won’t.

Motorcyclists must have a valid Illinois Class M or Class L motorcycle license or endorsement, as issued by the Illinois Secretary of State, to legally operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle in Illinois. (Note: individuals without an existing Illinois driver’s license may obtain a standalone Class M or Class L motorcycle license by presenting proof of identification and residency.)

In Illinois, a Class M license allows the holder to operate motorcycles over 150 CC; holders of a Class M license may also operate smaller motorcycles under 150 CC, which are otherwise covered under Class L.

Those who meet the minimum age requirement and hold a valid Illinois driver’s license may apply for a Class M or Class L motorcycle instruction permit, valid for a specified period under Illinois law. The permit allows you to operate a motorcycle with certain restrictions, such as only riding in the daylight hours and under the direct supervision of a licensed motorcyclist at least 21 years of age.  

How Do the New Rules Apply to E-Bikes?

The new law applies to “high-speed electric bicycles” as defined in the legislation. Before the new legislation, Illinois had no regulations for these vehicles. Low-speed electric bicycles and scooters were regulated, but high-speed versions were not.

The new rules treat high-speed e-bikes like motorcycles. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and title for the bike. They must register the e-bike with the Secretary of State and purchase insurance that meets Illinois’s minimum requirements, just like motorcyclists. Riders of high-speed electric scooters must be 16 years old or older. They may not operate scooters on sidewalks, but they can use bike paths, bike lanes, and roads with speed limits of 35 mph or under. High-speed electric scooters can also be ridden on roads with higher speed limits if the road has a bike lane, which the scooter must use. 

Obeying the State’s Drunk Driving Laws on Two Wheels

Motorcyclists, high-speed e-bike riders, and e-scooter riders must also follow another important set of Illinois road laws: the rules that govern drunk driving.

“Alcohol is the number one killer on American roadways,” notes the Illinois Secretary of State website dedicated to facts about driving under the influence (DUI). Motorcyclists and riders of similar vehicles can be seriously injured by drunk drivers. Even a fully sober biker cannot control the actions of others on the road. A drunk driver is more likely to hit a motorcyclist without seeing the bike, to speed dangerously, and to take other reckless actions a motorcyclist, e-bicyclist, or e-scooter rider cannot predict. 

Risks can be particularly high at intersections. Over 50 percent of all motorcycle collisions happen at intersections, according to the Illinois Secretary of State. Crashes in which a vehicle turns left into the path of a motorcyclist are common and deadly. Riders of high-speed e-bikes and scooters will also need to watch out for this hazard, and drivers on Illinois roads must watch out for electric vehicles as well as motorcycles.

Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Today

Nationwide, car crash death and injury rates have declined slightly in recent years. The rate of deaths in motorcycle accidents, however, has jumped. Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to be killed in a crash than vehicle passengers. Researchers are still gathering statistics about high-speed e-bike crashes, but the risks of riding these vehicles are similar to the risks of being on a motorcycle. It is reasonable to assume that the consequences of a crash will be similarly deadly or life-altering. 

If you’re injured while on a motorcycle, e-bike, or scooter, you have options. Talk to the attorneys at Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg today. We are located at 205 W Randolph St., Suite 925, Chicago, IL 60606. Call our office today at (312) 222-0010.