E-bikes and speed pedelecs in Croatia (2026)
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
In short: Croatia treats an electric bicycle with pedals and a motor of at most 0.25 kW assisting up to 25 km/h as a bicycle: riders must be 14, need no driving licence, and wear a helmet only under 16. A pedal vehicle above those limits counts as a moped and needs category AM.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Legal classRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | Bicycle rules [1] |
| Assistance stops atRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | up to 25 km/h (design speed) [1] |
| Minimum ageRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | 14 years to ride a bicycle on the road. [2] |
| HelmetRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | Required for cyclists under 16 and for persons under 16 carried on a bicycle. Not required for anyone else. [2] |
| LicenceRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | No driving licence required. [3] |
| Plate and insuranceRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Cycle pathsRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | Cyclists must use a cycle path or cycle lane in their direction of travel and, where there is none, keep as close as possible to the right edge of the carriageway. [2] |
| Legal classRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | Moped or motor vehicle rules [3] |
| Assistance stops atRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Minimum ageRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | 15 years (category AM). [4] |
| HelmetRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | A protective helmet is compulsory for the driver and any passenger of a moped. [5] |
| LicenceRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | Driving licence category AM. [4] |
| Plate and insuranceRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Cycle pathsRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- The Act defines a bicycle as a vehicle with at least two wheels that is moved by the rider's power alone, or that has pedals and an auxiliary electric motor with a maximum continuous power of 0.25 kW, assisting progressively less until it stops at 25 km/h or earlier if the rider stops pedalling (Art. 2(1) point 49, as amended by NN 80/2013). The police notice of 14 April 2017 adds that an electric bicycle needs no registration and no driving licence.
- Children from 9 years may cycle on their own on the road if they hold a school certificate of cycling training; other children from 9 may do so only accompanied by a person aged 16 or over (Art. 215(2), unchanged by NN 85/2022).
- Not stated in the sources read.
- Croatia has no separate speed-pedelec class. A pedal vehicle whose motor exceeds 0.25 kW or assists beyond 25 km/h counts as a moped (police notice of 14 April 2017). The moped design-speed limit is stated differently in the Act as published (50 km/h) and in the police notice (45 km/h), so it is not given here.
Sources
- Narodne novine d.d. (narodne-novine.nn.hr): Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o sigurnosti prometa na cestama (NN 80/2013) (consulted 31 October 2026) · all sources
- Narodne novine d.d. (narodne-novine.nn.hr): Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o sigurnosti prometa na cestama (NN 85/2022) (consulted 31 October 2026) · all sources
- Policijska uprava osječko-baranjska (Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova): Obavijest u vezi električnih bicikala (published 14 April 2017) (consulted 31 October 2026) · all sources
- Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova Republike Hrvatske (mup.gov.hr): 32. S koliko se godina može upisati u autoškolu i razlikuje li se dobna granica s obzirom na kategorije vozila? (quotes Article 217 of the Road Traffic Safety Act) (consulted 31 October 2026) · all sources
- Narodne novine d.d. (narodne-novine.nn.hr): Zakon o sigurnosti prometa na cestama (NN 67/2008, as published; amendments NN 85/2022, 114/2022, 145/2024 also read) (consulted 31 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.