E-bikes and speed pedelecs in Romania (2026)
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
In short: A pedal-assist bike with a motor of up to 250 W whose assistance stops at 25 km/h is treated as a bicycle. Riders must be 14, riders under 16 need a helmet on the carriageway, and a cycle path must be used where one exists. Faster e-bikes are still being checked.
| 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) | A rider must be at least 14 years old to ride a bicycle or electric scooter on public roads. [1] |
| HelmetRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | Required for riders under 16 when riding on the carriageway. [1] |
| LicenceRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Plate and insuranceRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | Bicycles are exempt from registration and so carry no registration plate. The law text read does not address insurance. [1] |
| Cycle pathsRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W) | Where a road has a cycle path, bicycles must be ridden only on that path. [1] |
| Legal classRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| 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) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| HelmetRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| LicenceRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| 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
- Art. 6 pct. 10 treats as a bicycle a pedal-assist vehicle with an auxiliary electric motor of up to 250 W continuous rated power whose assistance cuts out when pedalling stops or is progressively reduced and ends before 25 km/h. The same point also mentions 'bicycles with a motor' as defined in Regulation (EU) No 168/2013; how faster e-bikes are treated is not settled by the text read.
- Art. 12(1)(b) lists bicycles among the vehicles that need no registration. Whether pedal-assist bikes need insurance was not checked.
Sources
- Guvernul României (Portal Legislativ, Ministerul Justiției): Ordonanța de urgență nr. 195/2002 privind circulația pe drumurile publice (republicată), forma consolidată (Internet Archive snapshot of 23 June 2026) (consulted 31 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.