E-bikes and speed pedelecs in Switzerland (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: An e-bike with assistance up to 25 km/h (Leicht-Motorfahrrad) needs no driving licence and no helmet and may be ridden from age 16, or from 14 with category M. A fast e-bike with assistance up to 45 km/h is a moped (Motorfahrrad): it needs category M, a helmet, a number plate and insurance.

RuleWhat applies
Legal classRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W)⚠ Not yet verified
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)16 years. A holder of special licence category M or G may ride from age 14. [2]
HelmetRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W)No helmet duty for a Motorfahrrad with an electric drive that assists only up to 25 km/h. [3]
LicenceRiding on public roads; Pedelec (assistance up to 25 km/h, 250 W)No driving licence needed. [2]
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)Where the sign 'Radweg' (2.60) is posted, riders of bicycles and Motorfahrräder must use the marked path. [4]
Legal classRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h)Moped or motor vehicle rules [1]
Assistance stops atRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h)up to 45 km/h (design speed) [1]
Minimum ageRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h)14 years, with special licence category M. [2]
HelmetRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h)A helmet is required. A bicycle helmet to standard SN EN 1078 is allowed on a Motorfahrrad. [3]
LicenceRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h)Special licence category M is needed. The licence exemption in VZV Art. 5 covers only Leicht-Motorfahrräder. [2]
Plate and insuranceRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h)A registration certificate for Motorfahrräder, a number plate and an insurance vignette are required, and liability insurance is compulsory. [2]
Cycle pathsRiding on public roads; Speed pedelec (assistance above 25 km/h, up to 45 km/h)Where the sign 'Radweg' (2.60) is posted, riders of bicycles and Motorfahrräder must use the marked path. [4]

Notes

  • Swiss law classes e-bikes with assistance up to 25 km/h as Leicht-Motorfahrräder, a sub-class of Motorfahrräder with exemptions from the licence duty, plates and the helmet duty. None of the listed values fits exactly, so no value is shown.
  • Leicht-Motorfahrräder also have a motor power of at most 0.50 kW and a total weight of at most 250 kg.
  • VZV Art. 72 Abs. 1 Bst. k exempts Leicht-Motorfahrräder from the registration certificate and number plates. The insurance rule was not found in the texts read, so no combined value is shown.
  • The sign obliges riders of bicycles and Motorfahrräder. Under VTS Art. 18, Motorfahrräder include both the 25 km/h and the 45 km/h e-bike classes.
  • The fast e-bike is a fast moped (schnelles Motorfahrrad) with motor-only design speed up to 30 km/h and motor power up to 1.00 kW.
  • Art. 6 Abs. 4 lets the cantonal authority grant category M earlier in some cases.
  • Exceptions include riders with a medical certificate (Art. 3b Abs. 2 Bst. f). The exception for electric drives applies only up to 25 km/h assistance (Bst. g).
  • The sign obliges riders of bicycles and Motorfahrräder. Whether other rules limit fast e-bikes on cycle paths was not read.

Sources

  1. Fedlex, Die Veröffentlichungsplattform des Bundesrechts (Swiss Confederation): Verordnung über die technischen Anforderungen an Strassenfahrzeuge (VTS), SR 741.41 (Stand am 1. Januar 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Fedlex, Die Veröffentlichungsplattform des Bundesrechts (Swiss Confederation): Verordnung über die Zulassung von Personen und Fahrzeugen zum Strassenverkehr (Verkehrszulassungsverordnung, VZV), SR 741.51 (Stand am 1. Januar 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Fedlex, Die Veröffentlichungsplattform des Bundesrechts (Swiss Confederation): Verkehrsregelnverordnung (VRV), SR 741.11 (Stand am 1. Oktober 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  4. Fedlex, Die Veröffentlichungsplattform des Bundesrechts (Swiss Confederation): Signalisationsverordnung (SSV), SR 741.21 (Stand am 1. Oktober 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.