As of 27 June, a supplemented Rulebook on the Classification of Motor Vehicles and Trailers has been implemented in Serbia, introducing new regulations for electric bicycles and other electric two-wheelers.
The changes establish a clearer distinction between electric bicycles and mopeds. Consequently, a portion of the vehicles that have hitherto been used without specific administrative requirements will now have to be registered and meet the conditions prescribed for mopeds.
The most significant update relates to the method of vehicle propulsion. Under the new rules, the decisive factor is not whether an electric two-wheeler has pedals, but whether the motor serves exclusively as an assist during pedalling or allows for independent riding without turning the pedals.
This means that numerous models equipped with a throttle lever or button, which allows them to move without any physical effort from the rider, no longer fall into the category of electric bicycles and are legally treated as mopeds.
The new regulations will particularly impact delivery riders, as well as citizens who use more powerful electric bicycles for daily commuting or those who have retrofitted their vehicles to increase performance.
An electric bicycle remains in the K3 category only if it is propelled by the rider’s physical effort via pedals, while the electric motor serves exclusively as an assist. The motor power must not exceed 0.25 kilowatts, and the motor assistance must automatically cut out when the rider stops pedalling or when the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 kilometres per hour.
When an electric bicycle becomes a moped
On the other hand, electric two-wheelers that can move without pedalling are no longer considered bicycles.
If a vehicle has the capacity for independent propulsion via a throttle lever or button, it is classified under the L1 category, i.e. as a moped, provided its maximum design speed does not exceed 45 kilometres per hour and the electric motor power is up to four kilowatts.
In other words, pedals are no longer sufficient for a vehicle to be classified as a bicycle if it can also be ridden without using them.
What this means for owners
This change in classification brings new legal obligations.
To operate a moped, a rider requires at least an AM category driving licence, while drivers holding a category B (car) licence automatically acquire the right to ride mopeds as well.
In addition, the vehicle must be registered, pass a technical inspection, hold a compulsory third-party insurance policy, and display a registration plate alongside a valid registration decal.
Unlike ordinary cyclists, moped riders are legally required to wear a properly fastened, type-approved safety helmet while riding.
Delivery riders and modified bicycles under scrutiny
The new rules could have the greatest impact on food and courier delivery riders who use electric two-wheelers for work, as well as owners who have retrofitted their bicycles to increase speed or power.
Such modifications often mean the vehicle reaches speeds for which the brakes, frame, and other components were not designed, thereby posing an additional safety risk.
It is precisely for this reason that the police now have a clear legal basis to treat such models as mopeds or motorcycles, rather than bicycles.
What about the “walk-assist” function?
The only feature that currently remains an exception is the so-called push-assist function, known as “walk-assist”.
This refers to a mode in which the electric bicycle moves at walking pace while being pushed by the user, most commonly uphill or over an obstacle.
According to the current interpretation of the regulations, this function does not alter the vehicle’s classification, as it is not intended for riding without pedalling, but solely to make pushing the vehicle easier. Therefore, models that only feature this option – provided they meet all other prescribed conditions – will continue to be categorised as electric bicycles.
(eKapija, 08.07.2026)
https://www.ekapija.com/news/5599345/pocela-da-vaze-nova-pravila-za-elektricne-bicikle-u-srbiji