Do e-bikes and mopeds require registration?
Last verified: 2026-06-20
Art. 18 VTS defines “mopeds”, among others, as single-seat, single-track vehicles with a design speed of up to 30 km/h and a power of at most 1.0 kW — with a combustion engine (displacement up to 50 cm³) or with an electric drive plus any pedal assistance acting up to a maximum of 45 km/h. “Light mopeds” have an electric drive of at most 0.5 kW, a design speed of up to 20 km/h and pedal assistance up to a maximum of 25 km/h.
| Type | Pedal assistance | Licence plate? | Driving licence? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow e-bike (light moped) | up to 25 km/h | No | Only 14–16 years (cat. M) |
| Fast e-bike | up to 45 km/h | Yes (yellow) + registration document | Yes (at least cat. M) |
| Moped | up to 30 km/h | Yes (yellow) + registration document | Yes (at least cat. M) |
Fast e-bikes and mopeds additionally need an annually renewed e-bike/moped vignette (liability insurance). For slow e-bikes, liability is often covered by private liability insurance.
Speedometer requirement for new e-bikes: new e-bikes; retrofit obligation for existing ones by 1 April 2027 (As of: 2024-04-01)
Sources
- VTS (SR 741.41), Art. 18 – Mopeds — Fedlex – Swiss Federal Law
- Cycling and e-biking in Switzerland — ch.ch – Swiss Confederation
- Rules on the admission and operation of mopeds and slow e-bikes — ASTRA – Federal Roads Office