Last updated: May 2026. The public comment period closes June 7, 2026.
Ontario is about to overhaul how e-bikes are defined, classified, and regulated. On April 23, 2026, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) posted a proposal that would create two distinct classes of power-assisted bicycles, formally separate moped and motorcycle-style vehicles from "real" e-bikes, and introduce a 12-month education period before enforcement begins. If you ride an e-bike in Ontario, are thinking about buying one, or already own one, here's exactly what's changing and what it means for you.
The short version
Ontario will split e-bikes into Class 1 (pedal-assist only, max 55 kg) and Class 2 (pedal-assist or throttle, max 120 kg). Both classes must have an exposed bicycle frame and functional pedals. Anything that looks like a moped or motorcycle, the high-power, throttle-only machines that have flooded the market, will be reclassified and require a motorcycle licence (M or M2-L), insurance, and registration. The good news: properly designed e-bikes from established brands stay legal, stay licence-free, and stay on the path you'd expect them to be on.
Why Ontario is updating the e-bike rules
The current definition dates back to when the Highway Traffic Act first recognized e-bikes as a permanent vehicle type. Since then, the market has changed dramatically. The MTO points to several drivers behind the modernization:
- Safety. A 55 kg pedal-assist commuter and a 90 kg throttle-only "e-moto" don't behave the same way on the road, but today's law treats them identically.
- Clarity for everyone. Riders, retailers, municipalities, and police all need clear lines on what's an e-bike and what isn't.
- Keeping pace with the market. Federal e-bike definitions were repealed in 2021, leaving Ontario's framework outdated.
- Supporting active transportation. Properly defined e-bikes reduce emissions, ease congestion, and connect riders to transit.
The Office of the Chief Coroner's E-Bike Death Review also flagged the need for distinct classifications, speed enforcement, and better data, which is reflected in this proposal.
Class 1 e-bikes: what they are
Class 1 e-bikes are the lightweight, pedal-assist commuters and city bikes most North American buyers picture when they hear "e-bike."
- Pedal-assist only (a 6 km/h walk-assist function is permitted)
- Maximum weight: 55 kg
- Maximum assisted speed and motor power remain consistent with current rules (32 km/h, 500 W)
- Must have an exposed bicycle frame with no body panels
- Must have permanent, functional pedals or hand cranks
- No licence, no insurance, no registration required
Class 2 e-bikes: what they are
Class 2 covers heavier, more capable e-bikes, including throttle-equipped models, fat-tire adventure bikes, and most cargo e-bikes.
- Pedal-assist or throttle permitted
- Maximum weight: 120 kg
- Same speed and power ceilings (32 km/h, 500 W)
- Same requirement for an exposed bicycle frame and functional pedals
- No licence, no insurance, no registration required
This is where you'll find Aventon Aventure, Level and Sinch step-throughs, NCM fat-tire models, Velotric Nomad and Packer cargo bikes, and most utility / family-hauling rigs. Class 2 keeps throttles legal, which is a relief for riders with mobility considerations or those who use a throttle to launch from stoplights with cargo or passengers.
What's getting reclassified: mopeds, e-scooters, and motorcycle-style "e-bikes"
This is the headline change. The fast, throttle-only, body-paneled machines being sold online as "e-bikes," often capable of 50+ km/h with no real pedaling possible, will no longer qualify as bicycles under Ontario law. Under the proposal, they'll be defined as electric mopeds, scooters, or motorcycle-style vehicles, which means riders will need:
- An M or M2-L motorcycle licence
- Vehicle registration
- Insurance
If you bought a no-name "e-bike" off a marketplace site that hits 60 km/h on a throttle and has no functional pedals, this proposal is squarely aimed at it. This is the category the Canadian Electric Bicycle Association and Velo Canada Bikes have been raising alarms about: vehicles being sold as bicycles that are functionally electric mopeds, with no operator training, registration, or insurance behind the rider.
The 12-month education period: nothing changes overnight
The MTO is proposing a 12-month education and awareness period after the regulation passes, giving riders, retailers, manufacturers, and municipalities time to understand and comply with the new rules. So even if the regulation is finalized later this year, you have time to plan, and so does Ontario's enforcement community.
What this means if you already own an e-bike
If you bought your e-bike from a reputable Canadian retailer, you're almost certainly fine. Brands sold by established Ontario shops, Aventon, Gazelle, Cannondale, Velotric, NCM, Bulls, Cube, were already engineered to comply with bicycle-class regulations. Your bike has functional pedals, an exposed frame, and a 500 W / 32 km/h ceiling. It will fall cleanly into Class 1 or Class 2.
If you're not sure where your bike sits, look for three things: weight under 120 kg, an exposed frame (no scooter-style body panels), and pedals you can actually ride with the motor off. If all three check out, you're in.
What this means if you're shopping for an e-bike right now
Buy from a retailer who can tell you what class your bike falls into and back it up with the manufacturer's specifications. Avoid online marketplace listings that gloss over weight, pedal functionality, or top speed. The cheap "e-bike" that arrives in a box from an unknown brand is exactly the product Ontario is trying to regulate, and you'll be the one stuck with a vehicle that suddenly requires a motorcycle licence to ride legally.
At Amego, every e-bike in our showrooms in Downtown Toronto, Midtown Toronto, and Calgary is from a brand built around regulatory compliance in North America. We can show you the manufacturer's spec sheet, confirm the class, and make sure you leave with a bike that'll still be legal next year, the year after, and the year after that.
How this compares to other provinces
Ontario is catching up to a framework that British Columbia and Quebec have had in some form for years. BC also uses two classes of e-bikes (with a 32 km/h cap and a "light" sub-class capped at 25 km/h), and Quebec requires a moped licence for riders aged 14 to 17. The longer-term hope from advocacy groups like Velo Canada Bikes is a harmonized, evidence-based framework across every province and territory.
Have an opinion? You can submit it
The public comment period for proposal 026-0422 is open until 11:59 p.m. on June 7, 2026. Ontario riders, retailers, and advocacy groups can submit feedback directly through the Environmental Registry of Ontario or the Regulatory Registry. If you care about how e-bikes are defined and regulated in this province, this is the moment your voice actually counts.
The bottom line
This proposal is good news for the e-bike industry as a whole and for the riders who buy from legitimate retailers. It separates "real" e-bikes from the e-motos that have been muddying public perception, sets clear rules everyone can follow, and gives the province a framework that can adapt as technology keeps evolving. If you've been waiting for clarity before buying your first e-bike, the answer is simpler than you think: buy a properly engineered Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike from a retailer who can stand behind it.
Have questions about whether a specific bike falls into Class 1 or Class 2 under the new framework? Get in touch with our team or visit any of our Toronto and Calgary showrooms. We'll walk you through the spec sheet, the class, and what it means for the way you ride.
