Where to find lighting rules for your country or state

There's no single rule for e-bike lights. Each country sets its own, and in places like the United States and Australia each state or territory does too. The honest answer to "what do I need?" is to read the official rule for where you ride.

Why the rules differ

A general reference says most European countries and some US states require front and rear lights at night. Others allow reflectors only at the rear¹. Some jurisdictions impose requirements on light output¹. On flashing red tail lights, Germany and the Netherlands call them illegal, while others allow them¹.

One maker warns about this too. Its guide tells readers to check a light against the laws of their country, not just its specs².

Two worked examples

United Kingdom. Under the Highway Code, a cycle ridden at night must show a white front light and a red rear one³. On flashing, it says flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp³. GOV.UK also has a page titled "Riding an electric bike: the rules". That page says an electric bike that does not meet the EAPC rules is classed as a motorcycle or moped⁴.

Australia. One summary says riders are required to use a bike light when riding at night in Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland, but that this is not so for New South Wales, Victoria and the Capital Territory⁵. That's a summary and not law, so check the current state or territory road rules before you rely on it.

United States, Canada and elsewhere. These examples aren't covered by a saved official source here, so this site doesn't state their rules. Look up your state, province or national road authority.

How to find your own rule

• Search for your country's or state's road authority, such as a transport department.
• Look for the section on bicycles or "cycle equipment" and read the lighting rule.
• Check whether the rule treats an e-bike as a bicycle or something else. Class rules decide that, and the official site for your area has the answer.
• Look for any named standard a light has to meet. See what StVZO and similar marks cover.
• Read the manual that came with your bike. It may state the lights it was sold with.

Use official government pages, not a shop's guide. A shop's page may describe what it sells, not what the law asks.

Before you buy a light

Match the light to the rule you found, and match it to the bike's port if it's wired. The wiring overview and the reflectors page cover the rest of the set.