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No.

Colorado does not require motor vehicle insurance for electric bikes as long as the bikes fit the state’s electrical assisted bicycle classifications and aren’t motorcycles.

The state has three classifications for e-bikes: 

  • Class 1: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power when the rider is pedaling and stops when the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
  • Class 2: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power but stops when the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
  • Class 3: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power when the rider is pedaling but stops when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 mph.

Insuring e-bikes, however, is recommended by some insurance providers, who recommend at least liability coverage in case of an accident. Companies have started offering special e-bike insurance for riders as some companies don’t insure them as property under homeowners policies.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

See full source list below.

References:

e-Bike Tax Credit, Colorado Energy Office. Source link.
Riding Unhindered: A Guide to Navigating Colorado Ebike Laws, The Cyclist Choice, June 19, 2024. Source Link.
Electrical Assisted Bicycles Regulation Operation, Colorado General Assembly, 2017. Source link.
The importance of e-bike insurance for riders in Colorado and Utah, Schomp Insurance, March 21, 2014. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Justin George is a 1995 graduate of Columbine High School. He has worked as a reporter at six news organizations including the Boulder Daily Camera, the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. Email him at justin@coloradosun.com