The NSW government is going hard after e-bikes that don’t comply with regulations, changing the law to to seize high-powered bikes and destroy them.
The Road Transport Amendment (Non-registrable Motor Vehicles) Bill 2026 was passed by the NSW Parliament on Thursday. It gives NSW Police and Transport Authorised Officers the power to seize illegal e-bikes and then have them broken down.
NSW law caps the speed of e-bike power assistance to 25km/h. The government is also introducing portable test units from Europe to check top speeds. The government has also reduced the 500-watt e-bike power limit to 250-watts to bring NSW into line with other states.
There are an estimated 760,000 e-bikes in NSW. From 1 March 2029, only e-bikes meeting the European standard will be road legal in NSW.
The government is also looking to introduce a legal minimum age between 12 and 16 for riding an e-bike in NSW, has banned modified e-bikes from trains and public transport, and given councils the powers to enforce no-go and go-slow zones, control parking, ensure helmet provision and insurance for riders.
NSW Roads minister Jenny Aitchison said the changes to the law strengthen public safety.
“For too long, illegal e-bikes have posed a serious threat on our roads and footpaths, leading to serious injuries, and in some cases, tragic deaths,” she said.
“This legislation gives police the ability to take back control of our streets by destroying illegal bikes and sends a strong message to anyone thinking of doing the wrong thing in the future.”
Western Australian police have similar laws to the new NSW ones and have confiscated and crushed dozens of bikes.
