If you are looking at an electric trike, the first question is usually whether you can ride it on the road without a licence. The short answer is yes, as long as it meets the same rules as an electric bike. The GOV.UK guidance on electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) says plainly that an EAPC "can have more than 2 wheels, for example a tricycle".
So a trike is not a special case in law. It passes or fails on exactly the same tests as a two-wheeler, and the practical questions (width, storage, how it handles) matter more than the legal ones.
The legal test is the same as for an e-bike
A trike counts as an EAPC, and can be ridden on roads and cycle paths with no licence, tax, insurance or registration, if:
- its motor is rated at 250W continuous or less
- the motor stops helping at 15.5mph (25km/h)
- it has pedals that actually propel it
- any throttle is walk-assist only, not something that drives it along without pedalling
You need to be 14 or over to ride one. For the full rules, including what happens to a bike or trike that fails, see our UK e-bike law guide. We keep the detail there rather than repeating it on every page.
If a trike fails any of those tests, it is legally a moped or motorcycle. That means registration, tax, insurance, a licence and an approved helmet, and it cannot go on a cycle path.
What to check on a trike listing
Trike listings make the same mistakes as e-bike listings, and a few of their own.
- Rated power, not peak. "250W" should be the continuous rating. A listing that only gives a peak figure, or quotes 500W or more, is not road legal.
- The cut-off speed. Look for 25km/h or 15.5mph stated in the description or technical details. "Max speed 25km/h" is what you want to see. A higher figure, or none at all, is a warning.
- Throttle or walk-assist. Many trikes are sold to riders who find pedalling hard, so a twist throttle is a common extra. A full throttle takes the trike outside the EAPC rules. Walk-assist, which only moves it at walking pace while you push, is fine.
- Usable pedals. Some three-wheelers are really mobility scooters with token pedals. If the pedals cannot genuinely drive it, it is not an EAPC.
A trike is not a mobility scooter
This is worth separating out, because the two get muddled in search results. Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs have their own rules on GOV.UK, and can only be used by someone who has trouble walking because of an injury, disability or medical condition.
An electric trike that meets the EAPC rules is a pedal cycle. Anyone 14 or over can ride it, it goes on the road and cycle paths like a bike, and it cannot be ridden on the pavement. If you want something you can use on the pavement, a trike is the wrong vehicle.
The practical questions a two-wheel guide will not answer
Width
This is the one that catches people out. A trike is much wider than a bike, and many cycle paths have barriers or chicanes designed to stop motorbikes, which a trike may not fit through. The MOONCOOL Electric Trike lists its size as 1015 x 760 x 740mm, so roughly 76cm wide. Measure your side gate, shed door and the barriers on your usual route before you buy.
Storage
Even folded, a trike takes up a lot of floor space and is heavy to lift. If it has to live in a flat or go up steps, a two-wheel folding e-bike is usually the better answer.
Handling
You steer a trike rather than lean it, so corners feel very different from a bike, and the instinct to lean can tip you towards the outside wheel. Give yourself a few rides on a quiet road or car park first. A rear differential, which lets the two back wheels turn at different speeds, makes cornering smoother and is worth looking for.
Range and charging
Trikes are heavier than bikes, so manufacturer range figures are optimistic, especially with shopping on board. Big batteries also take longer to charge: the MOONCOOL's 36V 20Ah pack takes six to eight hours.
Who a trike suits
A trike makes most sense if balance on two wheels is the thing stopping you riding, whether that is age, confidence or a medical reason that still lets you pedal. It also suits short, regular errands where you want to carry a lot without panniers.
If the main reason is carrying loads, look at a two-wheel cargo bike first, such as the HITWAY BK-T2. If you just want an easy step-on frame, a low step-through e-bike like the one in our MiRiDER 24 review is lighter and fits through gates a trike will not.
The trike we list
We currently list one electric trike, the MOONCOOL Electric Trike, around £1,499 on Amazon at the time of writing. We have checked its listing against all four tests: a 250W motor, a 25km/h maximum speed, pedal-assist, and walk-assist with no full throttle. It has front and rear baskets, a rear differential, 20 inch fat tyres and a removable 36V 20Ah battery. We have not ridden it.
It sits in our UK Road Legal (EAPC) list alongside the two-wheel bikes that pass the same checks.
Quick answers
Do I need a licence for an electric trike in the UK? Not if it meets the EAPC rules above. If it does not, it is treated as a moped and needs a licence, registration, tax and insurance.
Can I ride an electric trike on the pavement? No. A road-legal electric trike is a pedal cycle, so it belongs on the road or a cycle path, never the pavement.
Can a trike have a throttle? Only a walk-assist that moves it at walking pace. A throttle that drives it along without pedalling makes it a moped in law.
Is an electric trike the same as a mobility scooter? No. Mobility scooters have their own rules and are only for people who have trouble walking. An electric trike is a pedal cycle that anyone 14 or over can ride.