Importing Electric BicyclesElectric bicycles are growing in popularity with commuters, tourists and businesses in Canada. Because e-bikes and e-trikes are considered vehicles, there can be additional customs requirements when importing them. Depending on their specifications, some power assisted bicycles may be considered regulated vehicles by Transport Canada, in which case they will need to comply with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Some e-bikes may also qualify for PST exemption in BC.
Is My E-Bike a Regulated Vehicle?
Transport Canada defines unregulated e-bikes as “conventional pedal bicycles with motor assist (electric or gas) of any age unable to exceed a speed of 32 km/h (or 20 mph)”.
However, speed capacity is not the only deciding factor in determining whether an e-bike is a regulated vehicle: on-road and off-road design features are considered. Per Transport Canada’s bulletin on importing non-regulated vehicles: “Any e-bicycle product, regardless of speed limitation, equipped with features that resemble on-road prescribed classes of vehicles such as scooters or motorcycles and motor tricycles will be assessed as such.
“E-bicycles with off-road characteristics designed to operate at speeds no greater than 32 km/h (or 20 mph) will be considered non-regulated at importation while those that can operate at speeds greater than 32 km/h (or 20 mph) will be subject to import compliance requirements as restricted-use vehicles.”
In essence, any e-bike that is designed to exceed speeds of 32 km/h will be considered a regulated vehicle whether it is designed for off-road or on-road use, and additionally, on-road e-bikes that are designed to resemble scooters or motorcycles are also considered regulated vehicles regardless of their speed capacity.
Some e-bikes are equipped with speed limiters. On a case-by-case basis, speed limiters might be taken into consideration when determining whether a bike is considered regulated or not, if the limiter is in place at the time of importation. Per Transport Canada: “Products equipped with speed limiters are assessed by first taking into consideration the untethered speed capacity of the vehicle. In cases where the vehicle’s design makes it highly impractical to remove a speed governing mechanism, Transport Canada may, on a case specific evaluation, consider the speed limitation as valid.”
What If My E-Bike is Regulated?
If your e-bike or e-trike is considered a regulated vehicle, it will need to be imported like any other vehicle. This means it will need to enter through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV), which will require the bike to have a 17-digit VIN number. As most e-bikes have serial numbers rather than VIN numbers, many regulated e-bikes are not admissible to Canada at all.
Regulated bikes also must meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. If the bike was manufactured specifically to be sold on the Canadian market, the manufacturer will have to supply CMVSS certification. If the bike was manufactured for sale on the US market, it would need to be certified to meet US Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and the manufacturer would then need to advise Transport Canada of what modifications are necessary to make the bike CMVSS-compliant. Essentially, the bike will need to have all of the certifications that would be required of a motorcycle.
You will need to check whether your regulated e-bike is admissible to Canada on the RIV Vehicle Admissibility page, and whether the bike meets Canadian emission requirements on the RIV Vehicle Emissions page. We strongly recommend you look into both requirements before purchasing a regulated e-bike. If you are importing the bike from the USA, 72 hours’ notice of exportation will need to be provided and an AES declaration will need to be submitted to the US Census Bureau.
Because of the fees payable to the RIV and AES, and because of the extra work involved, a regulated vehicle is significantly more costly to import than importing a non-regulated bike and requires more time to clear through customs, if it is admissible at all.
More information about importing a vehicle is available here.
Do I Have to Pay BC PST on an E-Bike?
As of April 21, 2021, PST is no longer collected on qualifying e-bikes and e-trikes in British Columbia. Per BC PST bulletin 204, in order to be exempt from Provincial Sales tax, e-bikes and e-trikes must meet the following requirements:
- Has pedals or hand cranks that allow for the cycle to be propelled by human power;
- Wheels that measure 350mm or more in diameter (13.8 inches);
- The electric motor or motors are not capable of propelling the cycle at a speed greater than 32 km/hr on level ground and do not have a continuous output power rating that exceeds 500W in total;
- Does not have a combustion engine;
- Is not marketed as, or designed to look like an electric motorcycle, electric moped, electric scooter or another similar device.
The PST exemption also applies to parts, which are defined as items essential to the basic functioning of the bicycle. For example, frames, forks, chains, pedals, wheels, tubes, tires and seats are all considered bicycle parts.
The PST exemption extends to attachments that are installed on the bicycle at the time of purchase and which are considered to form part of that sale. For example, baskets, training wheels, saddlebags, child seats, bells and mirrors are all considered basic attachments. If these items are sold separately, or purchased after the fact, they do not qualify for PST exemption.
Bicycle lights, reflectors, helmets and safety bibs are always PST-exempt.
Remember, provincial sales tax is calculated based on the province of residence of the importer, not the province in which the goods cross the border into Canada.
What About Other Provincial Sales Taxes?
Right now, BC is the only province that has eliminated provincial sales tax on e-bikes.
Is There Duty on E-Bikes?
No, cycles with electric motors are duty-free.
How Do I Import an E-Bike That I Purchased Outside of Canada?
You can either self-declare to customs at the port of entry or engage a customs broker to submit your declaration for you. A customs broker will work with the carrier bringing your goods across the border to declare the shipment to customs. Your customs broker will need enough information about the bike to determine whether it qualifies as a regulated vehicle, in addition to all of the information that is always required for a customs declaration (the country of origin, value, etc.). Additional information will be required if the bike is considered a regulated vehicle.
If you are looking for more information about importing e-bikes, get in touch!
By Robin Smith, M.A., CCS
– Robin is a trade industry professional based in Victoria, BC.
Electric bicycles are growing in popularity with commuters, tourists and businesses in Canada. Because e-bikes and e-trikes are considered vehicles, there can be additional customs requirements when importing them. Depending on their specifications, some power assisted bicycles may be considered regulated vehicles by Transport Canada, in which case they will need to comply with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Some e-bikes may also qualify for PST exemption in BC.
Is My E-Bike a Regulated Vehicle?
Transport Canada defines unregulated e-bikes as “conventional pedal bicycles with motor assist (electric or gas) of any age unable to exceed a speed of 32 km/h (or 20 mph)”.
However, speed capacity is not the only deciding factor in determining whether an e-bike is a regulated vehicle: on-road and off-road design features are considered. Per Transport Canada’s bulletin on importing non-regulated vehicles: “Any e-bicycle product, regardless of speed limitation, equipped with features that resemble on-road prescribed classes of vehicles such as scooters or motorcycles and motor tricycles will be assessed as such.
“E-bicycles with off-road characteristics designed to operate at speeds no greater than 32 km/h (or 20 mph) will be considered non-regulated at importation while those that can operate at speeds greater than 32 km/h (or 20 mph) will be subject to import compliance requirements as restricted-use vehicles.”
In essence, any e-bike that is designed to exceed speeds of 32 km/h will be considered a regulated vehicle whether it is designed for off-road or on-road use, and additionally, on-road e-bikes that are designed to resemble scooters or motorcycles are also considered regulated vehicles regardless of their speed capacity.
Some e-bikes are equipped with speed limiters. On a case-by-case basis, speed limiters might be taken into consideration when determining whether a bike is considered regulated or not, if the limiter is in place at the time of importation. Per Transport Canada: “Products equipped with speed limiters are assessed by first taking into consideration the untethered speed capacity of the vehicle. In cases where the vehicle’s design makes it highly impractical to remove a speed governing mechanism, Transport Canada may, on a case specific evaluation, consider the speed limitation as valid.”
What If My E-Bike is Regulated?
If your e-bike or e-trike is considered a regulated vehicle, it will need to be imported like any other vehicle. This means it will need to enter through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV), which will require the bike to have a 17-digit VIN number. As most e-bikes have serial numbers rather than VIN numbers, many regulated e-bikes are not admissible to Canada at all.
Regulated bikes also must meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. If the bike was manufactured specifically to be sold on the Canadian market, the manufacturer will have to supply CMVSS certification. If the bike was manufactured for sale on the US market, it would need to be certified to meet US Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and the manufacturer would then need to advise Transport Canada of what modifications are necessary to make the bike CMVSS-compliant. Essentially, the bike will need to have all of the certifications that would be required of a motorcycle.
You will need to check whether your regulated e-bike is admissible to Canada on the RIV Vehicle Admissibility page, and whether the bike meets Canadian emission requirements on the RIV Vehicle Emissions page. We strongly recommend you look into both requirements before purchasing a regulated e-bike. If you are importing the bike from the USA, 72 hours’ notice of exportation will need to be provided and an AES declaration will need to be submitted to the US Census Bureau.
Because of the fees payable to the RIV and AES, and because of the extra work involved, a regulated vehicle is significantly more costly to import than importing a non-regulated bike and requires more time to clear through customs, if it is admissible at all.
More information about importing a vehicle is available here.
Do I Have to Pay BC PST on an E-Bike?
As of April 21, 2021, PST is no longer collected on qualifying e-bikes and e-trikes in British Columbia. Per BC PST bulletin 204, in order to be exempt from Provincial Sales tax, e-bikes and e-trikes must meet the following requirements:
- Has pedals or hand cranks that allow for the cycle to be propelled by human power;
- Wheels that measure 350mm or more in diameter (13.8 inches);
- The electric motor or motors are not capable of propelling the cycle at a speed greater than 32 km/hr on level ground and do not have a continuous output power rating that exceeds 500W in total;
- Does not have a combustion engine;
- Is not marketed as, or designed to look like an electric motorcycle, electric moped, electric scooter or another similar device.
The PST exemption also applies to parts, which are defined as items essential to the basic functioning of the bicycle. For example, frames, forks, chains, pedals, wheels, tubes, tires and seats are all considered bicycle parts.
The PST exemption extends to attachments that are installed on the bicycle at the time of purchase and which are considered to form part of that sale. For example, baskets, training wheels, saddlebags, child seats, bells and mirrors are all considered basic attachments. If these items are sold separately, or purchased after the fact, they do not qualify for PST exemption.
Bicycle lights, reflectors, helmets and safety bibs are always PST-exempt.
Remember, provincial sales tax is calculated based on the province of residence of the importer, not the province in which the goods cross the border into Canada.
What About Other Provincial Sales Taxes?
Right now, BC is the only province that has eliminated provincial sales tax on e-bikes.
Is There Duty on E-Bikes?
No, cycles with electric motors are duty-free.
How Do I Import an E-Bike That I Purchased Outside of Canada?
You can either self-declare to customs at the port of entry or engage a customs broker to submit your declaration for you. A customs broker will work with the carrier bringing your goods across the border to declare the shipment to customs. Your customs broker will need enough information about the bike to determine whether it qualifies as a regulated vehicle, in addition to all of the information that is always required for a customs declaration (the country of origin, value, etc.). Additional information will be required if the bike is considered a regulated vehicle.
If you are looking for more information about importing e-bikes, get in touch!
By Robin Smith, M.A., CCS
– Robin is a trade industry professional based in Victoria, BC.
