Free e-bike permits for California students.
Register your student's e-bike in minutes. RidePermit™ checks it against California law and your district's rules, includes a short safety course, and issues a verified permit — at no cost.
Three steps. Free from start to permit.
Enter your student and their e-bike. We check the bike's class against California Vehicle Code and your district's posted rules, on the spot.
A short safety course and a parent attestation — so every permit means a trained rider, not just a registered one.
A digital permit with a QR code anyone can scan to confirm it's valid and current. Free, always.
Protect the bike your child rides every day.
Your digital permit is free and renews free every school year. The $25 Official Decal is a dated, tamper-evident decal for the bike — the version schools recognize, and the one that helps you get the bike back if it's ever stolen. Renew it for $15 each school year.
Most families use the free digital permit. The Official Decal is for parents who want visible, tamper-evident ID attached to the bike.
Same registration. Different level of protection.
Free registration gives your child a real, verified digital permit. The Official Tag is the upgrade that makes it count on the bike.
- Digital permit, verified against CA law + your district's rules
- Student registration on file
- QR verification anyone can scan
- A permit record for your family
It's a screen someone has to open — not a credential on the bike.
- Recognized at school where your district requires it
- If someone peels it off, everyone can tell
- Stolen-bike recovery — if the bike is lost or stolen and later turns up, a scan of the tag connects it back to your family.
- Emergency contact on the bike — in a crash, a bystander can scan the tag and reach you directly.
- Visible on the bike — no app to open, verified at a glance
Designed to support California schools' verification process where applicable. Families can keep using the free digital permit whether or not they add an Official Tag.
A permanent record that your child's e-bike was checked against California law and your district's rules — on the bike, not buried in an app.
Where your district requires it, the official decal is what scans valid at the rack. A printout isn't.
Cost should never keep a child off a safe, registered bike. Families who need it can receive the official decal at no charge — ask your school.
Your digital permit is free and renews free every year. The Official Decal is $25, then $15 to renew each school year — a dated decal we print and mail to you.
What arrives in the mail.
After your child's permit is issued, we print and mail a tamper-evident vinyl decal that goes on the bike frame. It's dated to the school year — renew it for $15 each year — and its QR lets school staff verify the permit in seconds.
Five things that can go wrong. One permit that prevents them.
California has new e-bike laws most families haven't heard of yet. Here's what's at stake — and how RidePermit keeps your child protected.
My child gets hurt on an unsafe bike
Wrong class, too fast, no training. Every RidePermit application validates your child's bike against California Vehicle Code §312.5 — the right class for their age, the right speed limit for their route. Before the permit is issued, they complete a free CHP-aligned safety module. Trained riders have documented proof they understood the rules before they ever left the driveway.
My child gets in trouble at school — bike prohibited, incident on record
California school districts have long-standing authority to set campus vehicle rules under the Education Code; many are adopting e-bike permit requirements as part of that policy. If your child's bike isn't permitted, a single complaint from a teacher or administrator can result in it being prohibited from school grounds — with an incident on file. A RidePermit decal is your child's documented authorization to ride. No decal, no protection.
My child gets stopped — no proof of registration, Class 3 at 14
California Vehicle Code §312.5 restricts Class 3 e-bikes — those that go up to 28 mph — to riders 16 and older. If your 14-year-old is riding a Class 3 bike and gets stopped, there's no paperwork to show. RidePermit validates age against bike class at application and issues a QR-coded decal. One scan by any officer or school staff shows the permit is legal, current, and verified.
Other kids are a danger to my child — unregistered, untrained, reckless
When your child's school has a RidePermit program, every student on a permitted bike has passed the same safety training and age verification. The district can see exactly who is authorized to ride and who isn't — and has the tools to remove a permit from a student who rides dangerously. A compliant campus is a safer campus for every rider.
I didn't know there was a new law — my child is technically riding illegally
AB 544 took effect January 1, 2026. It addresses equipment (reflectors and lighting), not registration. Districts derive their authority to set campus rules from the Education Code and their own board policies.
Questions parents ask first.
- Why do I need this?
- Many California districts now require an e-bike permit and documented safety training before students can ride to school. RidePermit handles both in one place.
- How much does it cost?
- Registering and getting your child's digital permit is free, and it renews free every school year. The only paid item is the optional Official Decal — a dated, tamper-evident decal we print and mail for the bike. It's $25 for the first year, then $15 to renew each school year. Families who need it can receive the decal at no charge through the RidePermit Access Fund — ask your school.
- What happens if my child's bike gets stolen?
- Your permit is registered to your child and their specific bike serial number. If the bike is stolen, report it to local law enforcement and contact your school. Because the bike is registered in RidePermit, you have a documented record of ownership, serial number, and bike class — exactly the information police need to file a report. A stolen bike does not automatically transfer the permit. A new permit will be required for a replacement bike.
- What if my child switches schools mid-year?
- Permits are valid for the school year they were issued, regardless of school transfers within the same district. If your child transfers to a district that is not yet on RidePermit, contact support@ridepermit.com and we will work with you on next steps. No refunds are issued for mid-year transfers.
- What happens if my child receives a warning or violation?
- If a school administrator or law enforcement officer observes a safety violation, an official notice is issued and logged against your child's permit. You will receive an email notification immediately. Repeated violations can result in permit suspension. All notices are documented and you will always be the first to know. If you disagree with a notice, contact your school administrator directly — RidePermit does not mediate disputes between families and schools.
- Is a RidePermit required by California law?
- California Vehicle Code §312.5 defines e-bike Classes 1, 2, and 3. CVC §21213(b) requires Class 3 riders to be 16 or older. AB 544 (effective January 1, 2026) requires rear reflectors and lighting. AB 1569 is currently in the legislature and would require CHP-aligned safety training for student e-bike riders starting 2027-28.
- What if I believe my child's permit was unfairly revoked?
- Permit revocation is handled entirely by your child's school administrator — RidePermit does not revoke permits and cannot overturn school decisions. If you believe a revocation was issued in error, contact your school's principal or vice principal directly. Once the school reinstates the permit in their system, it will be reactivated automatically in RidePermit.
Don't wait for an incident to find out your child wasn't covered.
Takes minutes. Registration is free. Add the official $25 decal later if you want it.
Parent reviews coming soon — RidePermit is in active pilot with California school districts.
Find out if your district uses RidePermit.
We'll let you know as soon as your school district is live.