To ride an electric scooter or e-bike at night, most states require a white front light that can be seen from about 500 feet ahead and a red reflector on the back, and several also require a red rear light. New York, Florida and New Jersey want a rear light, not just a reflector. California only asks for a front light visible from 300 feet, but adds reflectors on the sides. Below is what each state's law says, with the statute, and what to do when your lights stop working.
The rules matter most after dark. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that U.S. bicyclist deaths in 2024 peaked between 6 and 9 p.m., with 23% of them in those three hours and another 17% between 9 p.m. and midnight. Those are figures for bicyclists, not electric scooter riders specifically, but the point carries over: at night, being seen is the job your lights do.
- Front: a white light, usually visible from 500 feet (300 feet in California and North Carolina).
- Rear: a red reflector at minimum; a red rear light in New York, Florida, New Jersey and Ohio (for e-bikes).
- Sides: reflectors in California and on Pennsylvania e-bikes.
- Built-in lights count as long as they work and can be seen from the distance your state sets.
- Lights out? Headlight and taillight repair starts at $35 at any Wilson's shop.
Electric scooter and e-bike light rules by state
These are the lighting rules in the states we have full law guides for. Each one links to the full guide, which covers speed limits, helmets, age and where you can ride.
| State | Electric scooter at night | E-bike at night |
|---|---|---|
| New York | White front light visible from 500 ft, red rear light visible from 300 ft, plus a bell and a working brake (VTL §1285) | Bicycle rules: white front light visible from 500 ft, red or amber rear light visible from 300 ft, plus reflectors (VTL §1236) |
| California | White front lamp visible from 300 ft to the front and sides, red rear reflector visible from 500 ft, reflectors on each side (VC §21223) | Bicycle rules (VC §21201(d)); since January 1, 2026, a red rear reflector or red rear light at all hours, not just at night (§21201(f)) |
| Florida | White front lamp visible from 500 ft, red rear lamp and red rear reflector visible from 600 ft (§316.2065(7)) | Same as an electric scooter |
| New Jersey | See the New Jersey guide | White front light and red rear light, each visible from 500 ft, from sunset to sunrise and in bad weather |
| Pennsylvania | Not legal on public roads, so no lighting rule applies | White front lamp visible from 500 ft, red rear reflector, amber side reflectors (§3507) |
| Illinois | Starting in 2027: white front lamp visible from 500 ft, plus a red rear reflector or red rear light visible from 500 ft (new §11-1435) | Bicycle lighting rules apply (§11-1517) |
| Michigan | White front light visible from 500 ft, red rear reflector (MCL 257.662) | Same; a red rear light is allowed but not required |
| Ohio | White front light visible from 500 ft, red rear reflector (ORC 4511.514) | White front light visible from 500 ft ahead and 300 ft to the sides, red rear reflector, and a red rear light, steady or flashing, visible from 500 ft (ORC 4511.56) |
| Washington | See the Washington guide | White front light visible from 500 ft, red rear reflector; a red rear light is optional (RCW 46.61.780) |
| Arizona | See the Arizona guide | Bicycle rules: white front light visible from 500 ft, red rear reflector (A.R.S. 28-817) |
| North Carolina | See the North Carolina guide | Bicycle rules: front lamp visible from 300 ft, rear reflector, and either a red rear lamp or reflective clothing visible from 300 ft (G.S. 20-129(e)) |
In New York City, the state rules above apply. For the city's own rules on where and how fast you can ride, see are electric scooters legal in NYC and NYC e-bike laws, class 1, 2 and 3.
Light, reflector or both?
The table shows the three ways states split it:
- Front light and rear reflector. The most common rule: California, Michigan, Washington, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Ohio for electric scooters.
- Front light and rear light. New York for both electric scooters and e-bikes, and New Jersey for e-bikes.
- Light and reflector on the back. Florida asks for a red rear lamp and a red reflector together, and Ohio asks the same of e-bikes.
North Carolina is the odd one out: a rider can meet the rear rule with reflective clothing instead of a rear lamp. And the hours differ too. New Jersey's rule runs from sunset to sunrise and in bad weather, while California's new rear-reflector rule for e-bikes applies all day.
Do the built-in lights count?
Many electric scooters and e-bikes come with a headlight and a taillight built in, and many taillights double as a brake light. The laws above don't name a type of light; they set a color and a distance it has to be seen from. A built-in light that works and can be seen from that distance meets the rule. A dim, flickering or dead one doesn't, and neither does a cracked or missing reflector.
If you add a light or reflector of your own, the same test applies: white in front, red behind, seen from the distance your state sets. For helmets and other gear, see helmets and safety gear.
Lights not working? Bring it in
On an electric scooter or e-bike, the headlight, taillight and brake light run off the battery through the controller, the wiring harness and a switch on the handlebar or display. When one comes in, our technicians check the light itself first, then the switch, then the connectors and wiring back to the controller, and the brake-light switch when the brake light is the one that's out. We tell you what we find before any work starts. More in electric scooter light and wiring repair.
| Job | From |
|---|---|
| Simple inspection, any brand | Free |
| Headlight & taillight repair | $35 |
| Turn signal & brake light wiring | $35 |
| Wiring harness & connector repair | $35 |
Prices are starting prices and include parts and labor; the final price depends on the model and the part. Express service and priority for delivery riders run at every shop.
Where to get your lights fixed
- Flushing: 35-23 Farrington St, Flushing, NY 11354
- Elmhurst: 82-15 Queens Blvd, Elmhurst, NY 11373
- Brooklyn: 268 Richardson St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
- Long Island City: 41-13 31st Ave, Long Island City, NY 11103
- San Francisco: 360 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Miami: 2235 NW 20th St, Miami, FL 33142 (walk-ins)
Walk in at any shop, no appointment needed, or book a repair at our New York and San Francisco shops. Any brand, wherever you bought it. Text or call (516) 300-0944.
Frequently asked questions
Do electric scooters need lights at night?
Yes, in every state in the table where electric scooters are allowed on the road. The usual rule is a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear reflector; New York and Florida also require a red rear light.
Is a rear reflector enough on an e-bike?
It depends on the state. California, Michigan, Washington, Arizona and Pennsylvania accept a red rear reflector. New York and New Jersey require a red rear light, and Ohio requires both a reflector and a rear light.
Can my rear light flash?
Ohio's e-bike law says the red rear light can be steady or flashing. For other states, check the full guide for your state.
Do built-in lights meet the law?
Yes, if they work and can be seen from the distance your state sets: usually 500 feet for the front light. A dim or dead light doesn't count.
My headlight or taillight stopped working. Can you fix it?
Yes. Headlight and taillight repair starts at $35, turn signal and brake light wiring at $35, and looking it over to tell you what we find is free. Any brand, at any Wilson's shop.
Sources, read November 2026: New York VTL §1285 and §1236; California Vehicle Code §21223 and §21201; Florida Statutes §316.2065; New Jersey Title 39 bicycle lighting rules; Pennsylvania Vehicle Code §3507; Illinois Vehicle Code §11-1517 and new §11-1435; Michigan MCL 257.662; Ohio Revised Code 4511.514 and 4511.56; Washington RCW 46.61.780; Arizona A.R.S. 28-817; North Carolina G.S. 20-129(e), each as summarized and cited in our linked state guides; IIHS fatality facts: bicyclists. Repair prices are Wilson's starting prices, parts and labor included. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
