Here is the overview of electric scooter rules in EU countries

So that it is clear whether you can have some beer while riding or whether you can park your electric scooter on a sidewalk.

The vast majority of electric scooter owners will confirm that electric scooters very quickly become an integral part of their daily travels. However, as much as some people are very excited about them, others may not feel happy about them at all. Especially when scooter owners ride irresponsibly and endanger nearby traffic or pedestrians.

As the popularity of electric scooters continues to grow, so does the risk of accidents caused by their irresponsible riders. This is also why the countries enact electric scooter rules that clearly define the conditions, under which they can be used. The bad thing is that each country adopts different laws, or perhaps it does not have any such laws.

And so, whether you are going on a vacation, to work or moving to some other country, you should certainly like to avoid getting fined for riding your electric scooter not in accordance with regulations. That is why we have prepared for you a selection of the most basic rules that are in force in individual European countries.

The conditions and rules listed in the article are as in force in January 2023. Any laws adopted later may therefore differ in each country.

Are electric scooters even legal?

Before starting your electric scooter and venturing out, make sure that you are in fact authorized to use it.

Although riding electric scooters is permitted in most countries, there are exceptions. For instance, if the police stop you on a public road in Ireland or Great Britain, get ready for a hefty fine of up to €350.

On the contrary, there are no clearly defined rules in Albania, the Netherlands, Lithuania or Hungary. However, it is always better to put on a helmet before riding and to ride with utmost caution and in accordance with standard traffic rules.

Since what age can I ride an electric scooter?

The differences in individual countries also occur when it comes to age, at which riders are permitted to use electric scooters. The age limit varies quite significantly, from 10 to 18 years. Let’s look at it in more detail.

In Estonia and Poland, people aged 10 or older can ride electric scooters without being accompanied by an older person. However, until reaching 18 years of age they have to carry a bicycle license with them. The same applies to ten-year-olds in Austria. Without a bicycle license, riding is only permitted after reaching 12 years of age.

In France and Croatia, the law permits 12-year-olds to ride an electric scooter. In Luxembourg, they must be a year older.

The most common age limit across European countries is 14 years, being adopted in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Germany, Romania, Slovenia and Italy.

In Denmark and Slovakia, this age limit is 15 years of age. However, in case of Slovakia the aforementioned limit only applies when scooter riders ride on public roads. There is no age limit for other types of roads. From the age of sixteen, nobody has a problem riding an electric scooter in Belgium, Spain and Malta.

The strictest age limit applies in Portugal where riders must wait until they turn 18.

What is the mandatory equipment of electric scooters?

The differently worded regulations across European countries create uncertainty when it comes to mandatory equipment. While in Portugal the mandatory equipment is not ratified, in Germany you have to ride with the documents and a license plate. To make clear what mandatory equipment components are required, we have summarized them for you by country:

In Greece and Croatia, it is compulsory to wear a helmet and a reflective vest in reduced visibility.

Wearing a helmet is mandatory in Estonia, but only for riders aged 16 or younger. In Luxembourg, you must have front and rear lights, but they are not precisely specified. Such lights, along with the requirement to wear a helmet for people aged 18 or younger, must be also observed in Slovenia.

Your scooter in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Latvia and Austria must be equipped with a front white light, rear red light, reflective elements and the brakes.

The same conditions apply in Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France and Sweden, however with a horn being added to the list.

Prepare for even stricter mandatory equipment rules in Bulgaria, Romania and Spain where, in addition to the aforementioned equipment, scooters must be also equipped with a brake light. You must have scooter insurance concluded in cities such as Barcelona, Alicante or Benidorm. In addition to all other lights, you will also need to have turn signals installed in Italy.

Along with a helmet, front and rear light and a horn, the owners of electric scooters in Malta are required to have compulsory insurance, a registration number and they must have passed a traffic rules test.

In Germany, your scooter must be equipped with brakes, front and rear light and reflectors on the sides. However, you must also carry documents such as a scooter certificate and an instruction manual. On top of all that, a compulsory insurance plaque must be attached to the scooter.

New mandatory insurance rules for electric scooters in the EU

The European Parliament has adopted a new directive requiring the EU member states to put into force the legislation by 1 January 2024 on the conclusion of compulsory insurance for electric scooters. This applies to models with a top speed exceeding 25 km/h or scooters weighing more than 25 kg, provided that their speed exceeds 14 km/h.

Can I ride my electric scooter on a sidewalk?

A pressing problem seen in several large European cities is the fact that scooter riders ride in large groups or at dangerous speeds on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones. This is also why the laws differ not only between countries but there are even cases where riding on a sidewalk is governed by local regulations.

So, in which countries is it possible to ride on a sidewalk and where is it prohibited? See the list below:

No restrictions for riding on sidewalks: Estonia, Luxembourg

Restricted riding on sidewalks:

• Cyprus (only in city squares and maximum 10 km/h)
• Finland (maximum 6 km/h)
• Greece (maximum 6 km/h)
• Croatia (on sidewalks only where there are no cycle paths)
• Latvia (maximum 6 km/h)
• Malta (maximum 10 km/h)
• Poland (only where it is not possible to take some other route and maximum 6 km/h)
• Slovakia (speed must be adapted to pedestrians)

Prohibited riding on sidewalks:

• Belgium (only allowed in pedestrian zones marked by a sign and maximum 6 km/h)
• Bulgaria
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• France
• Germany (only allowed at locations marked by a sign)
• Portugal
• Austria (only allowed in pedestrian zones and at a walking speed)
• Romania
• Slovenia (only allowed in pedestrian zones and maximum 6 km/h)
• Spain
• Sweden
• Italy

Permitted parking on sidewalks:

• Belgium (only permitted in designated areas)
• Estonia (there must be at least 1.5m of space for pedestrians)
• France
• Malta (scooters must not obstruct pedestrians)
• Germany (scooters must not obstruct pedestrians)
• Poland (only allowed in designated areas and sidewalks with at least 1.5m of space for pedestrians)
• Austria (there must be at least 2.5m of space for pedestrians)
• Slovakia (park a scooter so that it does not obstruct pedestrians)
• Spain (only permitted in designated areas)

Parking electric scooters on sidewalks is prohibited in Sweden and Italy. There is no legislation governing this matter in other countries. However, before parking or riding on a sidewalk it is always better to check whether or not this matter is regulated by any local city ordinances or regulations.

What is the permitted maximum scooter speed and power?

The enactment of the maximum permitted speed contributes to safety of scooter riders, as well as other road users. In some cases, the countries have even begun to limit the power available to electric scooters. How does it look in practice?

• Belgium: only on cycle paths and roadsides, maximum 25 km/h
• Bulgaria: it is possible to ride at a maximum of 25 km/h in bus lanes and on roads with a 50 km/h speed limit
• Cyprus: it is possible to ride at a maximum of 20 km/h on cycle paths and on roads with a 30 km/h speed limit
• Czech Republic: only on cycle paths and roadsides, maximum 25 km/h and with a power not exceeding 1 kW
• Denmark: maximum 20 km/h
• Estonia: maximum 25 km/h
• Finland: on roads and cycle paths, maximum 25 km/h and power not exceeding 1 kW (in Helsinki only 15 km/h and a ban on riding at night)
• France: maximum 25 km/h even outside the city, but only on greenways – marked cycle lanes
• Greece: maximum 25 km/h on roadsides
• Croatia: only on cycle paths, maximum 25 km/h and with a power not exceeding 600 W
• Latvia: maximum 25 km/h, but only on roads with a 50 km/h speed limit and in bus lanes that can be used by bicycles
• Luxembourg: maximum 25 km/h on roads
• Malta: maximum 10 km/h on cycle paths, maximum 20 km/h on roads
• Germany: only on cycle paths, maximum 20 km/h and with a power not exceeding 500 W
• Poland: it is possible to ride at a maximum of 20 km/h on cycle paths and on sides of roads with a 30 km/h speed limit
• Portugal: it is possible to ride at a maximum of 25 km/h on cycle paths and in city streets
• Austria: only on cycle paths at a maximum of 25 km/h and with a power not exceeding 600 W
• Romania: it is possible to ride at a maximum of 25 km/h on cycle paths and on sides of roads with a 50 km/h speed limit
• Slovenia: it is possible to ride at a maximum of 25 km/h on cycle paths and on sides of roads with a 50 km/h speed limit
• Sweden: maximum 20 km/h and with a power not exceeding 250 W
• Italy: only on cycle paths and outside the city at a maximum of 20 km/h and with a power not exceeding 500 W

Although there is no speed limit in Spain, you can ride your electric scooter only on city roads.

Other countries have no legislation regulating the maximum permitted speed or scooter power.

Can I ride my electric scooter under the influence of alcohol?

The question that surely interests many scooter riders who plan to stop for a beer or a glass of wine while on their weekend trip or on their way home from work. As you can probably guess, whether you can ride a scooter with alcohol in your blood varies from country to country. So, in which countries is it permitted to ride under the influence of alcohol?

Limit up to 0.5 permille: Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Latvia, Germany, Slovakia (up to 0.48 permille, but only inside a municipality or when on the cycle path), Slovenia, Sweden, and Italy

In Austria, you can even ride a scooter with a blood alcohol level of 0.8 permille.

Zero tolerance: Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain

In other countries, riding a scooter while under the influence of alcohol is either not directly regulated by law or its adoption is under preparation. That is the case with Sweden and Finland.

However, regardless of whether the law requires riding sober, with a helmet on your head or at a given maximum speed, Max Blinker recommends one thing – safety must always come first. Therefore, even if not required by law, it is always a good idea to equip yourself with basic protection and safety elements and pay full attention to riding.