Compulsory Registration and Insurance for Electric Scooters in Spain

Compulsory Registration and Insurance for Electric Scooters in Spain: A New Government Measure

This Tuesday, the Spanish government has approved in the Council of Ministers a bill that establishes mandatory registration and insurance for electric scooters. The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has stressed that this measure brings Spanish regulations in line with those of other European countries, being celebrated in cities such as Barcelona.

The registration of these vehicles should be in place by January 2, 2026. As for compulsory insurance, it is expected to come into force a few months later, after completion of the necessary parliamentary and administrative procedures.

In addition to electric scooters, the new legislation covers agricultural machinery and any motorized vehicle that reaches a maximum speed of 25 km/h or weighs more than 25 kg.

Details to be defined

The government justifies these measures with the objective of "promoting sustainable transport and raising awareness of potential damages". However, there are still many details to be defined about the implementation of these standards.

Javier Castillo, deputy director general for regulation at the Ministry of Economy, admits that aspects such as the possible introduction of license plates for scooters and how to handle compensation for those without insurance are still "to be resolved".

Compulsory insurance premiums are expected to be lower than those for cars and motorcycles due to the lower accident rate and damage capacity of electric scooters.

A Necessary Measure

This regulation is a priority for the DGT, which seeks to align itself with regulations in other countries such as France and Germany. Adrià Puigpelat, head of the DGT in Catalonia, stresses the importance of observing the results in other countries before applying the regulation in Spain.

City councils, such as Barcelona's, have been calling for this measure for years. Laia Bonet, deputy mayor of Barcelona, welcomes the approval of the law and notes that the city also plans to make helmets mandatory for these vehicles. In addition, the DGT is considering regulating the minimum age for riding electric scooters, possibly setting it between 15 and 16.

The bill, promoted by the government of Pedro Sánchez, also includes improvements in compensation for victims of traffic accidents.