Comparison of E-Scooter Regulations in Major EU/European Countries (Updated to 2025-08-25)
The popularity of e-scooters in Europe continues to rise, but regulations vary significantly across countries. This article summarizes the latest rules in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium, covering speed limits, riding age, road usage, insurance, and equipment requirements to help users travel legally and safely.
1. Overview Table of Regulations by Country
| Country | Max Speed | Minimum Age | Sidewalk Riding | Insurance/Registration | Helmet Requirement | Other Key Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 20 km/h | 14 years | Prohibited | ABE certification/insurance required | Recommended (not mandatory) | Lights, brakes, bell required; no passengers; cycle paths preferred |
| France | 25 km/h | 12 years (8-12 years with adult supervision) | Prohibited | No mandatory insurance/registration | Recommended (not mandatory) | Lights, brakes required; no passengers; city speed limits may vary |
| Spain | 25 km/h | 15 years (16 in some regions) | Prohibited (urban areas) | No mandatory insurance/registration | Recommended (not mandatory) | Lights, brakes, bell required; prohibited on sidewalks, highways; registration required in some cities |
| Italy | 20 km/h (6 km/h in pedestrian/mixed areas) | 14 years (helmet mandatory 14-18) | Prohibited (urban areas) | No mandatory insurance/registration | Mandatory for 14-18 years | Lights, brakes required; no passengers; city centers limit 20 km/h |
| Netherlands | 25 km/h | 16 years | Prohibited | License/insurance required (specific types) | Recommended (not mandatory) | Cycle paths preferred; lights, brakes, bell required; no passengers |
| Belgium | 25 km/h | 16 years | Prohibited | No mandatory insurance/registration | Recommended (not mandatory) | Cycle paths preferred; lights, brakes required; parking restrictions in many cities |
2. Detailed Country Regulations
🇩🇪 Germany
- Legal Basis: Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance (eKFV)
- Speed Limit: Max 20 km/h.
- Age Requirement: Minimum 14 years.
- Road Usage: Allowed on cycle paths and streets under 30 km/h; prohibited on sidewalks, highways, motorways.
- Equipment: Must have ABE approval, front/rear lights, brakes, bell, reflectors.
- Insurance/Registration: Liability insurance required with sticker; no license plate needed.
- Helmet: Strongly recommended, not mandatory (14-18 years advised).
- Other: No passengers, towing, or hands-off riding; DUI penalties same as cars.
🇫🇷 France
- Legal Basis: Highway Code provisions
- Speed Limit: Max 25 km/h (lower in some city zones).
- Age Requirement: Minimum 12 years; 8-12 with adult supervision.
- Road Usage: Allowed on cycle paths or streets under 50 km/h without cycle paths; prohibited on sidewalks (walking at 6 km/h allowed in some cities), highways.
- Equipment: White/yellow front light, red rear light, brakes, bell, reflectors.
- Insurance/Registration: Not mandatory, liability insurance recommended.
- Helmet: Strongly recommended, not mandatory (12-18 years advised).
- Other: No passengers, no side-by-side riding unless path is wide; parking restricted in cities like Paris.
🇪🇸 Spain
- Legal Basis: General Traffic Regulations & local ordinances
- Speed Limit: Max 25 km/h (urban); interurban restricted.
- Age Requirement: Minimum 15 (16 in regions like Madrid).
- Road Usage: Allowed on cycle paths or streets under 30 km/h without cycle paths; prohibited on sidewalks, highways, pedestrian priority zones.
- Equipment: Front/rear lights, brakes, bell, reflectors required.
- Insurance/Registration: Not nationally required, but local registration in cities like Barcelona, Madrid.
- Helmet: Strongly recommended, not mandatory (under 16 advised).
- Other: No passengers, no headphones; DUI penalties strict; extensive no-parking zones in cities.
🇮🇹 Italy
- Legal Basis: Highway Code & amendments
- Speed Limit: Max 20 km/h; 6 km/h in pedestrian/mixed zones.
- Age Requirement: Minimum 14 years.
- Road Usage: Allowed on cycle paths or streets under 30 km/h without cycle paths; prohibited on sidewalks, highways.
- Equipment: Front/rear lights, brakes, bell, reflectors required.
- Insurance/Registration: Not mandatory.
- Helmet: Mandatory for 14-18 years; strongly recommended for adults.
- Other: No passengers; city centers 20 km/h max; some cities require designated parking.
🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Legal Basis: Road Traffic Act & vehicle regulations
- Speed Limit: Max 25 km/h.
- Age Requirement: Minimum 16 years.
- Road Usage: Cycle paths preferred; if none, on streets under 30 km/h; prohibited on sidewalks, highways.
- Equipment: Front/rear lights, brakes, bell, reflectors required.
- Insurance/Registration: Certain types (>20 km/h, >250W) require license/insurance; most retail scooters exempt.
- Helmet: Strongly recommended, not mandatory.
- Other: No passengers; strict parking rules in cities like Amsterdam.
🇧🇪 Belgium
- Legal Basis: Road Traffic Code & local ordinances
- Speed Limit: Max 25 km/h.
- Age Requirement: Minimum 16 years.
- Road Usage: Allowed on cycle paths or streets under 30 km/h without cycle paths; prohibited on sidewalks, highways.
- Equipment: Front/rear lights, brakes, bell required.
- Insurance/Registration: Not mandatory; liability insurance recommended.
- Helmet: Strongly recommended, not mandatory (under 16 advised).
- Other: No passengers; extensive no-parking zones in Brussels, Antwerp, with fines.
3. General Compliance Checklist for E-Scooters
✅ General Compliance Tips Across Europe
Before buying or using an e-scooter, ensure it meets these basic requirements to comply with most national rules:
- Speed Limit: Choose models capped at 20-25 km/h (Germany requires max 20 km/h).
- Safety Equipment: Must include front light (white/yellow), rear light (red), effective brakes (disc or drum), and a bell.
- Certification: Prefer CE-marked models meeting EU standards; in Germany, ABE approval is mandatory.
- Age: Ensure riders meet the minimum age (usually 14-16 years).
- Insurance: Buy insurance where required (Germany, Netherlands for specific types).
- Helmet: Strongly recommended everywhere, especially for young riders.
- Local Rules: Check city-specific parking or registration rules (Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam).
4. JOYOR E-Scooters and Compliance with German Regulations
For users planning to ride e-scooters in Germany, choosing models compliant with strict local rules is essential. Germany requires ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis) certification, and max speed must not exceed 20 km/h.
JOYOR, a well-known brand, offers several ABE-approved models that are legal and safe for German roads. Models compliant under 20 km/h include:
- JOYOR C10E
- JOYOR S5 ABE
- JOYOR S5 ABE PRO
- JOYOR Y8S
Additionally, JOYOR offers models capped under 25 km/h that meet legal requirements in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy, but in Germany must be limited to 20 km/h. These include:
- JOYOR T6
- JOYOR T10
- JOYOR C10
Before purchase or use, always confirm the chosen JOYOR model has ABE certification (for Germany) and meets local speed rules for legal road use.
References & Official Links
Information compiled from official transport authorities and reputable sources (as of August 2025). Rules may change anytime; always check updates before riding.
Click to expand official sources
- German KBA on eKFV & ABE: kba.de
- French Service-Public on e-scooter rules: service-public.fr
- Spanish DGT on personal mobility vehicles: dgt.es
- Italian Ministry of Transport summary: mit.gov.it
- Dutch RDW on e-scooter rules: rdw.nl
- Belgium Police info on scooters: police.be
