It's illegal to ride an e-scooter in the UK and you could be fined £1,000 (2024)

FAQs

It's illegal to ride an e-scooter in the UK and you could be fined £1,000? ›

Fines for using an e-scooter

The Police will advise you on the law and may ask you to take your e-scooter home. They may, however, still penalise you depending on the seriousness of the offence. If caught riding an e-scooter, fines you may receive can include: a Fixed Penalty Notice for no insurance; with a £300 fine and six penalty points.

Electric scooters are legal in the UK, but only if you use them following the laws which detail how to use them. It is also legal to purchase an electric scooter in the UK. The main rule for the use of electric scooters is that if it is your own private scooter, you can only use the e-scooter on private land.

Any drink or drug driving conviction carries a minimum driving disqualification of 12 months and financial penalties or in some circ*mstances a community order or custodial sentence.

They are unregulated and it's illegal to use them on the road. Many don't have lights or thick tyres. There have been a number of deaths from people using their own e-scooters. In London, we have a regulated rental system and an unregulated free-for-all of private e-scooters.

Whilst there is currently no legal age restriction, we do not recommend that anyone under the age of 16 should ride an E-Scooter. This recommendation matches the restrictions set by the government on the rental E-Scooter trials.

You can ride an electric bike if you're 14 or over, as long as it meets certain requirements. These electric bikes are known as 'electrically assisted pedal cycles' ( EAPCs ). You do not need a licence to ride one and it does not need to be registered, taxed or insured.

Helmets and clothing

You should wear a cycle helmet when using an e-scooter. Helmets are recommended but are not a legal requirement. Make sure that your cycle helmet conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and is securely fastened.

2024 UK - Any Progress? It's legal to buy an electric scooter, it's legal to sell an electric scooter, but it's not yet legal to ride an electric scooter on the road (unless it is a rented one like Lime, Voi etc that is covered by the e-scooter trials).

Is it illegal to ride a scooter on the pavement UK? ›

Where can you ride electric scooters? Currently, electric scooters can only be used on private land with the landowner's permission. It is effectively illegal to use them on public roads, on pavements, in cycle lanes and in pedestrian-only areas.

The sale and purchase of scooters is legal, yet there are a multitude of restrictions on where they can be ridden. For now, the UK does not permit e-scooters to be ridden on public roads, bike lanes, or pedestrian walkways. Because of this ban, driver's licenses are not required to operate an electric scooter.

E-Scooter Legislation

E-Scooters are not illegal in their own right. You can purchase, own and ride one on private land as long as you have the landowner's permission. However, you cannot currently ride an e-scooter on the road, pavement, cycle paths or in any other public areas.

The law is subject to change very soon, but e-scooters are still not road legal. The only exception to this is the government-backed schemes such as Voi scooter sharing. In summary, e-bikes in the UK are considered bicycles and are subject to the same laws and regulations as traditional bicycles, with a few exceptions.

You are not allowed to carry e-scooters or e-unicycles on TfL services or in our stations or other premises on our public transport network, even when folded.

Riding e-scooters legally and safely

Follow the rules of the road - e-scooters need to follow the rules of the road such as stopping at red lights, not riding on pavements and being considerate of all other road users including pedestrians.

If you have been involved in an accident involving an e-scooter you should treat it in the same way you would a car or cycling accident. It is vital that you contact and notify the police as soon as possible, take details of anyone involved and any witnesses who saw the accident.

If you find an insurance policy for your electric scooter your premium will be largely affected by the price of your e-scooter. Specialist policies for a £500 electric scooter can currently cost around £50 per year. However remember this is still only valid if you use your electric scooter on private land.

Use of privately owned e-scooters remains illegal except on private land with consent of the landowner. To avoid potential conflict with other users and for other safety reasons, the University does not permit use of private e-scooters on its estate.