It’s been a while since I wrote a post on the current electric scooter laws In the UK. I thought it’s time I bring you bang up to date with what’s been going on!
It’s still totally legal to buy an electric scooter here in the UK (also known as an e-scooter). But it’s not yet legal to ride your electric scooter on public roads. Electric scooters laws in the UK are under review. For e-scooter fans this is both promising and exciting.
Whilst you can rent and ride electric scooters on the road in many UK locations, that’s only allowed as part of government trials. Note the word trials.
Debates in Parliament
On April 27, 2022, UK Transport Secretary told the House of Commons Transport Committee the government plans to introduce legislation to regulate electric scooters (e-scooters) during the 2022-23 parliamentary session.
This will allow our government set standards of speed, power, lights and other factors. The Transport Secretary said the government aims to “crack down on the private market, and also make it illegal to sell e-scooters that don’t meet the regulatory standards”. (Of which there are a few).
In a committee hearing, Simon Jupp, (Conservative MP for East Devon), argued using electric scooters has resulted in numerous collisions and “caused problems on the streets of this country.” The Transport Secretary, Mr. Shapps, responded that once standards for privately owned e-scooters have been established, the government can then determine how electric scooters should be used.
In a debate in the House of Lords in January 2022, Lord Rosser, argued electric scooters could have much to offer. He said they have the potential of providing a “safe, relatively cheap and environmentally friendly method of transport.” He emphasised the government needs to put “relevant and appropriate regulations in place to address the safety concerns” surrounding e-scooters before approving widespread use.
What are electric scooters classified as?
Under UK road traffic laws, electric scooters are considered to be motorised, two-wheeled vehicles or Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs). They differ from electric bikes because they don’t have pedals. They’re classified as motor vehicles.
What if you’re caught riding illegally?
If riders are caught in the UK riding an electric scooter on a public road (not in a trial), that could be considered driving a motor vehicle without insurance, resulting in a fixed penalty of £300 and six points on their driving licence (assuming you have a driving license). If the case goes to court, the rider could face an unlimited fine and disqualification from driving. Plus have their electric scooter impounded by the police.
Some electric scooters are illegal
Some electric scooters have very high maximum speeds that will never be legal in the UK. The West Midlands Police called on the government to take action and tighten the rules around electric scooters. They’ve written to the government to ask why it’s failed to change the speed/sale of illegal scooter rules yet.
What are the UK usage trials currently happening?
Our UK government is conducting trials or “national monitoring and evaluation programmes” in 31 regions of the UK. Under the trials it’s allowed to use rental electric scooters on public roads (but not motorways) and in cycle lanes.
Another key point is that even in trial areas, it’s still not legal to use privately owned electric scooters on public roads. Our electric scooter laws in the UK remain the same. This must be so confusing for local people e.g. those that aren’t aware that there is a trial on, don’t you think?
During these trials, designated hiring companies (Voi, Dott, TIER and Lime) are responsible for arranging insurance for the electric scooters. Riders must have a valid driving licence to ride their rented electric scooters on the roads, cycle lanes and tracks (additionally, they can’t ride on pavements).
Surprisingly, helmets are not mandatory but recommended for safety. Trial riders have to operate their electric scooters safely and responsibly. This means no mobiles, hanging bags and finally not riding drunk. Scooters are limited to 15 miles an hour.
When do the trials end?
The government’s electric scooter trials were due to end on November 30, 2021 but were extended due to covid, then scheduled to end on November 30, 2022. Local authorities have the option to end or extend now until May 31, 2024. This is is so the most useful data can be gathered particularly on the good, bad and anything we need to learn/change. Data collected includes information on accidents and injuries.
Where are/were the UK trials happening
As of January 2023, these regions in the UK are or were participating in electric scooter trials. They were allowed the use of *rental* electric cooters on public roads and cycle lanes. Read more about the government rental schemes here.
- Bournemouth and Poole
- Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, High Wycombe, and Princes Risborough)
- Cambridge
- Liverpool
- Milton Keynes
- Norwich
- Portsmouth
- Slough
- South Somerset (Yeovil)
- Sunderland
- West Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry, and Sandwell)
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Copeland (Whitehaven)
- Derby
- Essex (Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford, and Colchester)
- Gloucestershire (Cheltenham and Gloucester)
- Great Yarmouth
- London (participating boroughs)
- Newcastle
- North and West Northamptonshire (Northampton, Kettering, Corby, and Wellingborough)
- North Devon (Barnstaple)
- North Lincolnshire (Scunthorpe)
- Nottingham
- Oxfordshire (Oxford)
- Redditch
- Salford
- Solent (Isle of Wight and Southampton)
- Somerset West (Taunton and Minehead)
- Tees Valley (Hartlepool)
In late 2022, Kent (Canterbury), Sandwell and Slough ended their trials, however some could restart again in summer 2023.
Questions our government needs to consider before changing electric scooter laws in the UK?
Key questions for our government include:
- Should electric scooters be treated in the same way as electric bikes? (Yes/no?)
- Should electric scooters be allowed in cycle lanes? (Yes/no?)
- What should the maximum speed or power of electric scooters be?
- Any other requirements? Braking distances, handlebar, size restrictions, lights, also size, etc? (What should the rules be?)
- Finally when should riders have to register their electric scooters (DVLA?), have a valid driving licence, or meet an age requirement to ride one?
According to a recent government consultation, the majority of respondents preferred to treat electric scooters like electric bikes. There was widespread support for the legalisation of electric scooters, and a strong belief that clear regulations are necessary.
So when will electric scooter laws in the UK change?
Our UK government has the important decision of when private electric scooters will be legalised. It plans to pass legislation on electric scooters during the current parliamentary session (2022-2023) and this announcement was made in October 2022. But our (current!) Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, hasn’t made any official commitment.
I’m certainly keeping a close eye on this and will update as soon as I know more because this is so important for all electric scooter fans. Let’s hope our government eventually starts assessing the trials. Above all I hope they’ll reveal plenty of learning on how to implement electric scooters on our roads in a safe, efficient way. Riders will always need their common sense and to follow the road rules.
Time for more designated cycle and scooter areas?
What do you think? Is it time to change our electric scooter laws? Are there huge benefits to doing so and revolutionise how we travel? Are they a total nuisance? Have your say and leave a comment below with your thoughts.
Hmm do you really think it will happen this year Steve? I can’t wait till the day I can ride to work on a scooter mate.
Maybe towards the end of the year. Might get lost in the HoL, etc, I wouldn’t hold my breath. Older ebikes (pre 2016) are virtually the same thing (throttle, don’t have to pedal). I’m waiting on the legislation before designing my next project (based on the Sinclair C5).
Good luck! The Sinclair C5 ahead of its time?
They won’t ever be made road legal. Stop implying they will.
How I sign for e-scooter trial in my town West Bromwich?
Hi Kabir, I don’t think West Bromwich is included in the list of areas where the e-scooters trials are happening. You could contact your local council and double check though.
Good luck.
The current cheapest form of transport is public buses, but they are slow and suffer delays and cancellations. Tubes, trains and taxis are expensive. The only transport that the poorest of people can afford, which is also door to door, are e-scooters. But when/if they are made road legal they will be taxed and need MOT and insurance and consequently will move out of the poorest people’s financial reach. Not everyone, myself included, are physically able to cycle everywhere. E-scooters need no parking spaces, no petrol/diesel, are not polluting, can be carried but most of all they make the poorest and many partially disabled people more efficient and more able. Mostly, they bring users more time and happiness and less stress. There are only two reasons the government are delaying:- 1. They cannot decide on which option is the most profitable for them. 2. They are listening too much to the objectors -people whom have money and cars and will do and say anything to allow them less traffic to deal while driving around in their noisy, polluting cars which can carry more than one person but rarely do. Just imagine how cleaner the air would be, how much more money people would have and how much more equal poor/partially disabled people would feel if everyone got out of their cars and used e-scooters instead.
Hope they will be made legal, there are more and more of them on the roads everywhere. In Portsmouth they’re everywhere – the rented ones and private ones.