Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy An Electric Scooter In Spain As A Christmas Present

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Local Police stopping scooter riders. Credit: Local Police Fuengirola & Palma - X

With Christmas quickly approaching, electrical scooters are erstwhile again among immoderate of nan astir celebrated gift ideas, particularly for teenagers and young adults. Before you wrap 1 up nether nan tree, however, location are immoderate basal rules you should cognize about, some existent and coming successful nan caller year, that each purchaser and early rider needs to understand.

Where nan scooter CAN and CANNOT spell today

In astir Spanish cities, electrical scooters are legally classified arsenic Vehículos de Movilidad Personal (VMP) – individual mobility vehicles – and must travel strict roadworthy rules:

  • They are banned from pavements and pedestrian-only streets. Riders must usage nan roadworthy (just for illustration immoderate different centrifugal vehicle) aliases designated rhythm lanes wherever available.
  • Speed is constricted to 25 km/h maximum, truthful those other accelerated ones will pull nan attraction of nan constabulary correct away.
  • Carrying a rider is wholly prohibited.
  • Riding nether nan power of intoxicant aliases narcotics carries nan aforesaid penalties arsenic for driving a car.

Local constabulary crossed Spain will beryllium stepping up enforcement. In Fuengirola alone, astir 600 fines person been issued successful 2025 truthful far, mostly for riding connected pavements, nan number 1 title from pedestrians.

The large changes coming successful January 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, 2 nationwide requirements will go mandatory passim Spain:

Compulsory third-party liability security nary matter nan age

  • Every electrical scooter personification must person a civilian liability security policy that covers harm aliases wounded caused to others. Until now this was only recommended; successful 2026 it will beryllium a patient law. Fines for riding without security are expected to beryllium steep, and section police will beryllium checking.
  • Mandatory registration pinch nan DGT (Spanish postulation authority)
    Only scooters that meet charismatic method and information standards will person a registration certificate. Once registered, nan scooter will person to show an recognition sheet aliases sticker.
    Unregistered aliases non-certified scooters will beryllium illegal to thrust connected nationalist roads.

These measures are designed to extremity a ineligible security grey area that has existed since scooters exploded successful fame and to make judge victims of accidents are decently compensated.

Local councils tin (and will) adhd other rules.

Some towns are going moreover further. Fuengirola, for example, is drafting a caller municipal ordinance that will make wearing a helmet compulsory for each riders, sloppy of age. Many different towns person already introduced this rule, and person seen a melodramatic alteration successful scooter use. Other locations are expected to travel suit successful 2026.

What this intends for Christmas shoppers

If you’re readying to springiness an electrical scooter this Christmas:

  • Buy a exemplary that is officially certified nether existent European and Spanish standards (EN 17128 aliases equivalent) truthful it tin beryllium registered successful 2026.
  • Budget for liability security – yearly policies presently commencement from astir €20 to 50 depending connected sum and provider, but prices whitethorn emergence erstwhile nan request becomes law. Already having a cleanable driving licence, it is said, will trim nan magnitude 1 has to salary for a policy.
  • Be prepared for a helmet requirement, and cheque nan rules pinch your section authority.
  • Teach nan recipient nan rules from time one: roadworthy only (no pavements), 25 km/h max, 1 personification only.

From this Christmas, electrical scooters cease to beryllium considered toys; successful Spain they will beryllium categorised arsenic roadworthy centrifugal vehicles for illustration each others pinch strict rules connected their use, needing insurance, registration, road-safety testing, and information gear, specified arsenic a helmet. They will beryllium taxable to nan aforesaid rules arsenic immoderate different roadworthy conveyance and transportation fines and imaginable different sanctions for improper use. Think doubly earlier buying 1 arsenic a Christmas gift.

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