Spain To Force E-scooter And E-bike Riders To Get Insurance – Here’s What You Need To Know

Love zipping done Spanish streets connected your e-scooter aliases e-bike? From January 2, 2026, you won’t beryllium capable to thrust legally without an security argumentation successful your backmost pocket.

A caller rule published successful Spain’s official authorities bulletin (BOE) sets retired who needs cover, which vehicles are exempt, and really overmuch clip riders person to get insured.

The authorities says nan move is designed to bring bid to nan booming world of municipality mobility. But for thousands of riders, it intends caller costs, caller paperwork, and a large rethink astir really they get around.

Who really needs insurance?

Not each scooter and motorcycle will beryllium affected. If you’re utilizing 1 of those ray rental scooters you spot parked connected thoroughfare corners, you tin relax — nan companies already person their ain policies successful place.

But if you ain your ain scooter aliases e-bike, nan specifications matter. According to nan caller law, security becomes mandatory if:

• Your scooter tin spell faster than 25 km/h.
• It weighs much than 25 kg and tin apical 14 km/h.
• Your e-bike has other centrifugal assistance that pushes it past 25 km/h.
• You thrust a high-powered pedal conveyance that falls extracurricular normal EU categories and tin deed complete 45 km/h.
• You usage a trailer aliases semi-trailer attached to 1 of nan above.

In short, nan bigger, faster, aliases much powerful your thrust is, nan much apt you are to autumn nether nan caller rules. And erstwhile you do, you’ll beryllium expected to transportation civilian liability insurance, conscionable for illustration drivers of cars aliases motorbikes.

Are location immoderate exceptions?

Yes – and they’re important. Not each business requires a policy. For example:

• Vehicles that are officially deregistered pinch nan postulation authority (DGT) are exempt.
• Trailers aliases semi-trailers pinch a maximum weight of 750 kg aliases little don’t request cover.
• Vehicles still being built, tested, aliases transported arsenic equipment are not included, though they must still person different guarantees successful place.

The rule besides makes clear that erstwhile vehicles are treated arsenic goods, strict minimum screen applies: €6.45 cardinal for individual wounded and €1.3 cardinal for spot harm per accident. That’s a superior information nett for victims.

When does it footwear in?

The large day is January, 2, 2026. But lawmakers person added a six-month grace play for vehicles that weren’t antecedently considered “motor vehicles” but now are.

That intends until July 2026, you won’t beryllium fined for not having insurance. However, if an mishap happens successful that time, nan Insurance Compensation Consortium will salary damages – and past travel aft nan responsible rider for reimbursement. So while nan grace play buys immoderate breathing space, it’s not a free pass.

Why now?

If you unrecorded successful a Spanish city, you’ve seen it: scooters weaving done traffic, kids riding without helmets, adjacent misses connected crossings. E-scooters and e-bikes person exploded successful popularity, but they’ve besides been linked to rising mishap rates and ineligible headaches.

Until now, galore victims of scooter crashes person struggled to get compensation, particularly erstwhile nan rider had nary insurance. The authorities argues nan caller rule will guarantee payouts for those injured and bring scooters and e-bikes successful statement pinch different vehicles.

Critics, however, opportunity nan move could punish greener, cheaper carrier options. For young group aliases commuters connected tight budgets, paying for an yearly security argumentation mightiness push them backmost towards cars aliases motorbikes – hardly nan eco-friendly result cities are aiming for.

Still, officials insist that information and accountability travel first.

What this intends for riders

If you ain an e-scooter aliases e-bike successful Spain, now’s nan clip to cheque your model. Look astatine nan weight, speed, and powerfulness limits. If it falls nether nan caller categories, you’ll request to fund for an security argumentation earlier nan deadline.

Expect insurers to commencement offering caller scooter and e-bike policies good up of 2026. Prices aren’t clear yet, but they’ll apt alteration depending connected nan model, power, and whether you adhd theft aliases harm screen connected apical of nan required liability.

This is much than conscionable different portion of reddish tape. It’s a motion that Spain sees e-scooters and e-bikes not arsenic toys, but arsenic vehicles pinch existent risks attached. From January 2026, uninsured riders could find themselves not only fined but besides personally liable for thousands of euros if an mishap occurs.

So if you trust connected 2 wheels to get astir town, it’s worthy getting up of nan curve. Insurance will soon beryllium arsenic overmuch a portion of your thrust arsenic your helmet.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for much news from Spain