N
Common Ground News

Are electric scooters legal in the UK 2020?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on February 16, 2026

Are electric scooters legal in the UK 2020?

Electric scooters became legal on roads in England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday 4 July 2020 if obtained through a share scheme.

Regarding this, are electric scooters legal in the UK?

The UK is one of the last countries in Europe where the use of e-scooters on roads is illegal, and they are banned anywhere except on private land.

Furthermore, do you need a Licence for an electric scooter UK? You must have the category Q entitlement on your driving licence to use an e-scooter. A full or provisional UK licence for categories AM, A or B includes entitlement for category Q. If you have one of these licences, you can use an e-scooter.

Also to know, why are electric scooters illegal in the UK?

It's illegal to use them on public roads, on pavements, in cycle lanes and in pedestrian-only areas. The reason for this is that electric scooters are currently classed as 'powered transporters' by the government and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles.

Can you own an electric scooter?

In New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, it is legal to ride an e-scooter only on private property. In Tasmania, Victoria, the Northern Territory and the ACT, e-scooters below 200-watts may be ridden at speeds up to 10km/h in some public places.

Can you ride Segways in the UK?

No, you can't ride a Segway on the road in the UK. That's the simple answer. In this DfT Powered Transporters document, it clearly states that devices such as Segways, Hoverboards, GoPeds and so on, are classed as motor vehicles in the United Kingdom and therefore the appropriate law applies.

Are electric skateboards illegal in UK?

Are Electric Skateboards legal in the UK? The short answer is no. Technically, you are not allowed to ride your electric skateboard on the road or footpath in England, Scotland and Wales.
E-bikes are classed as regular non-assisted bicycles in Great Britain but if they supply electrical assistance when travelling at more than 25kph (15.5mph), have a motor which generates more than 250 Watts of power or motor assistance can be provided without the bike's pedals being in motion, they will be legally

Are Hoverboards illegal in the UK 2020?

Are hoverboard Legal in UK 2020? The short answer to the question is yes, Hoverboards are legal in UK. Private property is legally the only place in which hoverboard can be used however seeing these devices in the street and at the shopping centre is not unusual.

Can a child ride an electric scooter on the pavement?

Just as with petrol scooters, you can't legally ride an electric scooter on the pavement. The Go has a top speed of 30mph, and so would be dangerous to ride in a space intended for pedestrians. Because it has the same top speed as a 50cc scooter, there's no need for you to be riding it on the pavement anyway.

Do electric scooters need Licence?

Do you need a licence to ride an electric scooter in NSW? An electric scooter is legally classed as a motorcycle so in NSW you can be fined for riding unlicensed if you do not hold a class R licence. Even with the correct licence it is still illegal to ride an electric scooter in NSW on a road or road related area.

Can you ride electric scooter on the pavement?

Central London looks set to become one of the first places in the UK where you can legally ride a rental e-scooter on the road. It became legal to ride a rental e-scooter on public roads, as well as pavements, on July 1, following a change in the law.

Can you ride a scooter on the pavement UK?

Electric powered scooters and self-balancing Segways were banned from public pavements in the UK in 2006 when DFT invoked section 72 of The 1835 Highways Act. Electric kick-scooters are legal on the pavement up to 6kph (walking pace) and up to 25kph on the cycle lane.
Electric Scooters and UK Roads

The Xiaomi M365 Electric Scooter also travels less than 15.5 mph, it has handles, two-wheels, brakes and front / rear lights but because it doesn't have pedals, it is illegal!

How old do you have to be to ride an electric scooter UK?

16 years old

Can I ride an electric scooter in the rain?

Electric scooters are water-resistant or splash resistant and not waterproof. That is why you can ride them in light rain. But if you ride through flooded streets, overflowing rivers, or deep puddles, you will render the scooter inoperable. Also, you may cause permanent damage to the e-scooter.

Are electric scooters still illegal?

Privately owned e-scooters are still banned from roads. As this legislation has been rushed through, companies such as Spin, Tier, Lime and Bird — who ran an e-scooter trial in London's Olympic Park — are now be scrambling to work with local authorities to get schemes up and running.
The adult electric scooter is powered partly by a battery motor and is therefore classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicle (PLEV) by the Department for Transport (DfT), making it illegal to use on UK roads and pavements. However, it is legal to use them on private land and property.

Should I buy an electric scooter?

An electric scooter will almost certainly work for your commute if you have one under 12 miles or so. Keep in mind that the whole commute could be much longer if you end up using other forms of transportation. This adds up to 1456 miles annually and a savings of $874 compared to traveling by car.

How fast do electric scooters go?

Most regular electric scooters have a max speed of 20mph.

With a carbon fiber frame and a massive 5000-watt motor, it has been tested at reaching speeds of over 60 mph. It is claimed that it could reach eye-wateringly fast speeds of 80 miles per hour!

What Licence do I need for an electric motorbike UK?

For most electric bikes, you do not need a licence of any kind. Only if the bike has a motor rated more than 250W or an assissted speed of higher than 15.5mph will you need a licence.

Do Halfords sell electric scooters?

Top electric scooter brands at Halfords.

How much do the electric scooters cost?

Some of the higher end models of electric scooters for adult riders cost upwards of $600 with an electric motor battery charge time of 3.5 hours and a speed of up to 15 mph. However, the average electric scooter cost is around $300.

Are electric scooters dangerous?

The most common accidents noted were falls, collisions with objects and riders getting struck by a moving vehicle or object. 40% of the resulting injuries were bone fractures, with head trauma also noted in 31.7% of cases. 27.7% involved cuts, sprains and bruises.

Are electric scooters waterproof?

Electric scooters are not waterproof in general. What is more interesting to us, however, is if the scooter is water-resistant. Being waterproof means that it can be thrown into a pool and survive without any damage.

Related Documentation

Where can you watch the new ET?

What happened Fan Bingbing?

Who is the music director of Remo?

Are electric scooters legal in the UK 2020?