From January 2026, anyone riding an electric scooter in Spain will need to have mandatory civil liability insurance in place – a landmark change aimed at improving road safety as the popularity of the vehicle continues to soar.
The new requirement, approved by Congress through a reform of the Motor Vehicle Insurance Law, comes alongside the creation of a national registry of owners under the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT).
For the first time, lawmakers have also formally defined what constitutes a vehículo personal ligero (light personal vehicle) – essentially, one-person electric vehicles weighing under 25kg and capable of speeds between 6 and 25km/h, or heavier models capped at 14km/h.
Why the change?
Until now, when a rider was at fault in an accident, victims – whether pedestrians or drivers – were left unprotected and out of pocket.
Authorities say the new rule brings scooters in line with motorcycles and cars, ensuring third parties can claim damages.
The move follows alarming figures from the Fundación MAPFRE, which reported 396 scooter-related incidents in 2024, up 23% from the previous year.
Some 14 people were killed last year, including a motorcyclist who died in a collision involving an electric scooter.
The main causes of accidents include collisions with other vehicles (65%), falls (22%) and hitting pedestrians (10%).
A booming trend
Spain is estimated to have around five million scooters on its roads – and rising. With their convenience and eco-friendly appeal, e-scooters have become a fixture in cities like Madrid, Malaga, and Barcelona.
But their rapid spread has outpaced regulation, prompting urgent calls to rein in risks and safeguard pedestrians.
The DGT will be tasked with managing the new registry, though details of its rollout remain unclear.
However, from January, riders without insurance could face penalties, while those involved in crashes will no longer be able to dodge liability.
