E-scooters

Are you e-smart about the law on e-scooters?

An e-scooter (electric scooter) is defined as a "powered transporter", which is a category that includes various personal transport devices powered by a motor.

Privately-owned e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, pavements, and cycle lanes.

You can only ride a privately-owned electric scooter on private land with the permission of the landowner.

Penalties for Illegal Use:

• Fines up to £300.
• Six penalty points on your driving licence. This could mean an automatic driving ban for new drivers, as a licence will be revoked if anyone racks up six points in their first two years of driving.
• Seizure of the e-scooter by police.

Rental e-scooters

Rental e-scooters are legal only in areas with government-approved trial schemes.

You can only rent an electric scooter through official electric scooter rental schemes in certain areas of the country. These rental schemes are also known as ‘e-scooter trials’ and have their own rules.

Information about Nottingham's e-scooter hire scheme is available here.

You can ride a rented electric scooter on public roads, including cycle lanes.

It is illegal to ride a rented electric scooter on a pavement or a motorway.

You must have a full or provisional UK licence.

You might be able to use a full driving licence from another country. Check the rules for using your licence in the UK.

If you have a provisional driving licence, you do not need to show L plates when you ride an electric scooter.

The rental scheme operator will provide third-party motor insurance.