Electric scooter owners must have insurance from January 2026
From January 2026, all owners of personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) such as electric scooters will be legally required to have third-party liability insurance in order to circulate in Spain, including here in the Canary Islands.
The change comes after the Spanish Congress approved a reform of the Motor Insurance Law, aimed at improving protection for victims of accidents involving these vehicles. Until now, e-scooters could be used without any form of insurance, leaving pedestrians, drivers, or cyclists involved in accidents potentially unprotected if the rider was found at fault.
In many cases, injured parties have faced difficulties receiving compensation, as scooter users often declared themselves insolvent, while others had to respond with their personal assets.
What the law says
The reform introduces a new definition of “light personal vehicle”, which includes electric motor vehicles with one or more wheels, a single seat, a maximum speed between 6 and 25 km/h, and weighing less than 25 kilograms. If they exceed that weight, their maximum legal speed must be 14 km/h.
However, police highlight that many scooters are modified illegally to travel much faster, with some reaching 60 km/h or more, and it is also common to see more than one rider on the same scooter, both practices being illegal.
The government says the new insurance requirement seeks to balance the promotion of sustainable transport with the safety of road users and pedestrians. A dedicated commission will now draft the detailed regulations on how the insurance obligation will be implemented.
National register of scooters
In addition, the reform paves the way for the creation of a national register of scooter owners, which will be managed by the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT). This register is expected to be in place by January, although details on how it will be implemented have not yet been released.
The Spanish Federation of Personal Mobility Vehicles estimated in 2023 that there were around five million scooters in circulation, but the true number is unknown. Some authorities believe usage has fallen in recent years, partly due to restrictions banning e-scooters on public transport because of fire and explosion risks linked to their batteries.
Several cities, including Madrid, have also revoked the licences of scooter rental companies over safety concerns for pedestrians. Industry groups such as AECA-ITV have long called for scooters to undergo a technical inspection (similar to the ITV for cars) to prevent tampering that increases speed or fire risks. By 2027, only certified and approved models will be permitted to circulate in Spain.
Accident compensation reform
The legislative changes also include improvements in traffic accident compensation. Victims will now be able to access police reports for free, medical assessments will be carried out more quickly, and disputes can be resolved through mediation or other alternatives to avoid lengthy court cases.
Compensation amounts will also be updated in line with inflation, with expanded coverage for household carers and family members. The Insurance Compensation Consortium will take responsibility in new cases where:
- an insurer becomes insolvent (including foreign insurers),
- an accident is caused deliberately, or
- a vehicle circulates without mandatory insurance.
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