Noticias

If you ride an electric scooter in Europe, 2026 is the year the rulebook got a serious rewrite. From new helmet decrees in France to a nationwide registration and insurance system in Spain, from Italy's mandatory identification plates to Germany's first major reform of its e-scooter ordinance, nearly every major market is tightening the screws — and the changes land at different dates, with different fines, in different cities. We track these changes closely because they affect what you should buy and where you can legally ride it. In this guide, we break down what exactly is new in Germany, France, Spain and Italy as of September 2026, what riders are most worried about right now, and how to make sure the scooter you own — or plan to buy — stays on the right side of the law. Germany: The eKFV Reform Has Started — What Actually Changes Germany's Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge-Verordnung (eKFV) remains the legal backbone for e-scooters, and the core rules are unchanged for now: a design speed between 6 and 20 km/h, a minimum age of 14 years, no nationwide helmet requirement (though it is strongly recommended), and — critically — mandatory liability insurance with a visible insurance sticker renewed every year. What is new is that a federal reform package begins entering into force from 1 April 2026, with some provisions only arriving in March 2027. The government has openly acknowledged that the current rules "no longer reflect" how widely e-scooters are used. Early outlines focus on: More systematic enforcement of insurance and type approval (ABE/EBE) — riding without a valid sticker can mean fines and even confiscation. Clearer rules on parking and sidewalk clutter, a growing complaint in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. Stricter handling of drunk riding, with penalties aligned to car DUI rules. An active — but not yet decided — debate about a national helmet mandate. What riders in Germany should watch: the ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis) approval is non-negotiable. A scooter without an ABE or EBE sticker is simply not street-legal, no matter how good its specs look. This is exactly why the SUNNIGOO N5 carries full ABE certification — it is built for the German market from day one, not adapted to it after the fact. France: Helmet Decrees Are Spreading, Department by Department France classifies e-scooters as EDPM (engins de déplacement personnel motorisés). The national framework caps speed at 25 km/h, bans pavement riding (fine: €135), prohibits headphones while riding, and sets a €1,500 fine for exceeding 25 km/h. Minimum age is 14, and passengers are not allowed. The real story of 2026, however, is local. A wave of prefectural decrees has been making helmets and retro-reflective gear mandatory in specific departments and cities: Paris and its surrounding departments (Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne) already require them under local orders. Yvelines, just west of Paris, brings a helmet and high-visibility vest obligation into force on 15 September 2026 — with fines of up to €150 per missing item, meaning €300 if you ride without both. Alpes-Maritimes, Yonne, Manche and others have adopted similar decrees. Nationally, the government is pushing for a countrywide helmet mandate for e-scooters, though political resistance has slowed the process. The question French riders ask most: "Do I need a helmet where I live, right now?" The honest answer is that it depends on your department, and the map is growing. Our advice: wear one everywhere. A certified helmet costs far less than a €150 fine — and considerably less than a head injury. Spain: The Big October Reset — Helmets, Age Limits, Plates and Insurance Spain is undergoing the most sweeping change of the four countries. Under the reformed General Traffic Regulations administered by the DGT, from 1 October 2026: Helmets become mandatory nationwide for every e-scooter rider, ending the patchwork of city-level rules that previously applied in Seville, Barcelona and Valencia. The minimum riding age rises to 15 — a major concern for families whose younger teens currently ride. On top of that, the 2026 national regulation introduces registration and insurance: Owners must register through the DGT's online system, pay a small fee (about €8.64) and display a visible license plate. Dedicated liability insurance is required — with civil liability coverage of roughly €6.45 million and typical premiums of €60–220 per year. Ordinary household policies generally do not cover this. There is also good news for commuters: national rail operator Renfe restored the ability to bring e-scooters on most trains from 7 September 2026 — but only for scooters that are DGT-compliant, approved and registered. For the growing number of Spanish riders combining train and scooter, that makes registration not just a legal duty but a practical necessity. What riders in Spain should watch: with the October deadline approaching, registration and insurance are the two tasks to complete now. A scooter with a certified 20 km/h configuration, lights, brakes and a bell — like the SUNNIGOO N8 — ticks the technical boxes the DGT framework expects. Italy: Plates and Insurance Are Now the Law — and Enforcement Is Real Italy already had one of Europe's strictest e-scooter regimes: helmets mandatory for all riders since December 2024 (a CE-tested bicycle helmet meeting EN 1078 — not just any headgear), a 20 km/h speed cap (6 km/h in pedestrian zones), riding allowed only on urban roads with limits up to 50 km/h and cycle paths, and a strict ban on extra-urban roads and pavements. 2026 added the two big missing pieces: From 16 May 2026, every e-scooter — private and shared — must display a non-removable identification plate or sticker, requested online via the Portale dell'Automobilista. Total cost lands around €30–33 including fees. Riding without it triggers fines of €100–400 and possible confiscation. From July 2026, dedicated third-party liability insurance (RC) is compulsory, with annual premiums typically around €35–150. Enforcement is not theoretical. Shared operators Lime, Bird and Dott were fined €2.6 million in Rome in August 2026 for compliance failures — a signal that authorities apply the same standard to everyone. The plate is person-bound but can be transferred to a new scooter, so it is a one-time administrative burden per owner. What riders in Italy should watch: the fully digital registration process (no walk-in option) means waiting times can bite near deadlines. If you are importing or buying a new scooter, build the plate and insurance steps into your purchase timeline. The Questions European Riders Ask Most in 2026 Across Google and AI assistants, the same questions keep coming up — and they map almost perfectly onto the changes above: "Are e-scooters legal in my city?" — Legality now varies not just by country but by department and city, especially in France. "Do I need insurance?" — Yes in Germany (with annual sticker), and now in Spain and Italy; dedicated policies, not household ones. "Do I need a helmet?" — Mandatory for all in Italy; nationwide in Spain from 1 October 2026; spreading by decree in France; still voluntary but under debate in Germany. "Can I take my scooter on the train?" — In Spain, yes from 7 September 2026, but only if registered and compliant. "Is a 25 km/h scooter legal everywhere?" — No. Germany and Italy cap at 20 km/h; a 25 km/h device is not street-legal there. Buy for your country's limit, not the brochure's top speed. "Can I use a scooter bought in one EU country in another?" — Not automatically. Approvals like Germany's ABE do not transfer, and Spain and Italy now require their own registration. How to Buy Smart Under the New Rules The regulatory map is more complex, but the buying logic is simpler than ever: Match the design speed to your country. 20 km/h covers Germany and Italy; 25 km/h is fine in France. A scooter that can be derestricted past the limit is a liability, not a feature. Check the approval paperwork first. Germany needs ABE/EBE; Spain and Italy need registration-ready documentation (CoC, compliance certificates). Ask the seller before you pay. Budget for the running costs. Insurance sticker in Germany (annual), plate + insurance in Spain and Italy. A cheap scooter with an unfixable compliance gap is the most expensive purchase of all. Buy the helmet now, wherever you live. Three of the four biggest markets already require or are moving toward mandatory helmets. A CE-certified helmet is the cheapest legal insurance you can buy. At SUNNIGOO we build for these rules rather than around them: the N5 with ABE certification for Germany, the N8 with a CE-certified 20 km/h configuration, and full documentation support for registration in every market we ship to. Explore the range at sunnigoo.com — and if you are not sure which model is legal where you live, ask us before you buy. FAQ Do I need a helmet to ride an e-scooter in Europe in 2026? It depends on the country. Italy requires a CE-tested helmet (EN 1078) for all riders. Spain makes helmets mandatory nationwide from 1 October 2026. In France, helmets are required in a growing list of departments (e.g. Paris area, Yvelines from 15 September 2026) with fines up to €150 per missing item. Germany has no national helmet law yet but strongly recommends one. Do I have to register my e-scooter with a license plate? In Italy, yes — since 16 May 2026 every e-scooter must carry a non-removable identification plate (about €30–33 total via the Portale dell'Automobilista). In Spain, registration through the DGT's online system with a visible plate (fee about €8.64) is required under the 2026 national regulation. Germany does not use plates but requires an annual insurance sticker. Is insurance mandatory for private e-scooters in Europe? In Germany, mandatory liability insurance with a yearly sticker has always been required. Italy made dedicated third-party (RC) insurance compulsory from July 2026 (roughly €35–150/year). Spain requires dedicated insurance under the 2026 framework (roughly €60–220/year, with coverage around €6.45 million). France does not currently mandate specific e-scooter insurance nationally, but liability coverage is strongly recommended. What is the legal speed limit for e-scooters in Germany, France, Spain and Italy? Germany and Italy cap e-scooters at 20 km/h (with 6 km/h in Italian pedestrian zones). France caps EDPM at 25 km/h, with fines up to €1,500 for exceeding it. Spain's new national framework aligns with standard European limits while adding registration, helmet and age rules from 1 October 2026. Can I ride an e-scooter bought in one EU country in another EU country? Not automatically. Germany requires ABE/EBE type approval that other countries' certifications do not replace, and Spain and Italy now require national registration and plates. Before crossing a border, check the destination country's design-speed limit, approval requirements and registration rules — a scooter legal at home may be illegal abroad. Can I take my e-scooter on trains in Spain? Yes. From 7 September 2026, Renfe allows e-scooters on most trains again, but only if the scooter is approved, DGT-compliant and registered with the required identification. Unregistered scooters can be refused.