Brussels Bans Shared E-Scooters From 1 January 2027: What Riders Should Know
Brussels has spent four years throttling back its shared e-scooter market, and the endgame is now fixed: shared rental scooters must leave the streets of the Brussels-Capital Region by 31 December 2026, after the regional government decided on 11 June 2026 to ban them outright from 1 January 2027. If you ride in the Belgian capital, that changes the maths on ownership — and our full range of electric scooters is built for exactly this shift from rental fleets to privately owned machines.
The numbers behind the decision are stark. In December 2023 the Brussels regional government cut shared micromobility licences from a free-for-all of roughly 20,000 vehicles down to a cap of 8,000, handing the two scooter licences to Bolt and Dott while Lime lost its permit. In June 2025 Brussels recorded about 14.5 million trips on shared bikes and scooters with 1.3 million active user accounts, according to the regional shared-mobility network Way To Go — usage figures reported by The Bulletin and The Brussels Times. Yet the government still voted to phase scooters out entirely, citing accident trends and misuse of the vehicles. On 29 July 2026 the Council of State annulled the outstanding scooter licences of Bolt and Dott on procedural grounds; on 21 August 2026 the region granted a transition period that lets the remaining fleets operate until 31 December 2026, after which the ban becomes permanent.
How Brussels ended up cancelling its shared scooter licences
2023: the squeeze begins
Brussels was one of Europe's most crowded shared-scooter markets until December 2023, when the region re-tendered its permits and slashed the authorised fleet from about 20,000 vehicles to 8,000. Only Bolt and Dott kept the two shared-scooter licences; Lime, which had previously operated in the capital, was excluded and switched its Brussels fleet to shared bikes. This was the first clear signal that the region wanted fewer vehicles and tighter control rather than open competition.
June 2026: the political decision
On 11 June 2026 the Brussels regional government decided that shared e-scooters would no longer be authorised at all from 1 January 2027, as tracked in the regulatory timeline compiled by governance.brussels. In July the government publicly justified the ban with rising accident numbers and reports of scooters being used in crime, according to The Brussels Times. Notably, shared bicycles were not banned — only scooters.
July–August 2026: courts and the transition deal
On 29 July 2026 Belgium's Council of State annulled the remaining permits held by Bolt and Dott (scooters and bikes) and the bike permit of Voi, because the government had failed to properly justify its decisions under the 1991 law on administrative reasoning; Lime won its appeal on procedural grounds, as reported by BRUZZ and RTBF. Rather than restore competition, the region issued a transition framework on 21 August 2026: shared scooters may run until 31 December 2026 and then disappear, while shared bikes continue until May 2028 with a cap of 2,500 bikes per operator. The public Villo! bike system and the Felyx moped-sharing service are unaffected, and — critically for consumers — privately owned scooters remain legal.
What the ban means for private riders
The Brussels ban targets shared fleets, not personal property. In Belgium a privately owned e-scooter that complies with the national "engin de déplacement" rules — motor power limited, speed capped at 25 km/h, ridden on cycle paths and roads where cycling is allowed — remains a legal way to commute. What disappears from 2027 is the convenience of picking up a rental on every corner: the roughly 14.5 million annual trips previously made on shared vehicles will have to move to walking, cycling, public transport or private ownership.
For many riders the practical answer is to own a machine outright. Ownership also suits riders whose needs go beyond what city rentals ever offered — longer range, suspension, all-weather tyres and real after-sales support. That is the gap SUNNIGOO designs for.
Where the SUNNIGOO X2MAX fits in
Riders who mostly ride on private grounds — large company campuses, industrial sites, holiday parks, farms and private roads — or who want a powerful machine for permitted off-road use should look at the SUNNIGOO X2MAX. It is a 2400W dual-motor off-road scooter: two motors deliver strong hill-climbing torque, the 10-inch pneumatic tyres and full suspension soak up rough ground, and the removable-style battery layout keeps maintenance simple. At €528 it is one of the most affordable dual-motor machines in the SUNNIGOO range, shipped from our EU warehouse in Germany (Messel) or Poland in 3 to 7 working days.
Be clear about the legal frame: a 2400W dual-motor scooter of this class is not road-legal on Belgian public roads, where the limit for e-scooters is 25 km/h and 250W continuous power in most configurations. The X2MAX is positioned for private property and off-road use where local rules permit. Riders who need a road-compliant machine for cycle-path commuting should instead choose a 25 km/h-compliant model and check the current Belgian SPF Mobility guidance before buying.
Brussels is not alone — and riders elsewhere should take notes
Brussels follows Paris, which banned rental scooters in September 2023 after a citizen vote. The pattern across Europe is consistent: cities are willing to shut down shared fleets they cannot control, but private ownership keeps growing because it offers better machines, clear responsibility and no subscription churn. For EU readers comparing models, our comparison of Spain's VMP registration rules and why only 140,000 of 4 million scooters are registered shows the same dynamic in another market.
For SUNNIGOO, the Belgian decision does not change the product line-up: EU warehouses, 2-year warranty on motor and chassis, CE EN 17128 certification and spare parts stocked in Germany and Poland. It does change who buys: expect more Brussels commuters to compare ownership costs against the loss of shared fleets in early 2027.
Conclusion
Shared e-scooters will vanish from Brussels on 31 December 2026 — the licences were cancelled in court, the ban was confirmed by government, and only the transition clock is still running. Riders who valued the convenience should start comparing private machines now, and buyers who want real power for private land should shortlist the SUNNIGOO X2MAX: 2400W of dual-motor torque for €528, delivered from the EU in 3 to 7 days.
FAQs
1. Are shared e-scooters really banned in Brussels?
Yes. The Brussels regional government decided on 11 June 2026 to stop authorising shared e-scooters from 1 January 2027. After the Council of State annulled the remaining licences on 29 July 2026, a transition period confirmed on 21 August 2026 lets shared scooters operate until 31 December 2026 only. From 2027 the ban is permanent (reported by The Brussels Times, The Bulletin and BRUZZ).
2. Can I still ride my own e-scooter in Brussels?
Yes — the ban covers shared rental fleets, not private vehicles. A privately owned e-scooter that meets Belgian rules (25 km/h cap, ridden where cycles are allowed) remains legal on public paths, and more powerful machines can be used on private property where permitted. Always confirm the current rules with SPF Mobility before riding.
3. What will replace the roughly 14.5 million shared trips?
There is no one-for-one replacement. Brussels is expanding bike infrastructure and keeps Villo! public bikes, while operators can still run shared bicycles until May 2028 (max 2,500 per operator). Part of the demand is expected to shift to private bikes and scooters, which is why ownership is increasingly attractive in the capital.
4. Is the SUNNIGOO X2MAX street-legal in Belgium?
No. With 2400W of dual-motor output, the X2MAX exceeds the Belgian public-road limits for e-scooters (25 km/h and low power). It is designed for private grounds and off-road use where local rules permit. For public-road commuting, choose a 25 km/h-compliant model and verify certification requirements first.
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