Dec 1, 2025
If you use an electric scooter to get around town, 2026 is a year to mark on your calendar. Important changes are coming: it will be mandatory to register the vehicle with the state and have civil liability insurance in order to ride it. The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has already warned that penalties for non-compliance with the regulations could reach €1,000.
Furthermore, from 2027 onwards, new technical safety requirements will come into force that not all current scooters comply with.
What will change in 2026 for electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles?
In July, the plenary session of Congress approved the reform of the laws on:
Civil liability and insurance in the circulation of motor vehicles, and
regulation, supervision and solvency of insurance and reinsurance undertakings.
Translated into everyday language: users of electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) will be required to comply.:
Take out civil liability insurance, and
Register the vehicle in a state public registry.
Basic calendar
Before 2 January 2026: the DGT must create and publish the state register of PMVs.
From the date of publication, users will have at least three weeksto register.
From 26 January 2026: it will be compulsory to drive with civil liability insurance and with the PMV already registered in the registry..
Moving without a policy or registration after that date will no longer be an option..
How and when to register your personal mobility vehicle with the DGT?
At present, it is not yet possible to register the scooter. The DGT is working to launch the registration system before 2 January 2026, but has not yet detailed the final procedure. The stated objective is that the process "can be carried out as simply as possible"..
The plan is for registration to be done online, through the DGT Electronic Headquarters, identifying yourself with:
digital certificate,
Electronic national identity card (DNIe), or
Cl@ve system.
Once the record has been published, the process will, in principle, be as follows:
Register the PMVs in the state registry.
Obtain the certificate of registration.
Place an identification label with the assigned registration number on the vehicle..
Who should register the scooter: the buyer or the shop?
The regulations are clear: registration is the responsibility of the owner of the personal mobility device, i.e. the purchaser, and not the establishment where the scooter is purchased.
If you are thinking of buying one, it is worth bearing in mind that, in addition to considering range, weight and power, you will also need to register it when this becomes available. A little bureaucracy in exchange for peace of mind on the road.
Which vehicles must be registered? Weight and speed
The definition of PMVs includes:
Vehicles with one or more wheels.
Electric motor.
Designed for a single person.
Speed between 6 and 25 km/h.
It's not just electric scooters: it also includes Segways, hoverboards and even certain types of electric bicycles.
The registration requirement also depends on the weight and speed:
If the PMV weighs less than 25 kg, it must be registered and have civil liability insurance if it can reach 25 km/h..
If the PMV exceeds 25 kg, it will suffice for it to reach 14 km/h to be entered in the register..
In Spain, it is estimated that there are around 5 million electric scooters. According to data from the DGT, in 2024 these PMVs were involved in over 2,000 accidents, which is why controls and the obligation to insure them are being reinforced.
Fines and compulsory insurance: how much are we talking about?
Penalties for failing to comply with the new regulations can be as high as €1,000..
The law stipulates that fines will be approximately one third of those applicable to motor vehicles, so the usual range will be between:
200 to 1.000 euros.
With regard to the policy, specific insurance for PMVs must include, as a minimum, very high coverage:
In short: it's better to invest some time in registration and insurance than risk a hefty fine. Furthermore, the identification sticker will allow authorities to quickly verify that the personal mobility vehicle (PMV) is up to date..
Mandatory requirements from 22 January 2027: does your scooter comply?
The changes introduced in 2024 to the General Traffic Regulations and the General Vehicle Regulations do not yet fully affect PMVs, but this will change in 2027.
As of 22 January 2027, all PMVs operating in Spain must comply with a series of technical safety standards. If they do not comply, they will not be able to be registered or insured, with the consequent risk of penalties.
List of key technical requirements
Your VMP must include, among other things:
Maximum speed limited to 25 km/h.
Anti-tampering systems for speed and power.
Speed indicator and load level.
Two independent brakes, with minimum deceleration of 3.5 m/s².
Parking brake for vehicles with more than two wheels.
Retroreflectors:
white front,
white or yellow side panels,
red rear.
Brake light separate or combined with rear light.
Acoustic warning device and side stand or centre stand.
Rough wheels with a minimum diameter of 203.2 mm.
Secure folding systemwith double mechanism to prevent accidental opening.
In other words, many users will have to adapt their scooters or consider purchasing a new model before January 2027. Taking advantage of sales such as Black Friday or Christmas campaigns may be a good idea if you already know that your PMV does not meet these conditions..
How to reach key dates without any surprises
Check whether your VMP meets the official definition.
Velocidad entre 6 y 25 km/h.
Weight and speed in any of these cases:
less than 25 kg and up to 25 km/h,
over 25 kg and from 14 km/h.
Review the technical requirements for 2027
If your scooter does not meet the list of requirements (brakes, lights, wheels, anti-tampering systems, etc.), consider upgrading it or looking for a model that is already compliant..
Keep an eye out for the publication of the state register.
Must appear before 2 January 2026. When opened:
Register your PMV,
download the vehicle registration certificate,
place the identification label with the assigned number.
Do not rush the deadlines.
Although the regulation guarantees at least three weeks from the publication of the register, as of 26 January 2026 you will definitely need it:
PMV registered, and
civil liability policy in force.
Everything indicates that the procedures can be carried out online using a digital certificate, electronic ID card or Cl@ve from the DGT's Electronic Headquarters.