article_detail

Electric scooter owners across Spain are getting an unexpected break after the government admitted its mandatory insurance scheme won't be ready in time, sparing riders another hit to the wallet after an expensive Christmas.

 

The new rules, which were supposed to kick in on Friday January 2, have been thrown into chaos because the national registry where all personal mobility vehicles need to be logged simply isn't operational yet. The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has sheepishly confirmed the delay, leaving more than half a million e-scooter riders in limbo.

 

The measure was part of Law 5/2025, which was meant to bring electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles into line with cars and motorbikes by making sure they're all covered for accidents. The idea was simple enough, to guarantee that if someone on a scooter causes damage to other people or property, there's insurance to pick up the tab.

 

But the royal decree that's supposed to underpin the whole registry has got stuck in the system. Even though it's being rushed through as an urgent matter, traffic bosses have had to put their hands up and admit it won't be sorted in time.

 

Until that registry is up and running properly, they can't force anyone to take out insurance.

 

Insurance was always voluntary before, though plenty of companies were already flogging policies to the more cautious riders. Now those half a million to one million scooter users, according to DGT and industry estimates, get to keep their cash in their pockets a bit longer.

 

However, if you've got one of the beefier models, a personal mobility vehicle weighing more than 25 kilos or capable of hitting speeds above 14 kilometres per hour, you still need to get insured even without the registry. Owners of these speedier machines have until January 26 to sort out a policy, no excuses.

 

The delay comes at a time when accidents and complaints about electric scooters have gone through the roof. Spain has seen more than 1,600 infractions related to these vehicles in just two years, with police ramping up controls and road safety campaigns to protect pedestrians and cyclists from rogue riders.

 

In the meantime, there's a temporary fix in place. The Insurance Compensation Consortium will step in to cover personal injuries caused by uninsured scooters, although if your car gets dinged or your property gets damaged, you're on your own. Material damages aren't covered under this stopgap arrangement.

 

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Castellón de la Plana