31/05/2026
🛴 E-Scooters (Privately Owned)
Legal Status:
• Private e-scooters are illegal on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, parks, and other public spaces. They are legally classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act, meaning you must have insurance, a licence, registration and number plates — which private scooters typically don’t have. Riding one on public roads/pavements/cycle lanes/parks and other public spaces can lead to:
o Fines of £300 for no insurance and/or £100 for no driving licence
o Penalty points on your driving licence – 6 points for no insurance and/or 3-6 points for no driving licence
o Your scooter being seized by police which will not be returned
** You can legally use a private e-scooter on private land — but only with the landowner’s permission **
Current Law Position:
• E-scooter trials have been extended — meaning no permanent legal framework yet for private ownership on public roads.
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🚲 E-Bikes (Electric Bikes / EAPCs)
Legal E-Bike / Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC)
A bike is legal to ride on the road without licence, tax or insurance if it meets the EAPC criteria:
It must:
1. Have pedals you can use normally
2. Use an electric motor which is no more than 250 watts
3. Only provide assistance while you pedal
4. Cut out assistance at 15.5 mph (25 km/h)
If all these are met, it’s treated like a regular bicycle on roads and cycle paths.
Non-Compliant E-Bikes
If an e-bike:
• Has a more powerful motor
• Can propel itself without pedalling
• Exceeds 15.5 mph with motor assistance
…then it’s classed as a motor vehicle, and must be:
• Taxed
• Insured
• Registered
• Ridden with a suitable licence
Otherwise, using one on public roads is illegal and officers can seize it.
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⚠️ Penalties & Enforcement
• Riding a private e-scooter on public land: Fine + points + seizure.
• Using a non-EAPC e-bike illegally: Similar motor vehicle offences apply.
• Other actions (e.g., using a phone while riding, drink-driving) attract the same penalties as for other vehicles.