Guidance

E-scooter trials: guidance for users

Where you are allowed to ride an e-scooter rented as part of a government trial, how to travel safely, licensing guidance and the rules of the road.

From:
Department for Transport
Published
13 July 2020
Last updated
1 June 2024 — See all updates

Introduction

The government is running trials of electric scooters (e-scooters). This guidance lists the rules for members of the general public who are using e-scooters that are part of trials.

These rules are only for rental e-scooters used as part of trials

The rules for private e-scooters have not changed. It is against the law to use a privately owned e-scooter on public land. If you use an e-scooter illegally:

  • you could face a fine
  • you could get penalty points on your licence
  • the e-scooter could be impounded

Trial areas

Trials are taking place in these areas:

  • Bournemouth and Poole
  • Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough)
  • Cambridge
  • Essex (Basildon, Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester)
  • Gloucestershire (Cheltenham and Gloucester)
  • Liverpool
  • London (participating boroughs)
  • Milton Keynes
  • Newcastle
  • North and West Northamptonshire (Northampton, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Rushden and Higham Ferrers)
  • North Devon
  • Norwich
  • Oxfordshire (Oxford)
  • Salford
  • Slough
  • Solent (Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton)
  • Somerset (Taunton, Minehead and Yeovil)
  • West Midlands (Birmingham)
  • West of England Combined Authority (Bristol and Bath)

The maximum speed for an e-scooter is 15.5mph.

Trial e-scooters are limited to this speed and in some areas e-scooters may be limited to a lower maximum speed.

Driving licences

You must have the category Q entitlement on your driving licence to use an e-scooter. A full or provisional UK licence for categories AM, A or B includes entitlement for category Q. If you have one of these licences, you can use an e-scooter.

If you have a provisional licence, you do not need to show L plates when using a rental e-scooter.

If you have an overseas driving licence, you can use an e-scooter if you:

  • have a valid full licence from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country (so long as this does not prohibit you from driving low-speed mopeds and motorcycles)
  • have a valid full licence from another country that entitles you to drive a small vehicle (for example, cars, mopeds or motorcycles) and you entered the UK within the last 12 months

Use our online tool to check if you can drive in Great Britain with your non-GB licence.

If you have been resident in the UK for more than 12 months, you must exchange your licence if you wish to continue driving in the UK.

You cannot use an e-scooter if you have an overseas provisional licence, learner permit or equivalent.

Insurance

E-scooters must have motor insurance, but you do not need to arrange this as this will be provided by your e-scooter rental operator.

Helmets and clothing

You should wear a cycle helmet when using an e-scooter. Helmets are recommended but are not a legal requirement.

Make sure that your cycle helmet conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and is securely fastened.

Wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing so that other road users can see you in daylight, poor light and in the dark.

Where you can use a trial e-scooter

You may use a trial e-scooter on the road (except motorways) and in cycle lanes.

You must not use an e-scooter on the pavement.

Traffic signs with the following cycle symbol apply to e-scooters (unless a sign is displayed prohibiting e-scooters from that particular cycle way):

Recommend route for pedal cycles traffic sign

Registration plates and vehicle excise duty

E-scooters do not need to be registered, display registration plates or pay vehicle excise duty.

Other safety rules for trial e-scooter users

  • e-scooters should only be used within the local area hosting the trial
  • e-scooters should be used by one person at a time
  • you must not tow anything using an e-scooter
  • you must not use a mobile phone when using an e-scooter
  • you may use a screen to display navigation information, but this must be set up prior to setting off
  • always ensure bags or other small items you are carrying will not cause a danger to you or others around you – for example, never hang them from the handlebars
  • you should not ride an e-scooter while drunk or otherwise intoxicated – you may be prosecuted under drink or drug driving laws as careless and dangerous driving offences also apply to users of e-scooters

  • you should also refer to the terms of use of the e-scooter operator before renting a trial e-scooter

Updates to this page

Published 13 July 2020
Last updated 1 June 2024 + show all updates

  1. Updated trial areas for the trial extension from 31 May 2024 to 31 May 2026.

  2. Derby and Nottingham listing removed.

  3. West Midlands (Birmingham) trial restarts, end of Reddich trial.

  4. West Midlands listing removed.

  5. North Devon trial opened.

  6. Sunderland trial removed.

  7. Removed Coventry as that trial has concluded.

  8. Copeland trial has ended.

  9. North Lincolnshire (Scunthorpe) trial ended.

  10. Slough, Kent, Sandwell and Brentwood removed from trial list.

  11. Removed North Devon from the trial areas list.

  12. Rochdale has withdrawn from the e-scooter trials.

  13. Removed Chard, Clacton and Crewkerne from the trial areas list.

  14. Trial list updated to add London, remove Staffordshire and amend areas referenced in Buckinghamshire, Essex and Somerset West.

  15. Added Gloucestershire (Cheltenham and Gloucester) and North and West Northamptonshire (Northampton, Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough) to trial areas.

  16. Added Sunderland, Great Yarmouth, North Devon (Barnstaple), Rochdale and Northamptonshire to trial areas.

  17. Added Clacton (Essex), Portsmouth and Southampton (Solent) and Chard and Crewkerne (South Somerset) trial areas.

  18. Addition of Colchester, Sandwell, Newcastle and Oxfordshire as trial areas.

  19. The list of trial areas has been updated.

  20. Added new trial areas: North Lincolnshire (Scunthorpe) plus Cheshire West and Chester.

  21. Added Copeland (Whitehaven) to list of trial areas.

  22. Added Solent (Isle of Wight) and Essex (Basildon) to trial areas.

  23. New trial areas added in Somerset West (Taunton), West of England Combined Authority (Bristol, Bath) and Kent (Canterbury).

  24. Addition of trial areas in Slough, Salford, South Somerset and Buckinghamshire.

  25. Added new trial areas: Nottingham, Derby, Cambridge, York.

  26. Added two new trial areas: Liverpool and Redditch.

  27. New trial areas in Staffordshire and Gloucestershire added.

  28. Added new trial area of Greater Norwich.

  29. Added details of new areas where trials are taking place (Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire and the West Midlands).

  30. First published.

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