Electric scooters have conquered Spanish cities, generating no little controversy between drivers and pedestrians. The proliferation of private scooters and, above all, rental scooters operated by different companies have forced the council in many cities to regulate its use. But also the occupation of public space, something that not everyone is happy about.
Regulation of its use
But we will agree, both drivers and pedestrians, as users of electric scooters, that the existing regulations are insufficient Today. For this reason, it is increasingly recurrent that they are in the center of attention (and discussion) in most cases.
In fact, the latest information already clarifies that, although their current legislation does not require them to carry their registration, the electric scooter is studying a close update for them. In order to guarantee the maximum safety and circulation of users, vehicles and pedestrians, we have with them one of the best disposition to move.
But, yes, of which a normative system that is continually renewing itself. That is why one of the most frequent questions is given to them: what is the registration system of an electric scooter like? What does the DGT say? What do we have to attend to and what steps should we follow? They are questions that are given to a greater extent, especially in the case of those who are more inexperienced or who have just arrived in this type of vehicle.
What the regulations say
First, a subsection. This vehicle registration (car, motorcycle, scooter …) is the process by which Traffic assigns a unique combination of letters and numbers to the car, which will later appear on its license plate and which allows identify it in any circumstance, since it is recorded in the DGT vehicle registry.
For their part, electric scooters, like other personal mobility vehicles, VPNs, have gone from not having a regulation that regulates their use … to having every time more rules that limit and restrict its use, in the same way that occurs with other types of vehicles that circulate on public roads.
Now, the DGT is already developing a new Royal Decree (extended from the one in force in January 2021), which it hopes will be published this year and which will determine all the aspects that affect electric scooters of a unified regulation. Even so, everything indicates that it will be chosen don’t force users to the registration of some electric scooters, as has been done until now.
Therefore, the answer is half: we are not obliged to register them, especially NPVs that do not exceed 25 km / h, but either due to precautionary measures, and above all for security, where it is always recommended to act at this, especially for everyone’s. In this sense, it is also important to pay attention to a series of points that are what they will do because we stay with the solidity and conviction necessary at all times in which we circulate with them.
- Electric scooters are considered vehicles, but they do not need registration.
- You cannot drive on the sidewalk with these VMP.
- The maximum speed will be 25 km / h.
- It is strictly prohibited using the cellphone or having ingested alcohol or drugs while using the skateboard.
- DGT recommends, but not required, to wear a reflective vest and have insurance.
What does it consist of
Yes indeed. At the same time that it does not require this, the DGT offered the municipalities a series of transitory recommendations so that they would be the ones to impose the regulation. Given the different regulations that had been established in each municipal ordinance, the DGT has become serious. That is why I decided to unify in a single regulation the rules to be followed to circulate safely in this VMP. As well as that pedestrians, scooters and other users of the public road can coexist peacefully.
What has most attracted the attention of this law of the General Directorate of Traffic is that, to circulate legally, it requires carrying a circulation certificate that includes the technical specifications of the electric vehicle. If these technical characteristics do not comply with the regulations of the DGT, you run the risk of being fined.
We know that according to this regulation, scooters cannot exceed 25 km / hThey cannot go on sidewalks, but they can go on bike lanes. Depending on the municipal ordinance of each locality, they may use the road in sections limited to 30 km / h or pedestrian streets with a maximum speed of 20 km / h. But what is still not very clear is the registration process of our electric scooter, when it should be done and for which models it is mandatory.
- For legal purposes, those that reach or exceed 50 km / h are classified as mopeds and therefore, according to European legislation and the new Vehicle Regulations approved in Royal Decree, they must be homologated and be registered.
- In the case of the electric scooter that does not have a saddle or a segway that does not exceed 25 km / h as maximum speed, they are classified as NPV and they do not need to register nor pay any type of road tax. They only need the certificate of circulation required by the DGT.
Enrollment process
Except for these occasions where they are considered as moped vehicles, and for which they are required to be registered, in the rest of the cases this is voluntary. In the absence of mandatory by law, and with the growing use of these vehicles, the municipalities are asking that a regulation be created to help regulate this situation. This means, in line with what was commented in the previous point, that at some point it will become mandatory, although we do not know for sure when that moment will come.
Therefore, registering your scooter is something that is solely our decision, and that is positive because it will benefit our safety and that of all, but it is only in our hands. It should also be borne in mind that, in case of wanting to register it, we must do so through the DGT, at any Traffic Headquarters, carry out all the procedure and pay a price of € 27.30.
Data sheet
In this sense, and once we have addressed Traffic through the General Directorate of Traffic, the first thing we should have on hand (before any request) is to have what will be the technical sheet of our vehicle, a document that They will have provided us at the time of purchase, and that is useful for cases like this of the registration of our electric scooter.
However, this will be the one that identifies it, and where it will be where all the characteristics appear. It will contain all the specifications, three of which are very essential: maximum power, curb weight and dimensions (high wide long). Likewise, said data sheet must be compiled (stamped by the manufacturer). In practice, a copy of the vehicle’s warranty book could be worth.
Enrollment application
Next, and after having the technical sheet in our hand, it will be necessary to provide in any case what is called the registration application. As in any registration, it is necessary for this entire process. In principle it does not have to be too long, but the truth is that it will be quite simple, this if we follow the steps in the correct order. Once completed, we will have to request an appointment at the Traffic Headquarters and present the following documents (in addition to paying the cost of the procedure).
- DNI
- ITV card
- Driver’s License
- Road tax paid.
- Presentation document of the Registration Tax
Identification and power limiter
Regarding the same technical sheet and the application, for the registration we must also have the identification of the electric scooter, a key detail for the final registration. Thus, the VPN must have serial or chassis number not removable on the chassis that allows its identification.
This leads us to also have the power limitation certificate, if applicable. This is the one that appears on a sticker attached to the vehicle. Thus, if the power were greater than 250W You must install a power limiter and must present a certificate of its installation by an authorized technician or workshop for this type of installation.