DGT Electric Scooter Changes: New Rules Riders Need to Know

CITY – HIGRH NEWS: DGT electric scooter changes

The latest DGT electric scooter changes introduce new requirements for people who use electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles in Spain. The rules cover minimum age, helmet use, lighting, visibility equipment and how riders must signal turns and changes of direction.

The changes will affect private riders, young people and delivery workers who depend on electric scooters for their daily activities. Some lighting requirements will also be introduced through a transition period.

For anyone who uses an electric scooter regularly, the key question is simple: what exactly will change from October 1, and what could happen if you fail to comply?

The new DGT rules affecting electric scooters

Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has established a common regulatory framework for personal mobility vehicles, known in Spanish as VMP.

The framework sets general requirements for people who ride these vehicles and establishes rules covering safety equipment, visibility and road use.

Municipal authorities will continue to have powers over local traffic arrangements. This means individual cities can maintain stricter rules in certain areas or establish additional restrictions within their legal powers.

For riders, that creates two levels of rules to consider: the national requirements and any additional regulations that apply in their municipality.

The changes are particularly relevant to people who use electric scooters as part of their everyday transportation.

Among the main requirements are:

• Riders must be at least 15 years old.
• Helmets are mandatory for VMP riders.
• Professional riders must wear a high-visibility reflective vest.
• Electric scooters must meet lighting and visibility requirements.
• Riders must use their arm to signal turns and changes of direction.

These requirements create a more clearly defined set of responsibilities for electric scooter users.

A national framework for personal mobility vehicles

The new framework is designed to establish common rules for VMP use while leaving municipalities with powers over local circulation.

That distinction is important because a rider cannot assume that meeting the national requirements automatically means every route is permitted.

Local authorities can regulate the roads and areas where personal mobility vehicles may operate, meaning riders should also check the rules in the city where they use their scooter.

The DGT’s official information on personal mobility vehicles explains the technical and regulatory requirements that apply to these vehicles.

Official DGT information on personal mobility vehicles

Helmet, age limit and other obligations for scooter riders

One of the most significant changes concerns the use of helmets.

The new rules make helmet use mandatory for people riding personal mobility vehicles. This means the helmet becomes an essential part of the equipment required for electric scooter journeys.

The requirement applies regardless of whether the trip is for commuting, personal travel or another everyday purpose covered by the regulation.

The minimum age is another major change.

Riders must be at least 15 years old

The national rules establish 15 as the minimum age for operating a personal mobility vehicle.

This is particularly important for younger riders and their families. Parents and guardians should take the new age requirement into account before allowing a minor to operate an electric scooter.

However, the national minimum does not prevent municipalities from establishing stricter conditions within their powers.

A city may therefore have additional requirements that riders need to check before using an electric scooter on its streets.

Rules concerning pedestrian areas

The new framework also reinforces the distinction between spaces intended for pedestrians and areas where personal mobility vehicles can circulate.

Electric scooters cannot use sidewalks as ordinary circulation space.

Riders therefore need to pay attention not only to their age and protective equipment but also to where they are legally allowed to ride.

This is particularly important in busy urban areas where pedestrian routes, cycle infrastructure and roads can be located close together.

Lights, visibility and required equipment

Lighting is another important part of the new requirements.

Personal mobility vehicles must have the lighting and visibility equipment required by the applicable technical rules. These requirements include front and rear lighting as well as reflective elements designed to make the vehicle easier for other road users to see.

Visibility becomes especially important after dark or whenever weather and other conditions reduce how easily a rider can be seen.

The new framework also introduces an obligation concerning the use of lights during the day.

A transition period for daytime lighting

The requirement to keep the lights switched on throughout the day will be introduced progressively.

A transition period has been established before the full daytime lighting requirement applies.

That distinction matters for riders because having functioning lights and being required to keep them switched on are not necessarily the same issue during the transition period.

Electric scooter users should nevertheless check their lighting systems before the new rules take effect.

A faulty front or rear light can create both a safety problem and a potential compliance issue.

Visibility becomes a central safety requirement

Night-time riding and journeys in poor visibility require particular attention.

Reflective and lighting equipment helps other road users identify an electric scooter and its rider.

This is especially relevant on streets where scooters share space with cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians.

For regular riders, checking the lights before setting off should become part of the normal preparation for a journey.

Delivery riders face additional requirements

The changes have particular consequences for people who use electric scooters professionally.

Professional VMP riders must wear a high-visibility reflective vest while carrying out their work.

This requirement applies to professional use and adds another item to the safety equipment that these workers must have available.

The helmet requirement also applies.

The reflective vest becomes part of professional equipment

For delivery workers, the change is particularly significant because visibility is an essential part of their working environment.

Professional riders spend substantial amounts of time moving through busy urban areas and interacting with other road users.

The reflective vest is intended to make these riders easier to identify while they are operating their vehicles.

Companies and workers involved in professional delivery services using VMPs therefore need to make sure the required equipment is available and used correctly.

The new framework creates additional responsibilities for professional riders compared with someone using an electric scooter for occasional private travel.

Riders must signal turns with their arm

The new rules also change how electric scooter riders must communicate their intentions on the road.

Riders must use their arm to signal turns and changes of direction.

This requirement is designed to make the rider’s intended movement clearer to other road users.

The signal should be made before carrying out the relevant maneuver, giving drivers and other road users an opportunity to understand what the scooter rider intends to do.

A new habit for everyday riders

For people accustomed to riding electric scooters, using an arm signal may require an adjustment to their normal riding routine.

The requirement is particularly relevant at intersections, when changing direction and when moving through areas where scooters interact with other traffic.

Clear communication between road users can be especially important when an electric scooter has limited physical presence compared with a car or other larger vehicle.

Riders should therefore incorporate the arm signal into their normal approach to turning or changing direction.

What riders should check before October 1

Electric scooter users can take several practical steps before the new rules come into effect.

The first is age. The rider must meet the national minimum of 15 years and should also check whether their municipality imposes stricter requirements.

The second is helmet use. Riders should have the appropriate helmet and use it whenever operating a personal mobility vehicle.

The third is lighting.

The front and rear lights should work correctly, and the vehicle should have the reflective elements required under the applicable technical rules.

Riders who regularly travel at night or in poor visibility should pay particular attention to these components.

Professional users have an additional responsibility: they must also have and wear the required high-visibility reflective vest while riding for work.

Finally, every rider needs to remember the requirement to use their arm to signal turns and changes of direction.

Local rules still matter

National rules do not eliminate municipal traffic regulations.

Cities continue to have powers concerning where personal mobility vehicles can circulate and which areas may be subject to restrictions.

This means riders should check the rules applicable in their municipality rather than relying exclusively on the national framework.

The difference can be important for people who travel between different cities. A route that is permitted in one location may be subject to different local conditions elsewhere.

Who is affected by the new DGT changes?

The new requirements affect people who operate personal mobility vehicles within the scope of the regulation.

Private riders will need to pay attention to helmet use, the minimum age, lighting and signaling requirements.

Young riders are particularly affected by the 15-year minimum age requirement. Families should also check whether their local authority has introduced additional restrictions.

Professional riders face further obligations because they must wear a high-visibility reflective vest while carrying out their work.

The rules are also relevant to municipalities, which must apply their local traffic regulations within the national framework governing personal mobility vehicles.

For ordinary users, however, the practical message is straightforward: the equipment, age of the rider and way the scooter is operated all matter.

Fines are also part of the new framework

Failure to comply with certain requirements can result in financial penalties.

Some equipment-related infringements can carry fines of up to €200, depending on the specific violation and the circumstances established by the applicable rules.

This makes it important for riders to understand exactly which obligations apply to them.

The changes are not limited to paperwork or administrative requirements. They affect everyday behavior, from wearing a helmet to maintaining working lights and signaling a turn.

The lighting transition also means riders should pay attention to the timetable for the progressive implementation of the daytime requirement.

What the DGT changes mean for everyday scooter users

The new framework focuses on five main areas: age, protection, visibility, lighting and signaling.

For private riders, the most noticeable changes will be the mandatory helmet and the minimum age of 15.

They will also need to ensure that their electric scooter has the required lighting and reflective equipment and that they understand the rules governing visibility.

Professional riders will face additional requirements because of the mandatory high-visibility vest during work, alongside the helmet requirement.

All riders will also need to adapt their behavior by using an arm signal when turning or changing direction.

The result is a more detailed set of rules governing electric scooter use across Spain.

For riders, preparing in advance means checking their equipment, understanding the new requirements and reviewing the local rules that apply where they normally travel.

The changes therefore go beyond simply wearing a helmet. They establish a broader set of safety responsibilities covering the rider, the vehicle and the way it is used on the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age for riding an electric scooter?
The national minimum age is 15, although local authorities may impose stricter requirements within their powers.

Is wearing a helmet mandatory?
Yes. The new rules make helmet use mandatory for riders of personal mobility vehicles.

Do delivery riders have to wear reflective vests?
Yes. Professional VMP riders must wear a high-visibility reflective vest while riding as part of their professional activity.

Do electric scooter lights have to be on all day from October 1?
The full daytime lighting requirement is being introduced through a transition period. Riders must continue to comply with the applicable lighting and visibility requirements during that period…….MORE