Electric scooters have become a natural part of urban mobility – people use them to commute to work, go shopping, and travel in their free time. At the same time, the rules governing their use have changed in recent years, and it may not be clear to everyone what requirements apply to these vehicles.
One of the topics that most often causes confusion is light vehicle insurance – when it is mandatory and when it is not. Although many scooters do not require insurance, in certain cases it is still required, and it is worth knowing whether this also applies to your vehicle.
What does the insurance obligation depend on?
Since 1 December 2024, motor third-party liability insurance must be held for all vehicles powered solely by a motor if their design speed exceeds 25 km/h, or exceeds 14 km/h if the vehicle weighs more than 25 kilograms. This requirement also applies to unregistered vehicles, including light vehicles, small mopeds, and machinery.
In practice, this means that some electric scooters are also subject to mandatory insurance.
It is important to understand that if a scooter’s design speed exceeds 25 km/h, it is no longer considered a light vehicle but a motor vehicle. In that case, different requirements already apply, and such a vehicle may not be used in regular traffic without meeting the relevant conditions.
Therefore, it is not enough to know only the name of the vehicle – what matters are its speed and weight. “People often assume that if it is a scooter, then insurance is not needed. In reality, everything depends on the technical specifications of the particular vehicle,” explains Triin Kääramees, Head of Product Development for Vehicle and Machinery Insurance at IIZI.
Why is it worth paying attention to insurance?
The purpose of motor liability insurance is to cover damage you may cause to others in traffic. If there is no insurance, the damage caused to the injured party will still be compensated, but it will later be claimed back from the person at fault.
This means that even a seemingly minor accident can result in a significant financial obligation. For example, it may involve injuring a pedestrian, colliding with a cyclist, or damaging a parked car. “In practice, such damages can amount to thousands or even tens of thousands of euros,” says Kääramees.
Accidents happen more often than it may seem at first glance
As the popularity of light vehicles has grown, accidents have also become more frequent. According to the Estonian Transport Administration, in 2025 there were 314 traffic accidents involving light vehicle drivers that resulted in personal injury. Although this is slightly fewer than the year before, it shows that the problem persists.
Most of those injured in accidents are the light vehicle drivers themselves, but other road users are also affected. These are often falls or collisions caused by excessive speed, inattention, loss of control of the vehicle, or alcohol intoxication.
It is also important to note that official statistics do not show the full picture. According to hospital estimates, 500–1000 electric scooter-related injuries are treated in Tallinn every year, many of which never make it into police statistics.
A modified scooter can also change the rules
It is also important to take into account that a scooter’s technical characteristics may not always correspond to the manufacturer’s original limits. For example, removing the speed limiter or modifying the software may increase the vehicle’s speed. In that case, the vehicle may already qualify as a motor vehicle, to which different requirements apply. In addition, such a vehicle is not allowed to be used in regular traffic.
“Especially in the case of younger riders, it may not always be clear how fast the vehicle is actually capable of going. This can create both safety and financial risks,” notes Kääramees.
A simple check before heading out
Before the start of the season, it is worth reviewing your vehicle’s specifications and making sure whether it falls under the mandatory insurance requirement. This helps avoid situations where the requirements are left unmet out of ignorance. “By now, it is possible in just a couple of clicks to check whether a light vehicle requires insurance and, if necessary, arrange it immediately,” says Kääramees.
An electric scooter is a convenient and environmentally friendly means of transport, but it also comes with responsibility toward other road users. Check the scooter calculator to see whether your light vehicle needs motor liability insurance. If it does, you can arrange it quickly and conveniently directly on the IIZI website.
