Insurance for a non-certified scooter: requirements and coverage in 2026

An electric scooter purchased before Jan. 22, 2024, may continue to be used during the transitional period even without a circulation certificate, provided it meets the other applicable requirements. Third-party liability insurance has been mandatory since January 2026 for personal light vehicles covered by national regulations, but purchasing a policy does not make a vehicle legal if it exceeds the permitted technical limits.

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What happens to older models

The rules distinguish between the purchase date and the vehicle certification. Scooters purchased before Jan. 22, 2024, have, under the current transitional regime, until Jan. 22, 2027 to operate without a circulation certificate. Models marketed after that date must belong to a model certified by Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic.

This period does not remove identification or insurance obligations. The owner must be able to prove the vehicle’s make, model, serial or chassis number and technical specifications. Some procedures may also require an invoice, technical sheet or responsible declaration. The insurer must expressly accept the vehicle; a generic policy does not guarantee coverage if the declared information is inaccurate.

What the insurance covers and how much it may cost

Basic coverage protects against personal and property damage caused to third parties while riding. For a light vehicle, the reference limits communicated for 2026 reach up to €6.45 million for personal injury and €1.3 million for property damage. A policy may add legal defense, bonds, assistance, rider accident cover, theft or own-damage cover, although these guarantees depend on the selected terms.

Basic policies on the market start at about €39 per year, while broader options may cost around €59 annually or more. The final price depends on the vehicle type, declared use, policyholder’s age, territorial scope and selected coverage. Third-party liability usually does not pay for repairs to the scooter itself or fines, unless the contract includes specific guarantees within their limits.

Registration, penalties and policy validity

Vehicle registration and insurance are related but separate procedures. The registration number or identification assigned by the traffic authority links the policy to a specific scooter and simplifies accident handling. Before signing, check that the serial number, weight and maximum speed match both the documents and the actual vehicle.

Riding without the required insurance can lead to fines of between €250 and €800, while keeping an uninsured vehicle may result in penalties ranging from €202 to €610, depending on the applicable case. Modifying the motor, removing the speed limiter or exceeding 25 km/h can also create certification problems, immobilization and claim denial. The 2027 deadline does not protect modifications or undeclared professional use.

The policy does not automatically cover every accident. Common exclusions may involve racing, rental, delivery, professional use, undeclared riders or modified vehicles. An older model may be insured during the transition, but the user should check the expiry date, renewal and specific terms. In urban mobility, the difference between valid coverage and a paid receipt may be a correctly recorded chassis number.

The regulatory transition leaves little room for improvisation

Insurance transfers the cost of damage caused to other people to an insurer, but it does not replace technical certification or compliance with traffic rules. Registering the scooter, declaring its real specifications and keeping the documents are the three elements supporting effective protection during 2026.