Electrical scooters (also known as e-scooters) come under the category of 'powered transporters'. This covers a range of personal transport devices that are powered by a motor.

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles, also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.

It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.

If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance. 

If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car.

If you own an e-scooter, you can only use it in on private land, such as in a garden. But you must have the permission of the landowner to do so.

If you breach the rules when using an e-scooter you could face a fixed penalty notice.

Forces set and enforce penalties differently, so the penalty will vary depending on where the offence is committed. 

For other forces in the UK, the fixed penalty notice could include:

a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence for having no insurance

a £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence

You could also be committing an offence if you're caught: 

riding on a pavement: fixed penalty notice and possible £50 fine 

using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding: £200 and six penalty points

riding through red lights: fixed penalty notice, £100 fine and possible penalty points

drink driving: the same as if you were driving a car, you could face court imposed fines, a driving ban and possible imprisonment