An electric scooter is also called an e-step. Is the electric scooter approved? Then you can hit the road in the Netherlands. Most electric scooters are not approved. You can't drive it on the road. An electric scooter does not go faster than 25 kilometers per hour and belongs to the special mopeds. Is your e-scooter not approved? Then you are not allowed to drive on the road and the police can fine you or even confiscate the e-scooter.

The rules at a glance. From the age of 16 you can use an e-step and you do not need a driver's license. Applying for a license plate is not necessary and there is no helmet requirement. You do have to insure the e-step for legal liability (WA). Then stick the sticker of the insurer on the e-scooter. With an e-step you have to drive on the (moped) cycle path. If there is no moped path, you should drive on the road and drive on the right as much as possible. You are never allowed to drive on the sidewalk and certainly not in shops or shopping streets where only pedestrians .

pedal assistance

There are separate rules for electric scooters (e-steps) with pedal assistance. You then step on this e-step yourself and thanks to the auxiliary motor you go faster. But not faster than 25 kilometers per hour. The auxiliary motor has a maximum power of 250 Watt. The same rules apply to this e-step as to an electric bicycle. For example, you do not need to have a driver's license.

app and call

Texting, calling and listening to music on an e-step with pedal assistance is prohibited, just like on an e-step. When driving this e-scooter, you are not allowed to hold any electronic devices. For example, an electronic device is a mobile phone. Hands-free calling and listening to music are allowed. Are you standing still? Then you can hold and use the phone.

regulations by country

There are currently a few e-scooters that are legally allowed on public roads in the Netherlands. View the page with all e-step rules in the Netherlands For more information. Do you live in Belgium? Then different rules apply. Read all about it here electric scooters in Belgium. The previously announced revised framework for LEVs (Light Electric Vehicles) has now been completed and is expected to come into effect on 1-1-2023. In this context, the e-step will be given a new vehicle category, with its own traffic rules and vehicle requirements.