E-scooters
1st of December, 2025
Why am I being given this flyer?
Because it's currently against the law to ride an e- scooter on a public road or pavement.
We understand that buying an e-scooter can be tempting, especially as you can get them from many popular retailers.
However the current law is clear
You can buy one - but you can't ride it on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement. The only place an e- scooter can be used is on private land.
Why is this?
e- scooters are classified as personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs), so they are treated as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements, such as;
- MOT
- Licensing
- Tax
- Insurance
As e- scooters do not have number plates, signalling ability and don't always have visible rear lights, they can't be used legally on the roads.
What happens if I've been stopped by Lancashire Police
Lancashire Road Safety Partnership and Lancashire Police understand the public support for environmentally friendly modes of transport. We want to work with the public to make sure the roads are safe for everyone. The UK government is currently taking part in future transport zone trials for e- scooter hire with a view to make them legal to use on the roads.
All local authorities can apply to take part, but at the moment, Lancashire are NOT part of the trials.
Section 59 of the Police Reform Act allows police to give road users a warning if they are reported to have used their vehicle in a manner which causes alarm, distress or annoyance. Lancashire Police also have the powers to seize vehicles- please make sure you keep your e- scooter on private land so this doesn't happen to you.
View Attached File