E-scooter, e-bike and PEV laws in France
In France, e-scooters are legal: max 25 km/h, minimum age 14, helmet rules vary, insurance required.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change often; confirm with the local transport authority before riding.
Last researched Oct 12, 2026 · values compiled from published secondary sources; none were checked against the text of a law.
- E-scooters: Based on published secondary sourcesThe sources are listed below; values were not checked against the text of the law.
- E-bikes: Based on published secondary sources (some details unconfirmed)The sources are listed below; values were not checked against the text of the law.
- Other PEVs: Based on published secondary sourcesThe sources are listed below; values were not checked against the text of the law.
E-scooters
Stand-up electric kick scootersBased on published secondary sources| Status | Legal — Allowed under a specific framework.1 |
|---|---|
| Max speed | 25 km/h (by construction, 6-25 km/h)1 |
| Power & device limits | Not specified1 |
| Weight limit | — |
| Minimum age | 14 (since 2023)1 |
| Helmet | Not required except on roads up to 80 km/h where a mayor allows (plus hi-vis)1 |
| Where you can ride | Cycle lanes mandatory where present; otherwise roads up to 50 km/h; outside towns only greenways/cycle paths; no pavements1 |
| Licence & registration | Compulsory civil liability insurance; no registration1 |
| Insurance | Insurance required1 |
| Plate / sticker | Not required1 |
| Penalties & alcohol | Pavement EUR 135; passengers EUR 135; unlocking above 25 km/h up to EUR 1,500; uninsured up to EUR 3,7501 |
| Notes | Paris ended free-floating rental e-scooters in Sep 2023.1 |
"Unconfirmed" = the source of that value was not recorded, or part of it was not taken from a source; "Not confirmed" = we have no sourced value, so none is shown. Footnote numbers point to the source list below.
Is this information correct for France?
E-bikes
Pedelecs, speed pedelecs and throttle e-bikesBased on published secondary sources (some details unconfirmed)| Status | Legal — Allowed under a specific framework.2 |
|---|---|
| Max speed | Assistance must cut out at 25 km/h (walk-assist/throttle only up to 6 km/h)2unconfirmed |
| Power & device limits | 250 W continuous (EU Reg. 168/2013 exemption, EN 15194)2 |
| Minimum age | None for pedelecs2 |
| Helmet | Not confirmed |
| Where you can ride | Same as bicycles: cycle lanes/paths where present, otherwise the road2 |
| Licence & registration | No licence, registration or insurance for 250 W / 25 km/h pedelecs2 |
| Penalties & alcohol | Not confirmed |
| Notes | — |
Other PEVs
Hoverboards, electric unicycles, e-skateboards, SegwaysBased on published secondary sources| Status | Legal — Allowed under a specific framework.1 |
|---|---|
| Max speed | — |
| Power & device limits | — |
| Minimum age | — |
| Helmet | — |
| Where you can ride | — |
| Licence & registration | — |
| Penalties & alcohol | — |
| Notes | All EDPM (monowheels, gyropodes/Segways, hoverboards) follow the same rules: 25 km/h, 14+, insurance.1 |
What changed
- Aug 2023In forceminimum age raised to 14 (Decret 2023-848)
Frequently asked questions
- Are electric scooters legal in France?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), yes. E-scooters are legal in France under a specific framework. Where you can ride: Cycle lanes mandatory where present; otherwise roads up to 50 km/h; outside towns only greenways/cycle paths; no pavements.
- What is the e-scooter speed limit in France?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), e-scooters in France are limited to 25 km/h.
- Do you need a helmet to ride an e-scooter in France?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), helmet rules vary (Not required except on roads up to 80 km/h where a mayor allows (plus hi-vis)).
- What is the minimum age to ride an e-scooter in France?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), the minimum age is 14.
- Do e-scooters need insurance or a plate in France?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), insurance required; no plate is required.
Sources
- 1.RecordingLaw - France e-scooter lawsRecordingLaw · Secondary · Opened · read Oct 12, 2026
- 2.Wikipedia - Electric bicycle lawsWikipedia · Secondary · Opened · read Oct 12, 2026
- 3.Service-public.fr - EDPMService-public.fr · Government · Not opened: URL taken from a citation in another source or search results
Country entries derived in part from RecordingLaw's e-scooter law guides (recordinglaw.com).
EU e-bike baseline from Wikipedia's overview of electric bicycle laws.