Greece to Ban Electric Scooter Use for Minors Under 17, Mandate Insurance for All Riders
Greek parliament is voting today on legislation that will prohibit anyone under 17 from using electric scooters, make insurance compulsory for all riders, and create a national vehicle registry.
Overview
The Greek government is fast-tracking the measures, announced by Deputy Transport Minister Giorgos Kotsiras on SKAI's "Ataïristoi" program. The vote is taking place today, 21 July 2026, as part of a broader bill. Mr. Kotsiras said the priority was protecting minors, with the goal of having the stricter rules in place before the end of summer.
Protecting physical safety is a priority.
Key restrictions
The headline change is a blanket ban on riders under 17, regardless of ownership or rental. The legislation also mandates that every scooter and its user carry insurance, adding to existing requirements for helmets and a ban on phone or headphone use while riding.
We now have a more complete legislative framework, especially for our minor citizens, to protect their physical safety and send the message that protecting human life is an absolute priority.
A national registry of electric scooters will be set up under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, enabling authorities to identify vehicle owners and users.
Penalties and enforcement
The new framework brings heavier fines for violations, in particular for riding on roads where the speed limit for cars exceeds 50 km/h. Speeding infractions will also be punished. Mr. Kotsiras stressed that the rules apply uniformly: "The conditions will be the same for everyone: helmet, no phone or headphone use, an insurance policy, and age limits where applicable. Fines will vary based on the violation." A ban on companies selling or renting scooters to minors under 17 is also included.
Timeline
| 2026-07-21 | Greek parliament votes on e-scooter restrictions |
|---|---|
| End of summer | New regulations expected to take effect |
The provisions are being introduced today as part of a bill, with the government aiming to have the stricter rules in place before the end of summer. Mr. Kotsiras said the e-scooter measures were prioritised over other Road Traffic Code revisions because protecting minors could not wait.
We have other interventions planned for the Road Traffic Code, but we prioritized these provisions on electric scooters because we judged that protecting minors could not wait any longer.
The existing requirements for helmets and no mobile phone or headphone use remain in place, now joined by mandatory insurance.
Sources
- Greece to Ban E-Scooter Use for Under-17s, Require Mandatory Insurance
iefimerida.gr · Jul 21 - Τέλος τα πατίνια για τους κάτω των 17 - Υποχρεωτική η ασφάλιση
Ειδήσεις - νέα - Το Βήμα Online · Jul 21 - Τέλος τα ηλεκτρικά πατίνια για τους ανήλικους - Τι προβλέπει το νέο πλαίσιο
NEWS 24/7 · Jul 21