From today, July 16, 2026, also Electric scooters must be covered by liability insurance. Insurance must be associated with the identification mark of the vehicle and will serve to compensate for any damage caused to people or things during circulation.
The obligation completes the new system of rules introduced to regulate urban micromobility, but its application risks starting off on an uphill slope. Many owners have not yet succeeded to obtain the so-called license plate, essential for signing the policy, while insurance companies have had little time to prepare specific products and make the procedures operational.
Scooter Liability Insurance: How Much Does Insurance Cost and What Are the Risks of Not Taking It Out?
La new RC must be referring directly to the scooter and cannot be replaced by generic family coverage or other policies dedicated to personal mobility. It works similarly to car and motorcycle insurance, as it protects third parties involved in an accident caused by the driver. Initial estimates indicate an annual cost generally between 30 and 55 euros. However, the cost could exceed 100 euros if you choose additional guarantees or broader coverage terms.
Anyone caught driving without insurance risks a fine. administrative penalty between 100 and 400 eurosThe most serious consequences could arise in the event of an accident. Without valid third-party liability insurance, the responsible party could be required to pay for the damages caused personally, even using their own assets. Basic insurance does not typically cover injuries sustained by the driver himself. To obtain protection against personal injuries, it is therefore necessary to check the contract for specific guarantees.
Scooter insurance: you need a license plate before the policy.
To insure a scooter you need to first get the identification tag introduced on May 16. This is not a traditional metal plate, but a square sticker composed of six characters, to be applied on the rear mudguard or on the front steering column. request is carried out online through the Motorist Portal. The total cost is around 35 euros, including the vehicle tax, stamp duty, and administrative fees. Once the procedure is completed, the owner must go to a Civil Motorization office to collect the vehicle.
This very step represents one of the main obstacles. In many areas, appointments are not easily available, and many users are still waiting to obtain the permit. Without the identification code, it is impossible to connect the vehicle's insurance to the vehicle and, consequently, fully comply with the new requirement.
The insurance sector also had to face technical difficulties, particularly for the connection between the databases of the Department of Motor Vehicles and those used by the companies. The insurance policy, initially scheduled to come into force together with the license plate, had been postponed precisely to allow for the completion of the IT procedures and the definition of the new policies.
Scooter insurance: no direct compensation for the first two years
The management of scooter accidents will initially follow a different path compared to the one now usual for cars and motorcycles. The direct compensation system will not apply until July 16, 2028.. Anyone who suffers damage will therefore not be able to contact their insurance company, but will have to present the request to the insurance company of the person responsible for the accidentThe procedure could lead to longer times and greater difficulties in settling claims.
The suspension will serve to build a reliable history of accidents, compensation costs, and the areas where they occur most frequently. In the absence of consolidated data, it's not yet clear how the merit rating system will be applied.
For traditional insurance, first-time policyholders generally start with class 14, while the class improves or worsens based on the number of accidents involved. For scooters, it's important to determine whether companies will assign everyone the initial class or allow them to use the class they've already acquired on other vehicles or inherited from a cohabiting family member.
Scooter insurance: be aware of exclusions and recourse
One of the most delicate elements will concern the contractual conditionsThe insurance company compensates the injured third party, but can subsequently ask its insured for the refund of the sums paid when the accident was caused by a serious violation of traffic regulations. This problem is particularly relevant for scooters, where prohibited behaviors such as riding two-up, going the wrong way, using the sidewalk, riding without a helmet, or driving at night without lights are still common.
To prevent the insurance company from exercising this option, it is necessary to check if the contract provides for the waiver of recourseThis is an additional guarantee that could significantly increase the cost of the policy, precisely because violations committed while riding scooters are still considered very widespread.
Compulsory insurance is added to the other constraints already introduced from the reform of the Highway Code. In addition to license plates and helmets, speed limits, a ban on parking on sidewalks, and mandatory lights and turn signals remain in effect.
For the scooters used through sharing services, instead, the insurance coverage is managed directly by the rental companiesFor private vehicles, the responsibility for obtaining license plates and insurance falls on the owner, although operational difficulties could make the effective implementation of the new rules gradual.
