Still many unlicensed electric scooters on Dutch roads year after ban
Electric scooters without license plates are still being used on Dutch public roads a year after a registration requirement took effect, while many popular models remain ineligible for registration because they lack required Dutch type approval, according to an analysis by Overstappen.nl based on information from the RDW, the Netherlands Vehicle Authority.
Since July 1, 2026, every approved electric scooter must have a blue license plate. Riding without a valid plate is an offense punishable by a fine of between 290 euros and 490 euros.
The license plate requirement was introduced July 1, 2025, for new special mopeds, including approved electric scooters without pedal assistance. Owners of existing approved models were given one year to apply for a blue license plate. That transition period ended July 1, 2026.
Despite the requirement, many people continue to use non-approved electric scooters on public roads. Popular brands including Xiaomi, Denver, Kugoo, Evercross, Hitway, Joyor and Razor do not have approval from the RDW and therefore cannot receive a license plate.
Only a small number of electric scooter models currently qualify for a license plate, including the Yedoo Mezeq, Kickbike Luxury, Kickbike Fat Max, Kickbike Cruise and Selana Alpha.
Nick Brendel, a bicycle expert at Overstappen.nl, advises riders to obtain a valid license plate before using an electric scooter on public roads.
“Anyone who rides without a valid license plate or uses a non-approved scooter risks a fine of hundreds of euros. In addition, the police can permanently confiscate the scooter, and the rider is uninsured. Since the introduction of the license plate requirement, approved electric scooters have been subject to mandatory third-party liability insurance. Anyone who causes a serious accident without a license plate and insurance may personally be liable for what are often high compensation claims,” Brendel said.
The rules have created confusion because many well-known electric scooter brands do not have license plates. Manufacturers must first obtain national type approval from the RDW, and scooters must meet extensive Dutch safety requirements to qualify. Among those requirements is that the scooter must also be capable of being propelled with pedal assistance rather than solely by a throttle.
For international manufacturers, the certification process requires significant time and money. Because the Dutch market for electric scooters is relatively small, many manufacturers do not have their models approved in the Netherlands.
At the same time, the scooters are still sold in the country. This can make it unclear to consumers that an electric scooter without type approval cannot legally be used on public roads and cannot receive a license plate. Riders also cannot obtain third-party liability insurance for those scooters.
In practice, consumers bear much of the responsibility for checking whether a scooter is legal to use, even though manufacturers and retailers are allowed to offer the products for sale.
“That increases the risk that people will unknowingly take an illegal and uninsured electric scooter onto the road,” Brendel said.
Electric scooters with pedal assistance are an exception. Under Dutch law, they are classified as electric bicycles and are not subject to the license plate requirement, the minimum age of 16 or a separate insurance requirement. Examples include the Stapstep and Micro Colibri.
“Anyone who still wants to ride an electric scooter would do well to check in advance which rules apply to a particular model,” Brendel said. “Not every electric scooter is automatically prohibited. What many consumers do not know is that an approved electric scooter may qualify for electric bicycle insurance.”
