No more riding around uninsured on electric scooters on the streets of Valencia and other municipalities in Spain. This week, the Council of Ministers gave the green light to the royal decree that launches the Light Personal Vehicle Registry.
This measure directly affects the thousands of electric scooter users (VMP) who travel daily on urban roads, who will now be required to register their vehicles with the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT).
This administrative step is not a mere formality: it is an essential prerequisite for insuring the scooter, an obligation set out in Law 5/2025 on civil liability.
According to estimates by the Ministry of the Interior, there are more than 4 million of these vehicles in Spain that will have to go through the “digital window” to regularize their situation.
How do I register my scooter?
Photo: Valencia City Council
The procedure will mainly be carried out online through the DGT’s electronic headquarters. The process varies depending on the age and approval of your vehicle:
- Certified scooters (after January 2024): The process is simpler. You will need to enter the certificate number and serial number that appear on the vehicle’s metal marking plate, along with your personal details and payment of the corresponding fee.
- Uncertified scooters (older models): If your scooter does not have an approved marking plate, you can register it by providing the invoice, technical specifications, or even a photograph of the vehicle. Please note that this is a temporary measure: these scooters will only be allowed on the road until January 22, 2027; after that date, they will be banned from traffic.
To make the process easier for those who are less digitally savvy, the 060 telephone number will offer assistance, and the procedure can also be carried out through administrative managers or insurance agents.
The new “license plate”: a mandatory sticker
Editorial credit: Joaquin Corbalan P / Shutterstock.com
Once registration is complete and the digital certificate has been obtained, the owner must purchase a physical identification sticker (similar to the environmental sticker on cars) from an authorized center.
On certified PMVs, this label must be placed on the specific identifier holder that comes with the vehicle.
On non-certified models, it must be affixed to a visible location on the vehicle.
Fines of up to €800
Photo: Valencia City Council
The entry into force of this registry activates the penalty system for those who attempt to circumvent the rule. Driving without compulsory insurance—and therefore without prior registration—will be costly for Valencians:
- Lack of insurance: Penalty of between €202 and €610.
- Driving without insurance: The fine ranges from €250 to €800, depending on whether the vehicle is classified as light or, due to its weight and power, is considered a motor vehicle.
Sale and scrapping of scooters
Cover photo: Joaquin Corbalan P / Shutterstock.com
The new regulations treat scooters almost like any other motor vehicle. If you sell your second-hand scooter, you will have 30 days to notify the DGT of the change of ownership and issue a new certificate in the buyer’s name.
Similarly, when the scooter reaches the end of its useful life, it cannot be thrown away in a conventional container. The deregistration must be processed at an authorized vehicle treatment center (scrapyard), which will electronically notify the National Registry of its destruction.