Do you need a driver's license to operate an electric scooter in 2021?

Electric scooter – what kind of transport is it and what are its features?

On domestic roads in the summer today you can quite often find electric scooters, which have long ceased to be exotic. This type of vehicle has two or three wheels. The drive is carried out by an electric motor powered by a battery. Depending on the model of the electric scooter, it can travel from fifty to one and a half hundred kilometers on a single charge lasting 4-8 hours.

The electric scooter develops sufficient speed for moving around the city and is easy to control

The increasing popularity of electric scooters is associated with a set of advantages of these lightweight vehicles. The main advantages of electric scooters:

quiet operation. Among all types of vehicles, electric scooters are the quietest;
environmental cleanliness. During operation of the electric motor, the atmosphere is not polluted with harmful emissions;
low operating costs. An electric scooter is more economical than a gasoline-powered motorcycle;
small vehicle weight. With an electric scooter weighing much less than a moped, it can easily transport a driver with a load weighing up to two hundred kilograms.

In addition, an electric vehicle can be operated in enclosed spaces. This need arises in entertainment centers, scientific organizations, manufacturing enterprises and the entertainment industry. This is another serious advantage.

Do you need a license for an electric scooter in 2021?

Many owners of two-wheeled and three-axle vehicles with an electric motor are interested in whether they need a license to drive an electric scooter. Let's try to answer this question.

Do I need to have a license to drive an electric scooter?

Everyone has long been accustomed to gasoline scooters that have appeared on highways. Their operation was not regulated by legislation. That is why small-capacity mopeds and scooters with a capacity of up to 50 cubic meters did not require a driver’s license to operate and, accordingly, were not of interest to road patrol inspectors.

Many drivers independently increased the power of scooters by installing engines with larger cubic capacity. Externally, it was difficult to distinguish a 50 cc moped from a similar device with a 150 cc engine.

In most cases, such vehicles were driven by persons without driver's licenses and were not checked by traffic police representatives.

In accordance with the requirements of legislation, drivers of scooters with an engine power above 50cc need to obtain a driver's license with category "A1". However, externally identifying a scooter engine by power is problematic. The inspectors did not want to stop such motorcycles and check the drivers’ licenses.

Lack of control on the part of inspectors led to scooter riders ignoring traffic rules and increasing the accident rate. With the rise in the number of small vehicles and electric scooters, the number of accidents has increased to alarming figures, forcing officials to make a number of amendments to the legislation.

Due to the fact that scooter riders do not have the appropriate documents, accidents on the roads have increased

Thus, at the end of 2013, category “M” appeared on driver’s licenses. Traffic police inspectors now have legal grounds to stop even low-power scooters to present a driver’s license to drive a vehicle, as well as electric scooters equipped with a 0.25-4 kW motor. So do you need a driver's license for an electric scooter? Of course, yes, if the motor power is within the specified range or exceeds 4000 W.

Are

Before you understand whether you need a license for an electric scooter, you need to understand what kind of vehicle it is.

An electric scooter is a 2- or 3-wheeled vehicle that is equipped with a battery-powered electric motor.

It is worth noting that charging lasts from 4 to 8 hours. As a rule, this amount is enough to travel a distance of 30–150 km. However, these indicators are individual, as they are influenced by the scooter model and the quality of the road surface.

Over the past few years, electric scooters have been gaining popularity in Russia, especially in the southern part of the country. Why do many Russians choose this type of transport?

There are several main reasons for this:

practically no noise;
absolute environmental friendliness, since there are no harmful emissions into the atmosphere;
the moped is cheap to operate compared to its gasoline counterparts;
light weight;
has a high payload, can transport up to 200 kg;
can move indoors.

According to the new decree of the Russian Federation and updated traffic rules, every driver is required to have a license to drive any two-wheeled vehicle. Regardless of whether they are mopeds, scooters or electric bicycles.

It is worth noting that previously drivers of low-power vehicles (up to 50 cubic meters) could drive without a license. For powerful vehicles (volume more than 50 cm3), categories “A” or “A1” were suitable. In 2021, new categories have been developed that should be open to legal driving.

So far, the legislation of the Russian Federation does not have an exact definition of what an electric scooter is. However, this does not allow the driver to drive without a license, since this type of transport is equivalent to a moped. Therefore, it requires an appropriate certificate.

This rule is spelled out in the traffic rules, clause 1.2, paragraph 17. It clearly states that the driver of a two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicle that accelerates to 50 km/h and whose power does not exceed 4 kW is required to have a license. Electric scooters and electric mopeds fall under this category.

What does the legislation say about electric scooters?

Let's figure out which vehicles are classified as mopeds. The provisions of the law clarify that such vehicles have a two-wheeled or three-wheeled design, are not capable of exceeding the 50-kilometer speed threshold, and are equipped with an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, the power of which varies from 250 kW to 4 kW.

Therefore, electric scooters can be classified as mopeds and it can be concluded that it is possible to drive an electric scooter with a motor less than 250 W without a driver's license. In accordance with the information set out in the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, in order to drive a scooter with an electric motor of greater power, it is mandatory to obtain a driver's license.

What kind of ATV can you drive without a license at 14 years old?

In order to obtain a driver's license with a category that allows you to legally drive an ATV, the applicant must fulfill the relevant requirements. Firstly, his age must be over 16 years. Secondly, a mandatory condition: undergoing special training for future drivers of self-propelled vehicles, as well as studying the theoretical rules of the road for ATVs.

Thirdly, an applicant for a license of category “A1” must undergo a medical commission and receive a conclusion in the form of a certificate, which is ultimately attached to both the package of documents for passing the exam and the license itself.

In order to be admitted to the state exam at the Gostekhnadzor representative office, applicants submit the following list of documents:

The statement itself;
Applicant's passport;
Medical certificate confirming permission to operate a self-propelled device;
Certificate of completion of the training course;
photo 3x4 – 2-3 pcs;
receipt for payment of state duty.

Based on the submitted documents, Gostekhnadzor specialists make a decision on the applicant’s admission to take the exam, as well as organizational details: time, place and authorized representatives for making an assessment.

In order to be admitted to the exam that allows you to obtain a license with category “A1”, theoretical training is desirable, but not critical. At the legislative level, independent theoretical training without visiting special specialized institutions is also allowed to obtain rights.

At the same time, you need to understand that special driving courses provide a comprehensive understanding of all stages of the theoretical and practical parts, so the likelihood of successfully passing the exam at the State Technical Supervision Authority will be significantly higher.

At the moment, the cost of driving training in a driving school on self-propelled devices will cost about 5 thousand rubles, and vary depending on the level and location of these courses.

The state exam is taken at the Gostekhnadzor representative office at the applicant’s place of registration. The general algorithm for passing tests to obtain a driver’s license of category “A1” consists of the following stages:

Firstly, the applicant is tested according to all safety rules for operating self-propelled mechanisms.

The second stage is testing theoretical skills and knowledge of traffic rules.

The third step is directly testing practical skills. In the classical sense, this is an examination of the applicant’s driving in a closed location, as well as driving along one clearly defined route in a populated area.

If the tests are successfully passed at all three stages, the Gostekhnadzor representative office will issue a license within a short period of time, which will be valid for the driver for 10 years.

Traffic police inspectors can stop any driver to check documents. If a citizen who operates an electric scooter does not have a driver’s license, he will face administrative punishment:

500 rubles if you don’t have your license with you (Article 12.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses);
5,000-15,000 rubles if the citizen has not received a driver’s license (Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code).

In addition to the fine, traffic police inspectors confiscate the vehicle and send it to a parking lot. Only the owner with a driver's license can pick up the scooter from there. And for each day of downtime, a penalty is charged.

Note! If a citizen is deprived of his rights, then, in accordance with Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code, he will face a fine of 30 thousand rubles or another type of punishment (arrest, community service).

You can get a fine not only for not having a driver's license. Owners of an electric scooter must have other documents with them, for example, a technical passport for the vehicle, which indicates the engine power and other characteristics.

The problem of ensuring road safety during the operation of individual electric vehicles, including electric bicycles, electric scooters, hoverboards, unicycles and others, is being actively discussed. However, no regulatory decisions have been made in this regard yet.

Subject to the provisions of current legislation, a driver's license is not required to drive such vehicles, and the person using them is treated as a pedestrian.

The exception is electric-powered bicycles, the drivers of which must comply with the requirements of Section 24 of the Road Traffic Rules, as well as vehicles whose technical characteristics and design features are related to mopeds.

Let me remind you that this is considered a two- or three-wheeled mechanical vehicle, the maximum design speed of which does not exceed 50 km/h, having an internal combustion engine with a working volume not exceeding 50 cm³, or an electric motor with a rated maximum power in continuous load mode of more than 0.25 kW and less than 4 kW. ATVs with similar technical characteristics are considered mopeds (clause 1.2 of the Rules). To drive such a vehicle, you need a Russian national driver's license category M or a driver's license confirming the right to drive vehicles of any of the following categories or subcategories: A, A1, B, B1, C, C1, D, D1, BE, CE, C1E , DE, D1E, Tm (tram), Tb (trolleybus).

Is it possible to exchange a driver's license ahead of schedule without obtaining a medical certificate? Find out here.
An electric bike, like any bicycle, sometimes needs to be transported. If the issue of transporting bicycles and electrical equipment is relevant to you, please contact the Za Rulem online store for advice.

According to the traffic rules, drivers of electric motorcycles are required to move on the roadway, and therefore they are required to comply with general rules and requirements. Since 2013, there has been a rule that you must have a license to ride scooters, mopeds and motorcycles if their power exceeds 250 W. In this case, it does not matter what kind of engine the vehicle has (electric or gasoline). Only the technical characteristics of the engine and the possible maximum speed are taken into account.

This type of transport is usually used by young people. Therefore, the question of at what age can one obtain a license for an electric motorcycle in Russia is relevant for many owners of a modern electric vehicle.

Important

! You can get a license of category “M” and subcategory “A1” in Russia from the age of 16.

To obtain a license, you must undergo training at a driving school. The training course usually includes the following points:

Studying the theoretical part. Includes an introduction to the Rules of the Road, the psychology of behavior on the road, the basics of providing emergency medical care, as well as a brief study of the design features of the vehicle.
Gaining practical skills. The practical course consists of two main parts - acquiring skills on the site and consolidating the acquired knowledge in an urban environment.
Passing the internal exam. It involves testing both the theoretical and practical parts.

Based on the exam results, the driving school issues a certificate, which serves as the basis for obtaining a license. According to the current law, the student is required to travel at least 18 hours during practical training. The recommended practice time is 30 hours. Without complying with this requirement, he may not be allowed to take the exam.

Categories of rights to electric transport

When planning to purchase a scooter, you should choose the power of the future vehicle and obtain a license in the appropriate category. An important aspect when obtaining a license is not only the power of the motor, but also the speed developed by the electric scooter.

The power of the future vehicle should be chosen when planning to purchase a scooter

Depending on these criteria, electric scooters are divided into the following types:

devices with a motor power of 1.5 kW or less, the speed of which does not exceed 50 km/h. To manage them, you must undergo appropriate training, pass exams and open the “M” category;
models equipped with an electric motor, the power of which varies in the range of 3-4 kW, and capable of accelerating to 90 km/h. You can drive such a vehicle with a driver’s license of category “A1”;
electric vehicles with a power of 5 kW and above. It is classified as a lightweight motorcycle. The driver of such an electric scooter must open category “A1” on his driver’s license.

Please note that driving a powerful electric scooter with an “M” license may result in you paying a fine, just like for driving a vehicle without a driver’s license.

How does the power of an electric scooter affect the category of license that must be obtained to drive it?

The domestic electric scooter market offers various models, the power of which ranges from 0.25 to 5 kW. If you are planning to become the owner of a modern scooter with an electric motor, you should figure out which electric scooters do not require a license, and which ones are required.

Only low-power models of electric scooters can be operated without a driver's license

Only low-power models of electric scooters equipped with an engine power of less than 250 W can be operated without a driver's license. All other electric scooters with electric motors of 250 W or higher cannot be used by persons who do not have a driver’s license with categories “A1” or “M”.

And although it is externally difficult for an inspector to determine the power of an electric motor on a scooter, representatives of the traffic police today show increased competence in these matters and can impose a fine for driving a powerful scooter without a license or with a driver’s license of the wrong category.

Obtaining category "M" license

There are certain nuances when obtaining a category M driver's license related to the driver's age. Not everyone knows what documents are needed to obtain a license and register an electric vehicle. Let's dwell on these questions.

Fine for lack of ID

The legislation of the Russian Federation does not have a clearly defined rule about what an electric scooter is, whether a license is needed or what the fine is for not having one.

However, traffic police officers take into account the power of the engine that is installed on the two-wheeler. If it exceeds 250 W, then the person is required to have a driver’s license with an open category “M” or “A1”.

If this document is missing, the violator will bear administrative liability:

you must pay a fine ranging from 5,000–15,000 rubles. This law is spelled out in Article 12.7 of the CoPP of the Russian Federation;
The vehicle can be picked up by traffic police officers and taken to a fine area. It is worth noting that only a person who has a driver’s license has the right to pick up an electric scooter.

Any driver can operate an electric scooter if they have categories “B” , “A”, “A 1”. If a person has such rights, then he does not need to additionally study for the “M” category. He has the legal right to travel in this type of vehicle.

When riding an electric scooter on the road, a person becomes a full-fledged participant in traffic. This means that he must have a driver’s license with him and strictly follow the traffic rules.

Thanks to knowledge and application, the risk of accidents on the road is significantly reduced. If traffic rules are violated, the driver must be punished. As a rule, this is an administrative fine or the liquidation of the vehicle at the fine site. To avoid unpleasant situations, you just need to always take your license to drive an electric scooter with you.

At what age can you get documents?

As it turned out, driving an electric motorcycle without a driver's license is prohibited. Citizens of the Russian Federation can obtain a license only after reaching the age of sixteen. Accordingly, such electric vehicles can only be operated by persons at least 16 years of age. To obtain a license, you must undergo training at a driving school and successfully pass the final exams. The examination program includes not only a theoretical part, but also a practical one.

It is prohibited to drive an electric motorcycle without a driver's license.