Electric Scooters: Insurance Requirement Kicks In, Up to €150 a Year or Heavy Fines
Starting Thursday, July 16, an insurance requirement for electric scooters will be implemented throughout Italy, following a two-month extension granted by the government at the request of Ania. This measure, outlined in the new Highway Code enacted at the end of 2024, directly affects around a million private owners who use these vehicles nationwide, as noted by Assoutenti.
How the Coverage Works and Why Household Liability Insurance Isn't Enough
The policy covers damages caused to third parties while riding the scooter: injuries to pedestrians or cyclists, collisions with other vehicles. The consumer association warns owners about a technical detail that may mislead many: a generic household liability insurance is not sufficient to meet the obligation. To have legal validity, the policy must include the identification code of the vehicle, a requirement that effectively excludes generic family coverages already held by many users. Victims of scooter-related damages will not be able to turn to their own insurance company, at least for now.
The circular from Mimit on April 24 established a two-year monitoring period before activating the direct compensation system, necessary to build a specific refund package on a national level based on actual accident costs. In the meantime, the ordinary compensation procedure outlined in Article 148 of the Insurance Code applies: the harmed party will need to turn directly to the insurance company of the liable party, not their own. Ivass, for its part, will need to update the ministry every six months on the progress of the claims recorded after the insurance obligation comes into force.
How Much Will the Policy Cost and Penalties for Non-Compliance
On the economic front, the operation will lead to an estimated total expense of around €50 million per year for the entire sector. The average cost of a basic policy ranges from €35 to €55 annually, a figure that can rise up to €150 if additional coverage options are added. Those who circulate without coverage risk, at least on paper, a fine between €100 and €400.
The effectiveness of the controls remains a primary concern raised by the association. President Gabriele Melluso openly discusses a sector still out of control: "The real problem is that the scooter sector is still a wild west. New legal requirements are being imposed but in our cities, we still struggle to enforce even the most basic rules of the Highway Code, such as wearing a helmet or the prohibition of riding in pairs on scooters."
According to the association, law enforcement does not have sufficient resources to ensure compliance even with long-standing regulations, much less with a newly introduced insurance requirement. Melluso also calls on the government to ensure maximum oversight of the law's application to prevent the new obligation from becoming a pretext for commercial speculation or, worse, for unequal treatment between different regions. This is a significant risk, considering that the lack of a claims history currently allows companies to independently calibrate premiums and conditions, awaiting data collected over the next two years to define a uniform flat rate on a national scale.