A public register of those automobiles is anticipated to be in place by 2 January 2026. Credit score: Terminator216 / Inventive Commons
Spain to require insurance coverage for e-scooters and e-bikes: Six-month grace interval earlier than fines are imposed. Spain has permitted a brand new regulation that can make civil legal responsibility insurance coverage obligatory for electrical scooters, e-bikes and different gentle private automobiles. The transfer comes as a part of the nation’s adaptation to EU Directive 2021/2118, which updates the authorized framework on motorized vehicle insurance coverage throughout the European Union.
The reform was handed definitively by the Spanish Congress on July 23 after incorporating amendments from the Senate. The federal government is anticipated to provide customers a six-month grace interval earlier than sanctions are imposed, permitting time for compliance. Based on authorized consultants, full enforcement might start as early as January 2026.
One of many key modifications is the extension of obligatory insurance coverage to new types of mobility. Along with e-scooters and e-bikes, agricultural and industrial automobiles—beforehand exempt—may even require protection. A public register of those automobiles is anticipated to be in place by 2 January 2026.
Protections for victims
The regulation additionally reinforces protections for accident victims. The definition of a “visitors incident” has been broadened in keeping with EU courtroom rulings to incorporate any use of a automobile as transport, even on non-public property or when stationary. Victims struggling critical accidents will now have entry to as much as 24 hours of home-based rehabilitation care, up from 16 hours. Households of deceased or severely injured individuals will obtain as much as 12 months of psychological help, doubling the earlier six-month restrict.
€1.3 million per injured particular person
One other main enchancment is the strengthening of economic ensures. If the insurer of a automobile at fault turns into bancrupt, Spain’s Insurance coverage Compensation Consortium will step in to pay damages, making certain victims aren’t left with out help. The minimal cowl quantities have additionally been raised: €6.45 million per accident for bodily harm (or €1.3 million per injured particular person), and €1.3 million per accident for materials injury.
To streamline the claims course of, the brand new guidelines encourage out-of-court settlements and introduce clearer definitions to cut back authorized disputes. Compensation quantities can be revised yearly in keeping with the Client Value Index (CPI).
Necessary ITV (technical inspection)
An extra measure launched by means of amendments would require insurers to confirm {that a} automobile has handed its obligatory ITV (technical inspection) earlier than renewing an insurance coverage coverage. Autos that don’t meet this requirement will solely be eligible for short-term short-term insurance coverage, not full cowl.
With the brand new regulation, Spain seeks to modernise its insurance coverage framework and convey higher authorized readability and safety to all street customers, notably these affected by the rise of other private transport.
