E-scooters in Slovakia are not ending! From September 2026, however, rules will arrive that every rider needs to know

Chaos has erupted around e-scooters. Several media outlets started using headlines that give the impression that e-scooters will be completely banned in Slovakia. The truth, however, is elsewhere. E-scooters are not ending, but starting from 1 September 2026 stricter rules will apply—rules that more precisely determine which e-scooters may be used in traffic and where they can be moved legally.

We also add scooter information on FB

A Slovak YouTube creator e-fanatic mentioned in his video that articles about a total e-scooter ban are misleading. He pointed out it’s mainly a new category small electric vehicle, under which ordinary electric scooters, segways, or similar devices will fall. At the same time, in a practical demo of his own ride, he showed that the new rules can be problematic in real life—especially where bike lanes are missing and the shoulder/edge area is in poor condition.

What is a small electric vehicle

According to the new regulation, a small electric vehicle will be a device with an electric motor that does not allow a top speed of more than 25 km/h, has no seat, and has a manufacturer’s nameplate. The 25 km/h limit is the key point. It’s not just about how fast you ride—it’s about what the scooter can do technically.

E-fanatic noted in one of his older videos that powerful and unlocked scooters above 25 km/h will be problematic. If a model has a mode for 35, 45 or 60 km/h, it may not fall among small electric vehicles. That means its use in road traffic could now be considered a serious traffic offence.

Sidewalks won’t be the solution anymore

One of the biggest changes is the ban on riding e-scooters on sidewalks unless a traffic sign explicitly allows it. Until now, the often-discussed issue was the walking speed limit, set at 6 km/h. In practice, riding on the sidewalk was possible only very slowly and without endangering pedestrians. The new rules, however, push e-scooter riders mainly toward cycling infrastructure.

If a bike path or a cycling lane isn’t available, the rider will have to ride along the right edge of the road. That’s exactly what e-fanatic criticizes as a major safety issue. In his own ride, he showed broken shoulders/edges, potholes, gravel, and narrow sections where the scooter rider gets very close to cars or trucks. With small wheels, even a smaller pothole can be much more dangerous than on a bicycle.

Watch out for the seat, PZP, and strong models

You also need to be very careful with e-scooters that have a seat. If an electric scooter has a seat, it may not be assessed as a small electric vehicle. In that case, it could fall into the category of a motor vehicle—which may mean a need for a driving licence, a registration number, technical documents, and mandatory motor liability insurance.

Here comes the paradox with mandatory insurance (PZP) as well. Some powerful scooters can be insured by insurers based on the serial number, but from the perspective of road-traffic rules, they may not be legally usable on the road. This can be a problem especially in case of an accident, when they would have to determine whether the rider used the vehicle legally in the first place.

What to check before riding or buying

If you want to ride without unnecessary problems, focus mainly on the maximum design speed, the manufacturer’s label, and whether it has a seat. A regular e-scooter intended for traffic should have a limit of 25 km/h, should not have a seat, and should be clearly marked with a manufacturer’s label. So if you buy from China or from EU warehouses, it won’t be enough to look only at the motor power and battery capacity.

The summary is simple. E-scooters in Slovakia don’t end. Powerful models were in a gray area for years—police have been checking them, but mostly they didn’t deal with it. However, the era where you could ride basically anything, anywhere, is ending. From September 2026, the rules will be clearer and stricter. Regular models up to 25 km/h will remain legal, but strong unlocked e-scooters, models with a seat, and riding on sidewalks will be the biggest risk.

Which e-scooter should you buy in 2026?

E-scooters, e-bikes, and other forms of personal electric mobility are among the products we’ve been keeping a close eye on at China Planet for a long time. But when you buy one, it will now be even more important to look not only at the price, power, and range, but also at the legal parameters. The key will be especially the maximum design speed—and whether the device has a seat. You can find these scooters in our separate category.

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