The regulations governing the circulation of electric scooters in Italy are changing. Starting May 16th , license plates and insurance will become mandatory. This has been expected since December 4th, when the reform of the Highway Code introduced new rules: identification plates, third-party liability insurance, mandatory helmets for all, a ban on driving outside urban centers, a speed limit of 20 kilometers per hour (reduced to 6 kilometers per hour in pedestrian areas), and a ban on riding the wrong way.
However, the lack of implementing decrees had led to a suspension of the measure. This step, now that the publication in the Official Journal of the decree regulating the issuance of scooter identification badges , has made the reform official.
Issuing the permit involves linking the applicant's tax code to the alphanumeric code on the license plate. Cancellation , however, serves to break that link. Each vehicle must have an identification sticker that can be traced back to the owner , not the vehicle itself, as is the case with cars, motorcycles, and other types of motor vehicles.
The reason is that scooters are not registered in the National Vehicle Archive and do not have a chassis number . Therefore, the system creates administrative traceability based on the owner. The sticker will be issued by the DMV.
With the introduction of the license plate, scooter insurance will also become mandatory . This coverage covers damage to third parties caused while riding (injuries to pedestrians or cyclists, damage to other vehicles), with a cost ranging from €25 to €150 per year , depending on the type of policy and additional coverage chosen. Failure to comply with the license plate or insurance requirement will result in a fine ranging from €100 to €400 .
(Unioneonline/ns)
