Electric Scooter Laws By State In The US In 2023

Electric Scooter Laws By State - ElectronWheel

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Electric scooters have gained popularity over the past few years as a form of transportation. They are cost-effective, practical, and environmentally responsible. 

Electric Scooter Laws By State

However, State-by-state regulations on electric scooters differ widely. Riders may not be aware of the regulations or the places where they are permitted to ride e-scooters because of the difference in laws, which can be confusing.

Hence, in this article, we have covered all the states in the U.S. and their laws regarding electric scooters. 

So, without any further ado, let’s delve into the details.

Electric Scooter Laws by State: In a Nutshell

Here is a table representing all the states and details like where you can ride electric scooters and where you cannot.

States where electric scooters are legal on streetsAlabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
States where electric scooters are not legal on streetsDelaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.
States where electric scooters are not legal on sidewalksArizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

In Which States are Electric Scooters legal, and Where they are not?

In 38 U.S. states, electric scooters are considered permitted for use on public streets, while they are not allowed in ten additional states. 

In which states are electric scooters legal, and where they are not

While the majority of states allow electric scooters on the streets, others have added restrictions on where and how they can be used on public roads. 

Four states, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York don’t allow electric scooters on the highways, freeways/expressways, or some limited-access roads due to most scooters not being able to reach safe enough speeds to keep up with the traffic. 

Scooters are now required to ride on the right side of the road while they are street-legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, and Virginia.

States where electric scooters are legal on streets

Here is a quick overview of the state-wide laws on electric scooters on the streets. 

StateDocs RequirementMinimum AgeLegality Note
AlabamaDriver’s License14
AlaskaDriver’s License
ArkansasNot Required16
CaliforniaDriver’s LicenseNot allowed on expressways
ColoradoNot RequiredNot allowed on limited-access roads
FloridaNot Required16
GeorgiaNot Required
HawaiiDMV Registration15
IllinoisNot Required16
IndianaNot Required
KansasDriver’s License16Must stay on the right side
LouisianaDriver’s License and DMV Registration
MaineDriver’s LicenseMust stay on the right side
MarylandNot Required
MassachusettsDriver’s LicenseNot allowed on limited-access roads and Must stay on the right side
MichiganNot Required12
MinnesotaNot Required12
MississippiNot Required
MissouriNot Required16
NevadaNot Required16
New HampshireNot Required
New JerseyNot Required
New MexicoNot RequiredCan be regulated on a local level
New YorkNot Required
North CarolinaDriver’s License and DMV Registration
North DakotaNot Required
OhioNot Required16
OklahomaNot Required
Rhode IslandNot Required
South DakotaNot Required
TennesseeDriver’s License
TexasNot Required
UtahNot Required12
VermontNot Required
VirginiaNot Required14Must stay on the right side
WashingtonNot Required16
West VirginiaNot Required

States where electric scooters are not legal on streets:

There are a few states where electric scooters are not legal on the street, but they might be allowed in parks or sidewalks. Let’s check out which are these streets.

  • Delaware
  • Idaho
  • Kentucky
  • New Jersey
  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin.

States where electric scooters are legal on sidewalks:

Some states allow riding on sidewalks legally, including Arizona, North Carolina, Iowa, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Arizona, and Virginia

States where electric scooters are legal on sidewalks

Moreover, in the states where electric scooters are legal on streets, they are not allowed to ride on sidewalks. 

This is because many states find electric scooters dangerous to be ridden on the sidewalks where people walk relaxed and can be harmed if you ride carelessly.

electric scooters are legal on sidewalks

Related read;

Wrapping Up: Electric Scooter Laws By State

The electric scooter laws differ from state to state. Hence it is necessary to know the laws in your state before buying an electric scooter.

Additionally, in some states, even though electric scooters are allowed, some legality notes are mandatory to be followed.

Lastly, remember, if electric scooters are allowed in your states, consider taking all the safety risks into account while riding with safety gear.

FAQs: Electric Scooter Laws By State

What is the DMV Certification?

DMV certification is the certification provided by the US Department of Motor Vehicles.

Is it okay to ride an electric scooter like a regular kick scooter?

Manufacturers of electric scooters suggest not using an electric scooter like a regular kick scooter to increase the life of the scooter.

Do you compulsorily need a license to ride electric scooters everywhere in the US?

In some states, there is a compulsion to have a license to ride electric scooters, but not in all states like Texas, Ohio, and many others, where you can ride e-scooters without any legal documents.

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