Hungary is planning stricter rules for electric scooters, including minimum age limits, compulsory helmets and driving licence requirements for more powerful models.
Electric scooters will be regulated more strictly
Prime Minister Péter Magyar outlined the proposals in a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday. He said the government intended to submit the planned regulations to public consultation again before their formal adoption.
Under the government’s proposed Highway Code reform, e-scooters would become a separate vehicle category, with riding under the influence of alcohol and carrying passengers both prohibited. The changes follow growing concerns about accidents involving these type of vehicles.
According to figures cited in Hungarian reports, the number of e-scooter accidents resulting in personal injuries rose by 73 per cent between 2024 and 2025, increasing from 367 to 635.
Magyar said the government did not believe an outright ban was the answer, describing electric scooters as a potentially efficient and sustainable form of transport. Instead, the aim is to establish clearer rules and improve road safety.
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Two categories based on speed
Under the proposed system, electric scooters would be divided into two categories according to their maximum speed. Low-powered scooters, capable of travelling at no more than 25 km/h, could be used from the age of 14. Riders under 18 would have to wear a helmet.
High-powered scooters, capable of exceeding 25 km/h, would be subject to stricter requirements. Riders would need to be at least 16 and hold a driving licence of at least AM category, which covers mopeds. Helmets would be compulsory for all users, and the vehicles’ maximum permitted speed would be 40 km/h.
Rental electric scooters would face a separate speed limit of 20 km/h. The proposed rules would also restrict where these vehicles can be ridden. High-powered models would be banned from pavements altogether. Low-powered ones could use pavements only where no alternative route, such as a cycle path, was available.
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Public consultation before adoption
The government says the reform follows public consultation and research into transport safety. According to Magyar, more than 360,000 people completed a road safety questionnaire launched during the summer, while a representative opinion poll was also conducted.
The prime minister said members of the public and transport experts broadly agreed that e-scooter regulation was urgently needed. The proposals have not yet become final law. The government plans to hold another public consultation before formally announcing the amended Highway Code.
If adopted as outlined, the changes would introduce a more structured legal framework for electric scooters in Hungary, placing greater responsibility on riders and imposing additional requirements on those using faster models.
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