ANSR clarifies that mandatory insurance does not apply to scooters

Electric scooters , segways and hoverboards "are not subject to the obligation to take out motor vehicle liability insurance as a condition of admission to circulation on public roads", says ANSR, in a note sent to Lusa.

The ANSR's clarification comes after the PSP announced that, from Friday, it would start to inspect civil liability insurance on electric scooters, electric scooters, segways and hoverboards, an obligation provided for in the decree-law that transposes the Community directive on compulsory motor vehicle civil liability insurance.

According to ANSR, this decree-law, which comes into force on Friday, "is applicable to the circulation of any motor vehicle intended to circulate on land, which does not move on rails, actuated by a mechanical force, as well as its trailers, even if not attached", which has a maximum design speed greater than 25 kilometres per hour or a maximum net weight greater than 25 kg and a maximum design speed greater than 14 kilometres per hour", and the diploma does not apply "to wheelchairs intended exclusively for people with physical disabilities".

When asked by Lusa about what types of vehicles are involved, ANSR did not specify which ones.

Road Safety emphasizes that all vehicles that are, "for the purposes of road traffic, considered to be bicycles, are excluded from this decree-law, which means that their admission to circulation on public roads does not depend on the taking out of civil liability insurance nor does it require that their driver hold a driving license".

The ANSR also highlights that scooters or circulation devices with an electric motor "with a maximum continuous power greater than 0.25 kW or that reaches a maximum speed on a level greater than 25 kilometers per hour, are not authorized to circulate on public roads, given that neither their circulation regime nor their technical characteristics have yet been defined, which still need to be the subject of a regulatory decree".

Meanwhile, a source from the PSP told Lusa that the Public Security Police will comply with the ANSR's understanding, since it is the administrative authority, but will request clarifications from Road Safety to consolidate the legal interpretation on this matter.