All owners of electric scooters in Spain, or parents and guardians if the rider is under age, must register their Personal Mobility Vehicle, known as a PMV, in the National Vehicle Register.
This must be done before taking out the compulsory insurance required.
Registration is completed through the electronic headquarters of the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT). Once the registration certificate is issued, the owner can buy the official identification label. This label must be fitted to the holder on the scooter when it becomes available.
The Council of Ministers has approved the Royal Decree regulating this register. It will come into force on the day it is published which is expected very soon. All PMVs must meet the standards set out in the PMV Characteristics Manual. This manual sets minimum levels for quality, durability and safety, for riders and everyone else trying to use the road in peace.
Since 22 January 2024, only PMVs that meet these requirements can be sold. A list of approved brands and models is available on the DGT website.
Certified scooters include a factory identification plate.
How to register a Scooter/PMV
Registering a PMV is fairly simple. Owners must provide their personal details, along with the certificate number and serial number shown on the identification plate and the technical data sheet. After paying the administrative fee, the owner receives a registration number and a digital registration certificate.
Some PMVs do not meet the technical standards and do not have a factory identification plate. These scooters fall under a transitional system. They can continue to circulate until 22 January 2027, even without a circulation certificate. Insurance and registration are still required, so no escaping the rules.
For these scooters, owners only need to submit personal details and one of the following, an invoice, a technical data sheet or a photograph of the PMV. Their identification will be temporary and will expire on 22 January 2027. After that date, these vehicles will no longer be allowed on the road.
Once any PMV is registered and the certificate issued, owners can purchase the identification label from an authorised plate manufacturer. Certified scooters must display it in the official holder. Non certified scooters must place it somewhere clearly visible.
Registration can also be completed through insurance agents when arranging cover, or through administrative managers who already deal with electronic procedures. The DGT is also working on allowing registration at the point of sale when buying a new PMV from an authorised retailer in the coming months.
Change of ownership and deregistration
If a registered PMV changes owner, the transfer must be requested within thirty days using the official form. The required documents must be submitted, excluding the general characteristics sheet, along with the vehicle identification number and the new owner’s ID. A new digital registration certificate will be issued, while the vehicle keeps the same identification number.
PMVs must be deregistered at an authorised centre. These centres will notify the National Vehicle Register electronically once the scooter is scrapped.
Under civil liability and insurance law, failing to have compulsory insurance can lead to a fine of between €202 and €610. Riding a PMV without insurance can result in fines from €250 to €800. The exact amount depends on whether the vehicle is classed as a light personal vehicle or a motor vehicle, meaning over 25 kilograms and faster than 14 kilometres per hour.
