Can an e-scooter ride on the pavement?

No. Personal mobility vehicles are vehicles and may only use the carriageway of urban roads; pavements and pedestrian areas are off limits unless the scooter is wheeled on foot.

Can a PMV ride on a motorway or an interurban road?

No. PMVs are banned from motorways and dual carriageways — including those inside built-up areas — as well as from interurban roads, town crossings and urban tunnels.

Is a helmet compulsory on an e-scooter?

Yes: PMV riders must wear a protective helmet when riding on public roads.

Personal mobility vehicle (PMV) and e-scooter

Definition

A personal mobility vehicle (vehículo de movilidad personal, VMP) is defined by Royal Decree 970/2020 in Spain's Reglamento General de Vehículos as a vehicle with one or more wheels, a single seating position and propulsion exclusively by electric motors within the regulatory limits. The e-scooter is the most common example. The practical consequence, and the one the exam tests, is that a PMV is a vehicle in full: its rider follows the traffic rules, may not ride on the pavement, and is subject to the same alcohol and drug tests as any other driver.

Where a PMV may ride

PMVs ride on the carriageway of urban roads. They are banned from pavements and pedestrian areas (unless wheeled on foot), from town crossings (travesías), interurban roads, motorways and dual carriageways — including those running inside a built-up area — and from urban tunnels. Municipal by-laws decide which urban streets they may use, but no by-law can authorise a motorway.

Helmet, alcohol, phone and passengers

PMV riders must wear a protective helmet on public roads and must submit to alcohol and drug testing like any other driver; the limit is the general 0.50 g/l of blood, and zero for under-age riders. Using a phone or listening to the radio while riding is prohibited. Since a PMV has a single seat by definition, carrying a passenger is not allowed.

Key facts

Royal Decree 970/2020 definition: one or more wheels, a single seat, exclusively electric propulsion.
Single seat: a PMV may not carry a passenger.
A saddle is allowed only if the PMV has a self-balancing system.
No registration certificate is needed, but a certificate of circulation is — obtained by the maker, importer or their representative.
Banned from pavements, pedestrian areas, town crossings, interurban roads, motorways, dual carriageways and urban tunnels.
Protective helmet required on public roads.
Vehicles for people with reduced mobility are NOT PMVs: Royal Decree 970/2020 excludes them expressly.

Exam tip

Two common traps: an e-scooter does not belong on the pavement (it is a vehicle) and it may not use interurban roads, motorways or dual carriageways. And when a question asks about the 'permiso de circulación' of a PMV, the answer is the certificate of circulation.

Frequently asked questions

Can an e-scooter ride on the pavement?: No. Personal mobility vehicles are vehicles and may only use the carriageway of urban roads; pavements and pedestrian areas are off limits unless the scooter is wheeled on foot.
Can a PMV ride on a motorway or an interurban road?: No. PMVs are banned from motorways and dual carriageways — including those inside built-up areas — as well as from interurban roads, town crossings and urban tunnels.
Is a helmet compulsory on an e-scooter?: Yes: PMV riders must wear a protective helmet when riding on public roads.

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Real Personal mobility vehicle (PMV) and e-scooter questions (B licence)

A personal mobility vehicle is generally characterized as:

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