Can I ride an electric scooter?
Yes, but under strict conditions — and the regime has tightened sharply. Under the amended Road Traffic Act the minimum age is 16, and a helmet is mandatory for every rider, not just for under-18s. The scooter must be capped at 25 km/h and in working order. Ride in the bike lane; where there is none, keep as far right as possible. Riding at night is banned outright, regardless of reflective clothing or the scooter's own lights — the rule that catches most people out. You may not carry a passenger or hold a phone. From July 2026, registration and third-party liability insurance become mandatory. The alcohol limits are the same as for a car driver.
📋 The rules
- Minimum age: 16
- Helmet mandatory for all riders
- Maximum speed 25 km/h
- Ride in the bike lane; otherwise keep right
- No night riding. No passenger, no phone
🔓 Exceptions
- Registration and liability insurance — being introduced from July 2026
- Municipalities may add their own limits (zones, speed, parking)
- Bicycle rules are different — do not assume they carry over
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Breaching the e-scooter rules brings a fine of BGN 250 (≈€128) for a first offence and BGN 800 (≈€409) for a repeat — a sharp increase on the previous regime. The same regime covers riding without a helmet, at night, with a passenger and holding a phone. From July 2026, riding unregistered or without third-party liability insurance becomes an offence in its own right, with a separate penalty. The alcohol limits apply separately — for an e-scooter rider they are the same as for a car driver. And in a collision without insurance you are liable for the damage out of your own pocket, which for a personal injury can be ruinous.
📎 Official sources
- lex.bg · Road Traffic Act →
- Ministry of the Interior · Traffic Police →
- Insurance Europe · Fact sheet e-scooters Bulgaria →
❓ Frequently asked
What age can I ride an e-scooter from?
From 16. Below that age you may not ride an electric scooter on the road, even accompanied by an adult. A parent who lets an under-16 ride on the road bears responsibility for it.
Is a helmet mandatory?
Yes, for every rider — not only for under-18s. It is one of the most recent changes to the Road Traffic Act and one of the most commonly broken rules. Riding without one carries the same fine as the other breaches: BGN 250 first, BGN 800 on repeat.
Can I ride at night?
No. Night riding on an electric scooter is banned outright, regardless of whether you wear reflective clothing, whether the scooter has lights, or whether you stay in the bike lane. This surprises many people, because the rules for bicycles are different.
What is the fine?
BGN 250 (≈€128) for a first offence and BGN 800 (≈€409) for a repeat. The same applies to riding without a helmet, with a passenger, holding a phone, or at night — the amounts are identical whichever rule you broke.
Do I need registration and insurance?
Yes — from July 2026. The Road Traffic Act introduces mandatory registration of e-scooters and third-party liability insurance. Without insurance, in a collision you pay for the damage from your own assets, which for a personal injury can be very expensive.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “e-scooter law bulgaria”
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