Scooter fines in Spain: does the owner or the rider pay?

Who pays the fine if someone else was riding the scooter?

The person who was riding it. Spain's Traffic Act says that liability for an offence «recaerá directamente en el autor del hecho» (falls directly on the person who committed it, art. 82). In other words, the person liable is the one who committed the offence, not the one registered as the scooter's owner (titular) in the Vehicle Register.

The law also covers the case where the scooter isn't stopped at the time of the offence and the fine reaches the owner later. In that case the rider identified by the owner is liable (art. 82.d). These articles are the Traffic Act's general rules for any vehicle and its owner; there is no separate rule for scooters.

Do I have to say who was riding my scooter?

Yes, when asked. Providing the authorities with the identity of the rider at the time of the offence is an obligation of the vehicle's owner (Traffic Act, art. 11.1.a).

If you're asked to identify who was riding, do it within the deadline you're given and with real details: the law requires you to identify them «verazmente» (truthfully, art. 77.j). If you have questions about a specific notice, ask the authority that sent it.

What happens if I don't identify the rider?

You commit a very serious offence yourself. The Traffic Act classes it as very serious when the owner doesn't truthfully identify the rider responsible after being asked to, within the set deadline (art. 77.j).

And the fine isn't fixed: it's double the original fine if that was a minor offence, and triple if it was serious or very serious (art. 80.2.b). For example, if the original offence was a serious one at €200 (art. 80.1), not identifying the rider would be fined at €600.

Summary: who is liable in each case

The Traffic Act is Royal Legislative Decree 6/2015 (consolidated text on the BOE, version of 26/06/2026). This is general information: if you have a specific fine, check the notice or ask the authority that issued it.

What if my child, who is a minor, rides it?

They are liable and, with them, their parents. When the person who committed the offence is under 18, their parents, guardians, foster carers and legal or de facto custodians are jointly and severally liable with them for the fine, in that order (Traffic Act, art. 82.b).

Before lending them the scooter, bear in mind the rules in force since 1 October 2026: the minimum age to ride is 15 and a helmet is compulsory (Royal Decree 518/2026). You'll find them all in the new e-scooter rules.

Who has to have the insurance, the owner or the rider?

The owner. Law 5/2025 requires every owner of a scooter that can be ridden legally to take out and keep in force third-party liability insurance (first additional provision, section 1). If you lend it, that obligation is still yours.

Not having the insurance in place is fined at €202 to €610, and riding without it at €250 to €800 (DGT press release of 27/01/2026). Before lending it, check your policy to see whether it covers other people riding it. And if someone has tampered with the scooter and that contributes to an accident, the insurer can claim back from them what it pays (Law 5/2025, first additional provision, section 6.e). More details in compulsory scooter insurance.

What if I sold it and it's still in my name?

Until the change of owner is done, you are still listed as the owner in the Vehicle Register, with the obligations described above. The buyer applies for the change and pays the €8.67 DGT fee, and you authorise it within a maximum of 72 hours.

Keep the sale contract with the date and the buyer's details: if you're asked to identify the rider for an offence after the sale, it will help you show who had the scooter. We explain it in second-hand scooters.

How do I pay or appeal against the fine?

From the day you are notified of the fine, you have 20 calendar days to pay it with a 50% discount or to submit objections (alegaciones) and evidence (Traffic Act, arts. 93-95). Paying with the discount closes the procedure, so you can no longer submit objections.

Minor offences become time-barred after 3 months, and serious and very serious ones after 6 months, from the day of the offence (art. 112). All the amounts are in e-scooter fines in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

If I lend my scooter and it gets a fine, who pays?

As a general rule, whoever was riding it: the Traffic Act makes the person who committed the offence liable (art. 82). If the fine reaches you as the owner, you must identify who was riding when asked (art. 11.1.a).

Do I have to identify the rider of my scooter?

Yes, when asked. It's an obligation of the vehicle's owner (Traffic Act, art. 11.1.a). If you don't identify them truthfully within the deadline you're given, you commit a very serious offence (art. 77.j).

How much is the fine for not identifying the rider?

Double the original fine if that was a minor offence, and triple if it was serious or very serious (Traffic Act, art. 80.2.b). For example, €600 if the original was a serious offence at €200.

Do parents pay their minor child's scooter fines?

Yes. If the person who committed the offence is under 18, their parents, guardians, foster carers and legal or de facto custodians are jointly and severally liable with them for the fine, in that order (Traffic Act, art. 82.b).

Who has to have the scooter insurance, the owner or the rider?

The owner. Law 5/2025 requires them to take out and keep third-party liability insurance in force. Not having it is fined at €202 to €610, and riding without it at €250 to €800.