Electric scooter: what license do you need? Complete guide to L1e and L3e

Last updated: August 2026

You always need a licence to ride an electric scooter in Italy. If the vehicle is type-approved as L1e (maximum 45 km/h and continuous rated power up to 4 kW), an AM licence is sufficient and can be obtained from age 14. Beyond these limits, the vehicle becomes L3e and an A1, A2 or A licence is required, depending on its power.

It seems simple, but this is where the most widespread confusion begins: electric scooters do not have engine displacement. The parameter that determines everything—licence, minimum age, roads you can use, and insurance—is the combination of maximum design speed and continuous rated power. In this guide, you'll find the type-approval categories, the corresponding licence, how to read the registration certificate, and what is actually mandatory on the road.

The type-approval categories: L1e, L2e, L3e

Article 47 of the Italian Highway Code classifies motor vehicles into European categories identified by the letter L. For scooters—internal combustion or electric—the three that matter are these.

The category is not a commercial label chosen by the manufacturer: it is the result of type approval, meaning the official recognition that the vehicle has passed the required technical tests. It is listed on the registration certificate and determines every subsequent obligation.

Why power replaces engine displacement

For an internal combustion engine, engine displacement is the immediate reference: 50 cc means moped, 125 cc means light motorcycle. An electric motor has no engine displacement, so the legislator uses an equivalent parameter: continuous rated power, expressed in kW.

Be careful not to confuse it with peak power, the highest value manufacturers highlight in product specifications. A vehicle may claim 3,000 W of peak power and be type-approved as L1e because its continuous rated power remains below 4 kW. It is the rated power, not the peak power, that determines the category.

One final, crucial clarification: modifying the vehicle to exceed its type-approval limits makes it illegal. A vehicle type-approved for 45 km/h that is modified to go faster loses the validity of its type approval and, consequently, its registration and insurance coverage. In the event of an accident, the consequences are serious, both in terms of penalties and civil liability.

Which license is required for each category?

AM license—the “moped license”

It can be obtained from the age of 14 and authorizes you to ride two- and three-wheeled mopeds (L1e and L2e) with a top speed of 45 km/h, as well as light quadricycles. It requires a theory exam and a practical test. It is not simply a permit: it is a full driving license, with a points system, and traffic violations committed while riding a moped affect your progress toward higher categories.

A1 license

It can be obtained from the age of 16 and covers motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW, with a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.1 kW/kg. For an electric scooter, this means continuous rated power of up to 11 kW. It is the right license for mid-range urban e-mopeds, capable of maintaining speeds of 70–80 km/h.

A2 and A licenses

The A2 license can be obtained from the age of 18 and covers vehicles up to 35 kW. The unrestricted A license can be obtained at 24 through direct access, or at 20 if you have held an A2 license for at least two years. The system is progressive: when moving up a category, you do not repeat the theory exam, only the practical test.

What if I only have a category B license?

A category B license includes authorization to ride mopeds, so it allows you to ride any L1e electric scooter without any additional requirements. In Italy only, a B license also allows you to ride motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW—in electric terms, an L3e scooter with up to 11 kW of rated power. This extension is not valid abroad: anyone leaving Italy and riding a 125 with only a B license risks penalties.

How to identify your electric scooter’s category

Do not rely on the commercial description or the comparison “equivalent to a 50cc.” Verification takes thirty seconds and must be done before purchase.

1. Ask the seller for the European certificate of conformity (CoC) or the type-approval sheet.
2. Look for the vehicle category field: it must state L1e, L2e, or L3e, with any applicable subcategory.
3. Check the maximum design speed and the continuous rated power, not the peak power.
4. On the registration certificate, after registration, you will find the same data in fields J and P.

License plate, insurance, and helmet: what is mandatory

A type-approved electric scooter is a motor vehicle in every respect. The requirements are the same as for a petrol-powered vehicle in the same category, with no exceptions based on the power source.

• Registration and license plate — mandatory. L1e mopeds receive a personal license plate linked to the registered owner, while L3e motorcycles receive a license plate linked to the vehicle.
• Third-party liability insurance — mandatory, even when the vehicle is stationary on private property, as of June 30, 2024.
• Approved helmet — mandatory for both rider and passenger, regardless of category.
• Periodic inspection — the first inspection is due four years after registration, then every two years.
• Passenger transport — permitted only if stated in the registration certificate, and with an adult rider in the case of mopeds.

There is a difference when it comes to taxation: electric vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax for the first few years after registration, with the duration and subsequent rules varying from region to region. Some regions provide permanent exemption. The complete registration procedure, vehicle tax costs, and the two questions to ask your insurance company are covered in the guide to license plates, registration, and insurance for electric scooters.

Where you cannot ride an L1e

This is the limitation that has the greatest impact on daily use and is often discovered too late. L1e mopeds cannot travel on motorways or major out-of-town roads (the so-called ring roads and expressways). If your commute includes even a short stretch of an expressway, an L1e is not the right choice: you need an L3e.

On the other hand, electric vehicles have unrestricted access to most ZTLs and areas subject to traffic restrictions, under rules set by individual municipalities. This is the most tangible competitive advantage of electric vehicles in urban areas.

What is not an electric scooter

Three categories of vehicles are routinely confused with electric scooters, but they follow completely different rules.

The distinction matters because it determines whether you need a licence, whether you have to register the vehicle, and which roads you can use. If an advert promises an “electric scooter without a licence” that reaches 45 km/h, the information is incorrect: none exists in Italy.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an electric scooter that can be ridden without a licence?

No. Any electric scooter approved for road use requires at least an AM licence. The only electric vehicles that can be ridden without a licence are pedal-assist bicycles and electric scooters, which belong to different legal categories.

Can I ride an electric scooter with a category B licence?

Yes. A category B licence allows you to ride all L1e electric scooters up to 4 kW and, only in Italy, also L3e models up to 11 kW nominal power. This extension does not apply abroad, where an A1 licence is required.

How old do you have to be to ride an electric scooter?

From age 14 with an AM licence for L1e models up to 45 km/h and 4 kW. From age 16 with an A1 licence for models up to 11 kW. From age 18 with an A2 licence for models up to 35 kW.

How many kW can an electric scooter ridden with an AM licence have?

Up to 4 kW of continuous rated power, with a maximum design speed of 45 km/h. This is the limit that defines the L1e category, the electric equivalent of a 50cc moped.

Does an electric scooter need a licence plate and insurance?

Yes, both are mandatory for any approved electric scooter, regardless of category. An approved helmet is also mandatory for both the rider and passenger.

Can I carry a passenger on an L1e electric scooter?

Only if the registration document indicates two seats and the rider is an adult. Moped riders under 18 are not permitted to carry passengers.

Can an L1e electric scooter be ridden on a ring road?

No. Mopeds are not allowed on motorways or major out-of-town roads. To travel on these routes, you need an L3e-approved vehicle with the corresponding licence.

In summary

There is only one rule of thumb: check the type-approval category before the price. If you travel around town on short trips, an L1e with an AM or B licence will cover everything without additional costs. If your route includes dual carriageways or requires higher speeds, the only correct option is an L3e with the appropriate licence: forcing an L1e onto unsuitable roads is both illegal and dangerous.

Once you have clarified the category, the next two steps are choosing the model and understanding how much you can save: you can find a complete comparison of range, battery, and prices in the guide to the best electric scooters of 2026, along with all the details about the government incentive in the 2026 Electric Scooter Ecobonus guide, which covers up to 40% of the price in the L1e category.

The information provided is for general guidance and refers to the Italian regulations in force on the date it was updated. For your vehicle's specific situation, always refer to the registration document and the provisions of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.