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E-Scooter Fines Ireland 2026: €100 From 18 November (Full List)
From Wednesday 18 November 2026, every e-scooter fine in Ireland is €100, up from €50. A new €100 fine also applies from that day for riding without a helmet or hi-vis. Here is every fine, what a seizure costs, and a 60-second check you can do before your next ride.
Quick answer: From 18 November 2026, every e-scooter fixed charge notice in Ireland is €100 (it was €50). Riding without a securely fastened helmet or hi-vis covering the front and back of your torso becomes its own €100 offence. Riders must be 18 or older, the limit is 20 km/h, and a scooter that is over 400 W, over 25 kg or not roadworthy can be seized. Getting a seized scooter back costs €80 plus €30 for every extra day in storage. Riding under the influence means a court appearance and a fine of up to €2,000.
What changes on 18 November 2026?
On 20 October 2026, Minister of State Seán Canney signed regulations that make two changes. Both take effect on 18 November 2026 and are enforced by An Garda Síochána:
- Every e-scooter fixed charge notice doubles from €50 to €100. That covers speeding, footpaths, phones, passengers, red lights and an illegal scooter.
- A new €100 fixed charge for no helmet or no hi-vis. Helmets and hi-vis have been compulsory since 4 September 2026, but until 18 November there was no on-the-spot fine for breaking that rule.
The Department of Transport says this completes the package of e-scooter safety measures that Government approved in July 2026. Registration of e-scooters is still being worked on.
Ireland's e-scooter rule changes in 2026: timeline
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| 4 September 2026 | Helmet and hi-vis compulsory for every e-scooter rider (S.I. No. 455 of 2026) |
| 2 October 2026 | Minimum age raised from 16 to 18. Detention and storage fees for seized scooters doubled to €80 plus €30 a day |
| 18 November 2026 | All e-scooter fixed charge notices rise from €50 to €100. New €100 fine for no helmet or no hi-vis |
| Still to come | E-scooter registration (under consideration, no date announced) |
Every e-scooter fine in Ireland from 18 November 2026
These are the fixed charge offences listed by the Road Safety Authority. Each one was €50 until 17 November and is €100 from 18 November.
| Offence | Before 18 Nov | From 18 Nov |
|---|---|---|
| How you ride | ||
| No helmet or no hi-vis (new offence) | No fine | €100 |
| Exceeding the speed limit | €50 | €100 |
| Riding on a footpath (other than to get on or off it) | €50 | €100 |
| Riding into a pedestrianised street or area (other than on a cycle track) | €50 | €100 |
| Holding a mobile phone while riding | €50 | €100 |
| Carrying a passenger | €50 | €100 |
| Carrying goods | €50 | €100 |
| Towing another vehicle or any item | €50 | €100 |
| Riding without reasonable consideration for other people | €50 | €100 |
| Breaking a red light, or ignoring cycle traffic lights | €50 | €100 |
| Ignoring lights or signs at a railway level crossing | €50 | €100 |
| Failing to stop for a school warden sign | €50 | €100 |
| Failing to stop when a Garda tells you to | €50 | €100 |
| What you ride | ||
| Scooter faster than the 20 km/h maximum design speed | €50 | €100 |
| Motor over 400 W continuous rated power | €50 | €100 |
| Scooter bigger than the legal dimensions | €50 | €100 |
| Scooter fitted with a seat | €50 | €100 |
| Prohibited modification (for example, de-restricting the speed) | €50 | €100 |
| Scooter not roadworthy | €50 | €100 |
| Brakes not fitted as required | €50 | €100 |
| Lights and reflectors not fitted as required | €50 | €100 |
| No bell, horn or audible warning device | €50 | €100 |
| Wheels and tyres not as required | €50 | €100 |
| Not a fixed charge: court | ||
| Riding under the influence of an intoxicant | Court appearance, fine up to €2,000 | |
A single stop can bring more than one fine. A rider on a de-restricted scooter, on the footpath, without hi-vis could get three notices. That's €300 from 18 November, before the scooter is even detained.
What a seized e-scooter really costs
Gardaí can seize an e-scooter that isn't legal for public use. That includes one ridden by someone under 18, and any scooter over 400 W, over 20 km/h or over 25 kg. Since 2 October 2026, getting it back costs €80 for detention and the first day of storage, then €30 for each extra day.
| Days in storage | Storage fees | Plus one €100 fine |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €80 | €180 |
| 3 days | €140 | €240 |
| 7 days | €260 | €360 |
| 14 days | €470 | €570 |
Storage fees are worked out from the published rates (€80 + €30 a day after the first). Enforcement is already happening. Minister Canney told RTÉ on 2 October that 793 e-scooter prosecutions had been taken and 1,412 e-scooters detained so far in 2026.
Helmet and hi-vis: what actually counts
The 4 September regulations (S.I. No. 455 of 2026) are specific:
- Helmet: a cycling helmet that meets European standard EN 1078 and carries a CE mark, securely fastened. A helmet hanging from the handlebar or an open strap doesn't count.
- Hi-vis: CE-marked clothing to EN ISO 20471 that covers at least the front and back of your torso. A hi-vis vest, jacket or jumper with reflective strips is fine. A hi-vis sash, belt or armband is not.
Check the label inside the helmet and on the vest for the standard number before you ride. See our e-scooter helmets and the helmet and hi-vis fit guide. For lights, locks and full winter kits with prices, see the winter safety gear guide.
Is your scooter itself legal? The four numbers
Many of the fines above are about the machine, not the rider. To be used in a public place in Ireland, an e-scooter must have:
- a maximum continuous rated motor power of 400 W or less (peak power claims don't count)
- a maximum design speed of 20 km/h or less
- a weight of 25 kg or less, including the battery
- front and rear lights, reflectors, brakes and a bell, plus a manufacturer's plate stating power, weight and design speed
Switching an overpowered scooter into "eco mode" doesn't make it legal. If it is over any limit, it is for private land only. Use our free e-scooter law checker, or browse 20 km/h road-legal electric scooters.
The 60-second check before every ride
- Helmet on and strapped, EN 1078 and CE on the label.
- Hi-vis covering front and back, not a sash.
- Lights work, front and rear, and they're on in the dark and in poor light. See lights.
- Both brakes bite, and the bell or horn works.
- Tyres: pressure good, no cuts or bald patches.
- Phone away, no earphones, no passenger, no shopping bags on the stem.
- Road or cycle lane only. Never the footpath or a pedestrian street.
Not sure your scooter is roadworthy?
"Not roadworthy" is now a €100 fine, and worn brakes, dead lights and tired tyres are the usual reasons. Our workshop at 157 Capel Street, Dublin 1 checks brakes, lights, tyres and the electrics on most scooter brands. Repairs and diagnostics are by appointment. See e-scooter repairs in Dublin, or the brake and tyre repair pages.
Not legal to ride yet? Under-18s can't use an e-scooter in public at all. See what's legal for under-18s. Taking your scooter on public transport? Read e-scooters on the DART, Luas, train and bus.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an e-scooter fine in Ireland?
From 18 November 2026, every e-scooter fixed charge notice is €100. Before that date it was €50. Riding under the influence isn't a fixed charge: it goes to court, with a fine of up to €2,000.
When do the €100 e-scooter fines start?
Wednesday 18 November 2026. Minister of State Seán Canney signed the regulations on 20 October 2026.
Can you be fined for not wearing a helmet on an e-scooter in Ireland?
Yes, from 18 November 2026. Helmets and hi-vis have been compulsory since 4 September 2026, and from 18 November riding without either is a €100 fixed charge offence.
What kind of helmet do you need for an e-scooter in Ireland?
A securely fastened cycling helmet that meets EN 1078 and carries a CE mark. A motorcycle helmet isn't required for a legal e-scooter.
Does a hi-vis armband or sash count?
No. The hi-vis must be CE-marked to EN ISO 20471 and cover at least the front and back of your torso, so a vest, jacket or jumper.
Can Gardaí take my e-scooter?
Yes. Gardaí can detain a scooter that isn't legal for public use or is ridden by someone under 18. Getting it back costs €80 for detention and the first day, plus €30 for each extra day.
Do e-scooters need tax, insurance or a licence in Ireland?
Not if the scooter is legal (400 W, 20 km/h, 25 kg or less) and the rider is 18 or over. A scooter over those limits can't be used in public at all, whether or not it is insured.
Do e-scooters have to be registered in Ireland?
Not yet. The Department of Transport says registration is still being worked on. No start date has been announced.
Sources: Department of Transport, 20 October 2026; Department of Transport, 22 September 2026; Department of Transport, 2 September 2026; RSA: e-scooters; S.I. No. 455 of 2026; S.I. No. 199 of 2024; TheJournal.ie, 2 October 2026. Checked 13 November 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Ready to compare models? See all the electric scooters we sell in Ireland, with current prices, set up by our own workshop at 157 Capel Street, Dublin 1, and delivered nationwide.
