Quick answer: In Great Britain, e-scooters are classed as machinery. A scooter sold to consumers should carry a CE and/or UKCA mark, the maker’s name and address, a serial number, a year of construction and a set of safe-use instructions, and its charger should meet separate electrical rules. A missing mark or label is a reason to ask questions before buying.
This guide draws on Business Companion guidance for traders on e-bikes and e-scooters, last reviewed in January 2026, which applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It explains what a buyer can check on the product. It does not cover road legality: the Department for Transport says it is against the law to use a privately owned electric scooter on public land, as the site’s guide to electric scooter laws in the UK sets out. A well-labelled scooter is still for private land only. The guidance covers England, Scotland and Wales, so buyers in Northern Ireland should ask their local trading standards service which rules apply.
How e-scooters are classed
Business Companion states that e-scooters fall within the definition of powered transporters in the Road Traffic Act 1988. For product safety, electrically assisted pedal cycles and powered transporters, including e-scooters, are grouped together as personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) and classed as machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, or the equivalent EU directive where a product is CE-marked. The general rule is that any product sold to consumers must be safe, and anyone in the supply chain can be held liable for supplying an unsafe one.
The mark on the scooter
The guidance says the CE and/or UKCA mark is placed on a product by the manufacturer as confirmation that it complies with the relevant safety legislation, and that all machinery requires such marking. It notes that both marks are valid for the market in England, Scotland and Wales. It also says that the power supply falls under separate electrical equipment rules, so the charger has its own requirements.
Labels a scooter should carry
According to Business Companion, PLEVs are required to be labelled with:
- the contact details and UK address of the manufacturer or responsible person;
- the standard applied, such as BS EN 17128:2020 for an e-scooter, if that standard has been used;
- the CE and/or UKCA marking;
- the year of construction;
- the cut-off speed in km/h and the maximum continuous rated power in kW;
- the weight of the vehicle and the maximum permissible total weight;
- the designation of series or type, and an individual serial number where there is one.
Markings must be clear, visible, legible and indelible. For retailers, the guidance lists a similar set of particulars, including the business name and full address of the manufacturer, the designation, series and type, the serial number, the CE and/or UKCA mark and the year of construction.
Instructions and warnings
Business Companion says PLEVs must be supplied with instructions for safe use, and that it is currently obligatory to deliver these in paper form, with an electronic version available on request. Warnings about safe use should be affixed to the product itself and can include suitable protective equipment, age markings, the maximum carriage weight, folding and charging instructions, and warnings about wear and impact damage.
Standards and what they mean
The guidance names BS EN 17128:2020 and BS EN IEC 63281-2-1:2024 as the current relevant standards for e-scooters. It states that these standards are not designated, so they do not give a presumption of conformity with the Regulations. Instead, manufacturers must use design risk management: remove hazards where possible, reduce them where not, and provide warnings as a last step. The guidance says BS EN 17128 covers attributes including stability, charging of batteries, electrical components, speed limitation, structural integrity, markings and instructions for use.
For buyers, the practical point is that a statement such as “tested to BS EN 17128” does not by itself give the presumption of conformity that a designated standard would. The CE and/or UKCA mark and the supporting declaration of conformity are the markers the guidance describes.
Batteries and chargers
Business Companion says manufacturers are required to equip PLEV battery packs with a battery management system to reduce the risk of thermal runaway, and with mechanisms to prevent tampering that could increase power or speed. The battery and charger must be compatible, and the charger must meet BS EN 60335-2-29:2021+A11:2024. A separately supplied charger must show the manufacturer’s or importer’s name and address, input and output ratings, the type of insulation and a batch code. See also the site’s guide to e-scooter battery fire safety.
What to check before paying
- A visible, legible rating plate or label with the maker’s name and address, serial number and year.
- The CE and/or UKCA mark on the scooter and its charger.
- Printed instructions for safe use, including charging and folding.
- A seller willing to confirm the declaration of conformity.
If a scooter proves unsafe or not as described, the buyer’s remedies are explained in the guide to consumer rights when buying an e-scooter.
The bottom line
A scooter that is properly marked, labelled and supplied with instructions shows that the maker has at least engaged with the Great Britain product-safety rules, while one with no maker address, serial number or conformity mark should prompt caution. Labels do not make a scooter road-legal, and a standard on its own is not proof of compliance. Check the markings, keep the paperwork and use trading standards or consumer advice if something looks wrong.
Sources
- E-bikes and e-scooters (businesscompanion.info)
- Using a rental e-scooter (gov.uk)