E-scooters for kids and teens: age guidance, speed limits and safety standards

Quick answer: choose a scooter whose manufacturer age and height range fits your child, with a low top speed and a speed-limited learner mode, and ride only where it is legal. In the UK a child’s e-scooter, like an adult’s, can only be used on private land with permission. In Ireland, Victoria and Ontario the minimum age for public roads is 16, rising to 18 in Ireland, and Queensland allows 12 to 15-year-olds only under supervision.

Electric scooters are a popular present, but children’s models sit in a legal and safety grey area. There is no single “kids’ e-scooter” category in law, and the standards that apply depend on where you live. This guide explains the age ratings manufacturers use, how speed-limiting works, which safety marks to look for and, most importantly, where a child can actually ride.

Manufacturer age ratings: a real example

Reputable manufacturers publish an age and height range for each model. Segway’s ZING range shows how this works in practice:

Compare that with adult models. Segway gives its lightweight Air T15 a rider age range of 14 to 60, and Razor recommends its seated EcoSmart Metro HD for ages 16 and up. Always follow the manufacturer’s age, height and weight limits: they reflect the size of the deck, the reach to the brakes and the speed the scooter is designed for.

Speed-limiting and learner modes

A learner or “safe” mode is one of the most useful features on a child’s scooter. On the ZING models, Safe mode limits speed to 10km/h, against a 16km/h maximum. When comparing scooters, look for:

• A low maximum speed that suits your child’s age and experience.
• A selectable beginner mode, ideally one a parent can control.
• Gentle acceleration, so the scooter does not jolt forwards.
• A hand brake your child can reach and squeeze firmly.

Consumer Reports notes that top speeds on e-scooters generally have risen sharply since 2022, with 20mph now common and some models reaching 28mph. Buying an adult scooter “to grow into” is not a good idea for a younger child.

Safety standards to look for

UL 2272 (US and Canada)

UL 2272 is the standard for electrical systems in personal e-mobility devices. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has urged manufacturers, importers and retailers to certify micromobility products, including e-scooters, to UL 2272, with certification from an accredited testing laboratory. It covers the electrical and battery system, which is where fire risk comes from. UL 2849 is the equivalent standard for e-bikes, not scooters.

ASTM F2641 (US)

ASTM F2641 is a consumer safety specification for recreational powered scooters and pocket bikes, covering things such as acceleration, braking and electrical safety, and aimed at older children, teens and adults. Consumer Reports notes that youth models are one of the few categories in the US with an established ASTM standard, whereas adult consumer e-scooters have no federal safety standard.

EN 17128 (Europe, UK and Ireland)

EN 17128 sets safety requirements and test methods for personal light electric vehicles such as e-scooters. It excludes toys and vehicles designed to go faster than 25km/h. That means some very low-powered children’s scooters may be treated as toys rather than falling under EN 17128, so ask the seller which standard a product has been tested to.

Where can children legally ride?

• UK: private e-scooters are motor vehicles in law and it is against the law to use one on public land, whatever the rider’s age. A child’s scooter can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission. Rental trial scooters need a full or provisional licence with category Q entitlement, which rules out young children.
• Ireland: nobody under 16 may use an e-scooter in a public place under the rules introduced in May 2024, and that age was due to rise to 18 in early October 2026. Helmets and hi-vis became compulsory on 4 September 2026.
• Queensland: from 31 August 2026 riders must be 16 with at least a learner licence. Children aged 12 to 17 can ride under the supervision of a parent or caregiver, and parents can be fined if under-16s ride illegally.
• Victoria: the minimum age to ride an e-scooter is 16.
• Ontario: riders in the pilot must be at least 16, and riders under 18 must wear a bicycle helmet.
• US: rules vary by state and city, so check local laws before your child rides anywhere public.

Protective kit

Consumer Reports cites research suggesting children make up more than 45% of e-scooter injuries in the US, and that helmet use among e-scooter riders is very low. Its advice is a properly fitted helmet as a minimum, plus wrist guards and knee and elbow pads. For children, that is non-negotiable. Also teach them to brake in a straight line, as Consumer Reports warns braking while turning can cause the rear wheel to skid.

Charging a child’s scooter safely

A kids’ scooter still has a lithium-ion battery. London Fire Brigade says there is on average a fire from an e-bike or e-scooter lithium-ion battery every two days in London. Keep charging an adult job:

• Use only the manufacturer’s charger. The government advises never mixing chargers and batteries.
• Charge while an adult is awake and at home, and unplug when finished.
• Do not charge in a child’s bedroom or on an escape route such as a hallway.
• Register the product with the manufacturer so you hear about recalls.

Checklist for parents

1. Is there somewhere legal for your child to ride it?
2. Does the manufacturer’s age, height and weight range fit your child now?
3. Is there a low-speed learner mode?
4. Can your child reach and operate the brake?
5. Is it tested to a recognised standard, such as UL 2272 in North America?
6. Have you bought a helmet and pads at the same time?
7. Do you have a safe place to charge it?

Sources

• Segway: Ninebot eKickScooter ZING C8 and C10 (eu-en.segway.com)
• Segway: Ninebot KickScooter Air T15 specifications (ap-en.segway.com)
• Razor: EcoSmart Metro HD specifications (razor.com)
• Consumer Reports: We tested 13 electric scooters. We don’t recommend any (consumerreports.org)
• US CPSC: Letter to micromobility manufacturers on UL 2272 and UL 2849 (December 2022) (cpsc.gov)
• Genorma: EN 17128:2020 Personal light electric vehicles, requirements and test methods (genorma.com)
• ACT Lab: Understanding ASTM F2264 and ASTM F2641 for scooters (act-lab.com)
• GOV.UK: Guidance on powered transporters
• GOV.UK: E-scooter trials, guidance for users
• RTE News: What are the new e-scooter regulations? (May 2024) (rte.ie)
• RTE News: New helmet and high-vis e-scooter regulations in effect (September 2026) (rte.ie)
• Queensland Government StreetSmarts: E-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles (streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au)
• Victoria Police: Electric powered scooters (e-scooters) (police.vic.gov.au)
• Government of Ontario: Electric kick-style scooters (e-scooters) (ontario.ca)
• London Fire Brigade: E-bikes and e-scooters fire safety advice (london-fire.gov.uk)
• National Fire Chiefs Council: E-bikes and e-scooters fire safety guidance (nfcc.org.uk)
• GOV.UK: Government safety message on e-bikes and e-scooters