Electric scooter rules in Norway: the age limit is 12 years, a helmet is required for children under 15 years, the blood alcohol limit is 0.2, the top speed is 20 km/h and you can only ride alone. Bicycles have no age limit, but lights are required in the dark.
Electric scooter rules in Norway: what you need to know
Electric scooter rules in Norway are quite clear. An electric scooter (a small electric kick scooter) is classified as a small electric vehicle and follows almost the same rules as a regular bicycle. The limit for a small electric vehicle is a top speed of 20 km/h. The rules apply to both rental scooters in the city and your own electric scooter. If you are new to the country and want to choose the right transport, you can also read about public transport as an affordable alternative.
Here are the main rules from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration:
- Age limit (minimum age): 12 years. Rental companies may set a higher limit, often 16 or 18 years.
- Helmet requirement: children under 15 years must wear a helmet. A helmet is recommended for everyone.
- Blood alcohol limit: 0.2 — the same limit as for cars.
- Top speed: maximum 20 km/h.
- One person: it is forbidden to ride two on the same electric scooter.
- Lights and brakes: you must have a light in front, a light or reflector in the back and brakes that work.
- Mobile phone: it is forbidden to use a handheld mobile phone while riding.
Insurance is also a requirement. Since 1 January 2023, all private electric scooters must have liability insurance. Rental companies had to have insurance as of 1 September 2022. The insurance covers damage you cause to other people or property, but not damage to the scooter itself. Read more about insurance for newcomers if you are unsure what you need.
The 20 km/h limit is important. If the scooter is built to go faster than 20 km/h, it is no longer classified as a small electric vehicle. Then it is considered a moped or motorcycle. Such vehicles must be registered, have license plates and motor insurance, and you must have a driving license to ride them.
What are the rules for bicycles in Norway?
Bicycles in Norway have fewer rules than electric scooters. There is no age limit for cycling, and children can cycle alone when they are ready. Helmets are strongly recommended, but not required for regular bicycles.
You must have lights when you cycle in the dark or in poor visibility: white or yellow light in front and red light in the back. The bicycle must also have a bell and two brakes that work.
For bicycles there is no fixed blood alcohol limit of 0.2. But you must never cycle so drunk that you are a danger to yourself or others. The police can intervene if you cycle dangerously. This is an important difference from electric scooters, which have a clear limit of 0.2.
Bicycle or electric scooter? The rules side by side
Electric scooters have stricter rules than bicycles. The table shows the main differences:
| Rule | Bicycle | Electric scooter |
|---|---|---|
| Age limit | None | 12 years |
| Helmet requirement | No (recommended) | Yes, under 15 years |
| Blood alcohol limit | No fixed limit | 0.2 |
| Top speed | No fixed limit | 20 km/h |
| Number of persons | One | Only one |
| Insurance | No | Yes, required |
Where can you ride and park?
You can ride both bicycles and electric scooters on roads, in bicycle lanes, on pedestrian and bicycle paths and on sidewalks (sidewalk = narrow path for pedestrians along the road). On sidewalks you must always consider pedestrians: slow down, keep good distance, and walk if there are many people. It is forbidden to ride on motorways and motor traffic roads.
Parking is also important for electric scooters. You must place it so that it is not in the way of pedestrians, wheelchair users or visually impaired people. Many municipalities have special zones and signs that show where you can ride and park. Some cities also have night closures of rental scooters and an upper limit on how many scooters are out. If you park the scooter incorrectly, you can get a fine of 900 kroner.
What happens if you break the rules?
If you break the rules, the police can give you a fine on the spot. If you ride with blood alcohol over 0.2, you can lose your driving rights and face stricter punishment, just like with a car. Without mandatory insurance, you risk a fine and you can be held fully liable if you hurt someone.
If an accident happens, call 113 for ambulance and 112 for police. See a separate guide on emergency help and emergency numbers so you are prepared before anything happens.
Safe and considerate riding
The rules are mostly about safety. Many accidents with electric scooters happen at night and often after alcohol. So ride slowly, wear a helmet, stay sober and have your lights on. Consider pedestrians, and do not let children under 12 ride alone.
Some good habits make the ride safer for everyone:
- Keep both hands on the handlebars and only one person on the scooter.
- Use lights and bright clothes when it is dark.
- Ride slowly past children, elderly and people on the sidewalk.
- Park the scooter neatly so no one trips over it.
If you want to ride motor vehicles later, you can read about driving license in Norway.
Rules in society are part of the curriculum for the Norwegian citizenship test — practice for free on SamfunnPrep. On SamfunnPrep you will find up-to-date questions about traffic, rights and everyday life in Norway, so you both pass the test and understand the rules around you.
You can read the law text on lovdata.no and find simple explanations on snl.no. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration updates the rules, so check vegvesen.no if you are in doubt.
