Spain’s Council of Ministers approved the Royal Decree that regulates the operation of the registry of Light Personal Vehicles, necessary to make effective the obligation to insure personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) – electric scooters.
With this Royal Decree, these personal means of transport must be registered in the national Vehicle Registry managed by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
Although the mandatory insurance in Spain came into force last January 2, its practical application was pending the creation of this registry, considered an indispensable requirement to be able to take out the compulsory policy.
More than 4 mn people own this type of vehicle, who will have to complete the registration process once the procedure is enabled.
According to what the Executive has published in the BOE, the new regulations divide PMVs into two types. On the one hand, those that have a circulation certificate.
Since January 22, 2024, only these models may be marketed, which incorporate a unique, permanent, and legible factory marking plate.
To register them, it will be necessary to provide the owner’s details, the certificate number, and the serial number, in addition to paying the corresponding fee. Once the process is completed, the DGT will issue a digital registration certificate.
The second type consists of PMVs that do not have a circulation certificate. These do not meet current technical requirements and lack a marking plate, but they may continue circulating under a transitional regime until January 22, 2027.
Even so, they must be registered and have the mandatory insurance. In this case, it will be sufficient to attach basic documentation such as the invoice, the technical sheet, or a photograph of the vehicle.
Spain’s Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, notes that although the V16 beacon has been mandatory since January 1, there will be a “flexible” and “reasonable” period during which those who do not carry it will not be fined.
When the owners of these vehicles obtain the registration certificate, all PMVs must carry an identification label with the assigned unique number, which may be purchased from an authorized plate maker and must be placed in the vehicle’s identifier holder or, in the case of non-certified vehicles, in a visible place.
Registration may be carried out online or through other channels, such as insurance agents at the time of taking out the policy or administrative managers.
As explained by the General Directorate of Traffic, they are working so that, in the coming months, this registration can be carried out directly at the authorized establishment at the time of purchasing a new electric scooter.
In addition, the regulations approved by the Executive also govern changes of ownership and the permanent deregistration of these vehicles. In the former case, the name change process must be completed within 30 days.
As for deregistration, it must be handled at an authorized vehicle treatment center, which will electronically notify the National Vehicle Registry of the destruction.
According to Beinsure, failure to comply with the obligation to insure a PMV will entail financial penalties. Specifically, lacking insurance may be fined between 202 and 610 euros, while circulating without it will result in fines of between 250 and 800 euros, depending on whether the vehicle is considered a PMV or a motor vehicle under the law.
