Are Electric Scooters Legal in Virginia?
VAVirginia
Fully Legal
Quick Facts
Max Speed
20 mph for electric scooters, 25 mph for electric personal assistive mobility devices.
Minimum Age
14 years old without the need for adult supervision, under 14 requires supervision by an adult at least 18 years old.
Helmets Required?
Virginia law does not state a helmet requirement for riders of electric scooters who are 14 years of age or older. Helmets are recommended for safety but may not be legally mandated.
Summary
Virginia law lets riders 14 and older operate electric scooters on sidewalks or streets posted 25 mph or less, capped at 20 mph with no registration, while counties and cities can restrict sidewalk riding or require helmets in busy districts.
Detailed Information
Code §46.2-908.1:1 treats stand-up scooters under 100 pounds as motorized skateboards/scooters, so operators have the same rights and duties as bicyclists but may not exceed 20 mph and generally stay on highways, bike lanes, or shared-use paths where the speed limit is 25 mph or lower (they may cross higher-speed roads at intersections). Local governments can regulate sidewalk and crosswalk use under §46.2-904 and may impose helmet requirements for riders 14 or younger under §46.2-906.1, so shared programs often designate no-sidewalk or slow zones downtown. No driver license, title, or insurance is required, but riders must yield to pedestrians and obey all traffic controls, and violations can result in local citations.
Official References
2025-11-09
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