E-Scooter Rules in Poland 2026: Age 13, Helmets, Where to Ride
Short answer: Riders must be 13 or older on public roads since 3 March 2026. Under 18 needs a bicycle card or AM, A1, B1 or T licence; under 16 needs a helmet from 3 June 2026.
Electric scooters are everywhere in Polish cities, and the rules changed in 2026. The minimum age went up, helmets became mandatory for children, and there are clear rules about where you may ride. This guide summarises what the Polish Police, the Financial Ombudsman and the national road safety council say. Facts are as of 15 October 2026.
Minimum age: 13 since 3 March 2026
The Financial Ombudsman (Rzecznik Finansowy) reported on 27 February 2026 that from 3 March 2026 the minimum age for riding an electric scooter on a public road is 13. Before that, children from 10 could ride. The amendment to the Road Traffic Act is published as Dz.U. 2025, item 1676. Police pages repeat the same rule.
For children under 13:
- they may not ride an e-scooter on public roads, even with an adult;
- they may use one only in a residential zone (strefa zamieszkania), for example on an estate path or internal road, under the supervision of an adult.
A police page from Gorlice (27 May 2026) still mentions the age of 10 in one line, which does not match the other sources and looks like a leftover from the old rule. Use 13.
* Photos: "Electric scooter Blinkee rented for minutes on the street of Tomaszów Mazowiecki" (public domain) and "27 Grudnia Street in Poznań, Bicycle path" (CC0), Wikimedia Commons.
Licence for riders aged 13 to 17
Riders under 18 need the same entitlement as for a bicycle: a bicycle card (karta rowerowa) or a driving licence in category AM, A1, B1 or T. Adults do not need any document, according to the Mazowiecka Police.
Helmets for under-16s from 3 June 2026
From 3 June 2026 a protective helmet is mandatory for people up to the age of 16 riding a bicycle, an electric scooter or a personal transport device. This is confirmed by the Mazowiecka Police and the National Road Safety Council (KRBRD) website. Adults are not covered by the helmet duty, though the police encourage helmets.
Where you may ride
According to the police summary of the rules, an e-scooter rider must use:
- a bicycle path, a combined cycle and pedestrian path, or a bicycle lane;
- if none exists, the roadway, but only where the speed limit is 30 km/h or less.
Riding on the pavement is allowed only exceptionally: when the pavement runs alongside a road with a limit above 30 km/h and there is no cycle path or bicycle lane. On a pavement the speed must be close to walking pace and the rider must take extra care.
Speed limit and illegal modifications
The maximum speed for an e-scooter is 20 km/h. The Mazowiecka Police say that if a scooter is found to go faster than 20 km/h, it is treated as a vehicle not approved for traffic, and using it is punishable by a fine of up to 1,500 zł.
Insurance warning
The Financial Ombudsman points out that an e-scooter is a vehicle under the road rules, though not a motor vehicle. Many private liability (OC) and accident (NNW) policies exclude cover for driving without the required entitlements. A child riding on a public road under the age of 13, or a 14-year-old without a bicycle card, could therefore lose insurance cover, depending on the policy terms. Check the terms of your own policy.
Rented scooters
The sources above describe the road rules for riders. They do not cover the terms of scooter rental apps. Those apps set their own age limits, parking rules and fees, so read the app's terms. The legal age and licence rules in this guide still apply on public roads.
Quick checklist
1. Age 13 or older to ride on public roads. 2. Under 18: bicycle card or AM, A1, B1 or T licence. 3. Under 16: helmet, mandatory since 3 June 2026. 4. Use the cycle path first, the 30 km/h roadway second, the pavement only in the exceptional case above. 5. Keep to 20 km/h.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to ride an e-scooter in Poland?
13 on public roads since 3 March 2026. Younger children may ride only in a residential zone with an adult supervising.
Do I need a licence for an e-scooter?
Not if you are 18 or older. Riders aged 13 to 17 need a bicycle card or a licence in category AM, A1, B1 or T.
Is a helmet mandatory?
For people up to 16 years old since 3 June 2026, on bicycles, e-scooters and personal transport devices.
Can I ride an e-scooter on the pavement?
Only exceptionally, when there is no cycle path or lane and the road beside the pavement has a limit above 30 km/h. Slow down to walking pace.
