France & Belgium E-Scooter Rules 2026: What Dealers Should Stock
From 1 September 2026, Belgium requires a helmet on any e-scooter with a design speed above 20 km/h, and France's Order 2026-00969 of 7 August 2026 made helmets and retroreflective gear compulsory in Paris and three surrounding departments. For a trottinette électrique grossiste, the message is clear: buyers now ask whether a model is road-legal, helmet-compatible and visibly equipped before they place an order.
1. What changed in Belgium on 1 September 2026?
The Belgian Ministry of Mobility announced that a Royal Decree entering force on 1 September 2026 makes helmets compulsory for riders of "a motorised personal mobility device whose maximum speed, as determined by its design, exceeds 20 kilometres per hour" (Belga News Agency, 29 August 2026). The obligation is tied to the vehicle's technical maximum, not the speed the rider is travelling at. A 25 km/h scooter therefore falls under the rule even at 15 km/h.
Accepted helmets are either a moped helmet or a bicycle helmet that protects the temples and back of the head. Shared scooters are exempt if the operator caps them at 20 km/h in the operating permit.
2. What changed in France on 7 August 2026?
France's Order No. 2026-00969 of 7 August 2026 added local helmet and high-visibility obligations for EDPMs in Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne (Service-Public.fr, 7 August 2026). Riders must wear a helmet and retroreflective equipment at any time on public roads in those areas.
Non-compliance brings a €135 fixed fine for riding without a helmet and a €35 fine for missing retroreflective equipment, according to the Prefect of Police order. Several other departments had already introduced similar rules, so the trend is toward stricter local enforcement rather than a single national helmet mandate.
3. What should a trottinette électrique grossiste stock now?
Dealers on both sides of the border should prioritise models that make compliance easy at point of sale:
- Integrated front and rear lights plus side reflectors, because French rules already require position lamps and reflective devices.
- A visible, tamper-evident speed limiter set to 25 km/h in Belgium and France, with no dealer or user unlock.
- Helmet-compatible handlebar geometry and riding position, so the vehicle matches the safety gear buyers are now required to wear.
- Clear user documentation in French and Dutch for Belgium and in French for France.
Models that ship with these items factory-fitted reduce the after-sales risk that a customer rides non-compliant and blames the seller.
4. How do insurance rules differ across the border?
France requires third-party liability insurance for every EDPM, which many home-insurance policies cover as an extension. Belgium operates a dual test: a device is exempt from compulsory motor liability insurance only if it is both 25 km/h or less by design and 25 kg or less including battery, under the Loi du 17 mars 2024 in force since 12 April 2024 (RecordingLaw.com, verified July 2026). A heavier device falls back into compulsory insurance.
For dealers, this means weight and speed must be stated clearly on invoices and spec sheets. A 25 km/h scooter that weighs 26 kg is treated differently in Brussels than a 24 kg unit, even if the riding experience looks identical.
5. What is the enforcement timeline?
Belgian police services say they will start with awareness and warnings before issuing fines, but targeted checks will follow (Politie Aalst, 1 September 2026). In France, local helmet orders are already being enforced with fixed fines. The direction is the same in both markets: safety equipment and vehicle conformity are moving from guidance to obligation.
For dealers and distributors looking for compliant stock with European warehousing and warranty support, the AURORIDE dealer network covers France, Belgium and surrounding markets. You can apply to become a dealer, check compliant models such as the N8, view European inventory locations, or read the warranty and support terms.