Bulgaria will introduce e-scooter registration in 2026

Source: Novinite

Bulgarian MP Andrey Runchev, Chairman of the parliamentary committee on road safety, has indicated that registration for electric scooters is expected to begin in the New Year. Municipal councils will have a four-month period to draft their own local structure for the registration process.

Runchev further clarified that the registration process applies only to e-scooters and not to e-bikes. Under Bulgarian legislation, e-bikes with a maximum speed of up to 25 km/h are placed in the same category as traditional non-electric cycles. Electric scooters are seen as posing a higher risk on the road, due to their widespread use and being involved in serious accidents.

The expected registration structure

According to Runchev, each of Bulgaria’s municipalities must adopt its regulations before Christmas 2025, and it’s reported that some local governments are in favour of a unified national system, whereby authorities anywhere in the country can easily identify registered scooters during checks. Runchev stated, “If I register my scooter in Burgas and ride it in Veliko Tarnovo or Pleven, the local authorities will still know what to check.”

Debate around recent legislation

Legislation which has already been passed includes a ban on the riding of e-scooters at night – an aspect which has drawn criticism, particularly from those who use scooters for daily commuting. Winter weather would make e-scooters unviable after normal working hours in this case. Runchev acknowledged these concerns, but indicated that future amendments to legislation are not out of the question. “Any law can be changed to meet the evolving needs.“