GUIDE: E-Scooter and E-Bike Registration, License Requirements

Drivers of electric scooters and electric bikes need to register their vehicles and secure a driver's license before using them on the road, authorities said Wednesday.

The MMDA said it would strictly enforce one-year-old guidelines from the Land Transportation Office on e-bikes and scooters to ensure road safety.

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Here's your guide to e-scooters and e-bikes:

Which e-vehicles are allowed?

The guidelines cover the following, as defined by the LTO order:

Personal mobility scooter (PMS)
- a two-, three-, or four-wheeled vehicle, with or without pedals, powered by electric energy with less than 300 wattage

Electric Kick Scooter
- a two-, three-, or four-wheeled vehicle, with or without pedals, powered by electric energy with less than 300 wattage

E-Bikes; E-Moped 2W
- a two-wheeled vehicle, with or without pedals, powered by electrical energy capable of propelling the unit up to a maximum speed of 50 kph

Light E-Scooter; E-Moped 2W
- a two-wheeled vehicle, with or without pedals, powered by electrical energy capable of propelling the unit up to a maximum speed of 50 kph

E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2a category)
- a three-wheeled vehicle, with or without pedals, powered by electrical energy capable of propelling the unit up to a maximum speed of 50 kph

E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2b category)
- a three-wheeled vehicle, with or without pedals, powered by electrical energy capable of propelling the unit up to a maximum speed of 50 kph

E-Motorcycle
- a two-wheeled vehicle powered solely by electrical energy capable of propelling the unit more than 50 kph

E-Trike/3-Wheeled Vehicle
- a three-wheeled vehicle powered by electrical energy with minimum rated power of 1000 watts, capable of propelling the unit not more than 50 kph with maximum curb weight of 600 kg and designed to carry goods, cargoes, and passengers

E-Quad
- a four-wheeled microcar with limited weight, power, and speed.

• L6 or light quadricycle - with an unloaded mass of not more than 350 kg and powered by electrical energy up to 4000 watts.
• L7 or heavy quadricycle - with unloaded mass of not more than 550 kg and powered by electrical energy up to 15,000 watts

Where can they be used?

Personal mobility scooter (PMS)
- Private roads, pedestrian lanes, bike lanes, and other similar lanes

Electric Kick Scooter
- Limited to barangay roads, bike lanes, other similar lanes

E-Bikes; E-Moped 2W
- Limited to barangay roads, bike lanes, other similar lanes
- Allowed to cross national roads and other roads when barangays are separated by it

Light E-Scooter; E-Moped 2W
- Allowed to go beyond the barangay roads to cover other local roads, provided it will take the outermost part of the road adjacent to the sidewalk
- Can also pass through main thoroughfares and national roads to cross roads divided by the former roads, provided it shall yield the right of way to incoming traffic

E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2a category)
- Limited within or along private roads and barangay roads
- Can also operate within bike lanes considering its speed limit
- Can pass through main thoroughfares, national roads, and others to cross roads divided by the former roads, provide it shall yield the right of way to incoming traffic

E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2b category)
- Allowed to go beyond barangay roads to cover other local roads, provided it will take the outermost part of the road adjacent to the sidewalk
- Can pass through main thoroughfares, national roads, and others to cross roads divided by the former roads, provide it shall yield the right of way to incoming traffic

E-Motorcycle
- Allowed to operate in all types of roads except in limited access highways that requires minimum speed ratings, except e-mtorcycle units with higher speed ratings as determined by DOTr
- May be used as public transportation

E-Trike/3-Wheeled Vehicle
- Allowed to go beyond barangay roads to cover other local roads and tertiary national roads provided that the driver has a driver's license
- Can pass through main thoroughfares and national roads to cros roads divided by the former roads, provide it shall yield the right of way to incoming traffic

E-Quad
- Allowed to go beyond barangay roads to cover other local roads and tertiary national roads provided that the driver has a driver's license
- Can pass through main thoroughfares and national roads to cros roads divided by the former roads, provide it shall yield the right of way to incoming traffic

Is a driver's license required?

Not required:

• Personal mobility scooter (PMS)
• Electric Kick Scooter
• E-Bikes; E-Moped 2W
• Light E-Scooter; E-Moped 2W
• E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2a category)

Required:

• E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2b category)
• E-Motorcycle
• E-Trike/3-Wheeled Vehicle
• E-Quad

Does it have to be registered?

No registration requirement:

• Personal mobility scooter (PMS)
• Electric Kick Scooter
• E-Bikes; E-Moped 2W
• Light E-Scooter; E-Moped 2W
• E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2a category)

With registration requirement:

• E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2b category)
• E-Motorcycle
• E-Trike/3-Wheeled Vehicle
• E-Quad

Is a helmet required?

Yes, for these vehicles:

Similar to helmets designed for bicycles

• Personal mobility scooter (PMS)
• E-Bikes; E-Moped 2W
• E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2a category)

Similar to helmets designed for motorcycles

• Electric Kick Scooter

Motorcycle protective helmet

• Light E-Scooter; E-Moped 2W
• E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2b category)

Motorcycle standard helmet with ICC stickers

• E-Motorcycle

These e-vehicles don't require helmets

• E-Trike/3-Wheeled Vehicle
• E-Quad

What's the maximum speed allowed?

Personal mobility scooter (PMS) - 12.5 kph
Electric Kick Scooter - 12.5 kph
E-Bikes; E-Moped 2W - 25 kph
Light E-Scooter; E-Moped 2W - 26-50 kph
E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2a category) - 25 kph
E-Scooter; E-Moped 3W (L2b category) - 26-50 kph
E-Motorcycle - can exceed 50 kph
E-Trike/3-Wheeled Vehicle - not exceeding 50 kph
E-Quad - not exceeding 45 kph (for L6 category)

Are there penalties for non-compliance?

Yes. These are some of the penalties, based on an administrative order from LTO:

Not wearing helment for driver, rider, or backrider: P1,500

Failure to carry OR/CR: P1,000

Operation in restricted roads: P1,000

Unregistered or expired registration: P10,000