Retailers Promote E-Scooters for Road Use Despite UK Law
Retailers such as Amazon, Argos, and Currys have been found advertising e-scooters for use on public roads and paths, even though this is prohibited under UK law.
An investigation by the Press Association (PA) revealed that both major brands and independent sellers were promoting e-scooter use on roads.
In the UK, only rented e-scooters are legally permitted on roads, cycle paths, and in parks. Privately-owned e-scooters are restricted to private land and require the landowner's permission for use.
Following contact from PA, major retailers amended their advertising and referenced guidance on their websites advising customers to comply with local laws.
However, smaller retailers continue to promote e-scooters for commuting and urban riding.
PA highlighted that an e-scooter listed on Amazon was described as suitable for "urban commuting".
Amazon said its guidelines stated that e-scooters should not show pictures of riders on roads or pavements and that entries on its website had to state that e-scooters were prohibited from use in public in the UK.
Argos stated it had "updated wording on a search page to replicate what we already include on our product pages to be even more clear for our customers".
Despite this, on Tuesday, a sponsored Google search result from Argos still advertised "Commuter E-scooters & City Ride". The company said it had removed the advertisement the previous day but noted that updates on Google may take some time.
Currys indicated it was reviewing its website "to make sure no product listings suggest e-scooters can be used on public roads or spaces".
A description referring to an e-scooter as a "fun, efficient means of getting around your local area" has been removed from Currys' UK site, and pages selling e-scooters now include a note explaining the legal restrictions.
In 2025, Currys had an e-scooter advertisement banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which ruled that the ad "omitted significant information about legal limitations" regarding where e-scooters can be ridden.
The ASA advises advertisers to include a prominent statement clarifying the law but notes that this is insufficient if ads imply that e-scooters can be used anywhere.
Many smaller retailers still have online pages selling electric "commuter" scooters.
One retailer described its e-scooters as "a great way for adults to get around the city, zipping between traffic at speeds of up to 15mph".
Another promoted its products "for commuting" as a "smart choice for daily travel needs".
These sales pages lacked warnings that such use is illegal in the UK.
Riders of regulated rental e-scooters must hold a provisional or full driving licence.
Individuals using private e-scooters illegally may face fines or penalty points on their driving licence.
Government estimates indicate there were 10 deaths and 485 serious injuries from e-scooter collisions in 2025.
The Department for Transport estimates there could be up to 1.2 million privately-owned e-scooters in the UK.
Additional Information on E-Scooter Safety and Regulations
For more information on e-scooter safety and legal requirements, readers can consult official government resources.
Campaigners have raised concerns about e-scooters posing risks to vulnerable groups, including the visually impaired.
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