Electric scooters, electric bicycles, and similar vehicles are now required to carry mandatory third-party liability insurance (RCA), under a new law that entered into force on Saturday, December 13. The legislation transposes EU Directive 2021/2118 into national law and revises the definition of vehicles subject to compulsory insurance, shifting the focus from registration status to technical criteria, according to Mediafax.
Vehicles covered by the new rules
Under the new framework, vehicles must be insured based on specific performance thresholds. The obligation applies to vehicles with a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, as well as those weighing more than 25 kg with a maximum design speed above 14 km/h. This clarification brings higher-performance electric scooters and certain electric bicycles into the RCA system.
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The law also sets out exemptions. Individuals or companies using such vehicles exclusively for motor sporting events — including races, competitions, training sessions, testing, or demonstrations held in restricted-access areas — are not required to purchase RCA. In these cases, the event organizer or another responsible party must provide voluntary insurance or an alternative guarantee mechanism covering damage caused to third parties, including spectators.
Compensation limits defined by law
The legislation establishes minimum compensation thresholds for damages caused by insured vehicles. For property damage resulting from a single accident, regardless of the number of affected parties, the compensation limit is set at RON 6,434,740. For personal injury, fatalities, or non-material damages arising from the same accident, the maximum compensation limit is RON 31,926,210.
The Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) is authorized to revise these limits through its own regulations, in line with delegated acts issued by the European Commission.
The extension of mandatory insurance to electric scooters and bicycles responds to their growing use in urban areas and the increasing need for civil liability protection in case of accidents, aligning Romania’s legislation with European standards.
Photo: freepik.com
