Electric scooter insurance: is it compulsory in Luxembourg?
The electric scooter is becoming more and more popular in Luxembourg. Cleaner and more fun than the private car, it can considerably reduce your daily commuting time. But driving this nifty little sportster is not without risk, for you and for others. Here is a brief overview.
No specific insurance has to be taken out to ride a scooter in Luxembourg, as the various risks are generally covered by your current insurance policies. However, you may want to update your policy to ensure that you are well protected. There are 3 main types of risk to consider:
Risk 1: You fall alone on a scooter
Whether cycling, rollerblading, swimming or climbing, Clara’s up for it. She never misses a sporting opportunity, especially when it's fun. But the other day, she caused quite a stir among her colleagues when she arrived at the office with a black eye.
“It looked quite dramatic. My colleagues could hardly believe it when I told them I’d fallen off my scooter! ” she explains. “Even I wasn’t sure how it actually happened. It was a bright sunny day, I remember I was hot and a bit dazzled. Suddenly I lost my balance on a pothole and in a split second my head hit the pavement.” After several hours in the emergency room, Clara walked away relatively unhurt.
The medical care was paid for by the National Health Fund and her supplementary health insurance.
Our advice:
To protect your family in the event of a serious accident when there is no liable third party, we advise you to take out a personal “accident” insurance. This type of policy provides for compensation to be paid out in the event of invalidity (or death) following an accident. Essential protection to cover your needs if you can no longer work.
Risk 2: You injure someone in your fall or damage equipment
Thomas is a fan of soft mobility. In the city, he only uses a scooter to get to his office at the Cloche d'Or shopping centre and for leisure activities at the weekend.
One day, he was riding along on the Place de la Gare in Luxembourg City when he collided with a pedestrian who was visiting the Grand Duchy.
“Sharing space in this kind of pedestrian zone can be dangerous,” Thomas points out. "You can't anticipate the direction of the walkers who are quite erratic in their movements. When I saw this man on the ground, I was in shock. I realised how vulnerable pedestrians are to a scooter that can travel at up to 25 km/h.”
Fortunately, the victim was more shaken than hurt. But the camera he was carrying on his shoulder was shattered.
Thomas's insurance company reimbursed the camera, worth €1,500, under the "Personal Liability" policy included in his home insurance.
The same cover would have allowed the victim to be compensated in the event of a more serious accident that left him partially disabled, for example.
Our advice:
Remember to check your cover carefully to make sure you are insured for personal liability.
Your scooter is damaged or stolen
When Alexandre and his partner decided to move into a house, Alexandre was delighted to be able to store his electric scooter in their garage rather than have to carry it up to their apartment.
But just a few months later, the garage door was broken into and the scooter stolen. After filing a complaint with the police, Alexandre was able to have the price of his scooter - €800 - reimbursed by his insurer. The theft was covered by his home insurance.
But what would happen if his scooter was stolen outside his home or damaged in a collision?
Our advice:
You can insure your items against breakage or theft outside your home wherever you are, even abroad. This is often an option to be added to your home insurance policy. At AXA, this option is called "Confort".
Where should electric scooters be used?
Faced with the boom in micro-mobility, the Luxembourg government has laid down the conditions governing use of electric scooters. These provisions have been in force since 1 January 2021 and provide greater clarity for users.
Now classified as an "electric micro-vehicle" if it has an electric power supply, the scooter is considered a bicycle. You can therefore ride on cycle paths or on the road at speeds of under 25 km/h, but pavements are forbidden and punishable by a fine (except for children under 13).
Accessories such as bells, brakes, as well as front and rear lights are now also compulsory. Wearing a helmet or reflective waistcoat is strongly encouraged.
But visibility, protection and above all extreme vigilance are necessary for all road users to be able to coexist safely.
Are you looking for the best insurance to protect you and your family in the event of a scooter accident? Contact one of our advisors for a personalised, no-obligation assessment.
