Helmets mandatory since 1 September: is your e-scooter affected?
by Street Ride
On public roads, the speed limit stays at 25 km/h. It's the manufacturer's spec sheet that decides whether a helmet is mandatory.
It's official: the requirement has been in force since 1 September 2026. Riding without a helmet on a scooter capable of more than 20 km/h can cost you a €64 fine, plus €10.67 in administrative fees. Police say they will start with an educational approach, but they can issue fines.
If you ride a private e-scooter in Brussels, things changed after the summer. Since 1 September 2026, a helmet is mandatory on any vehicle capable of more than 20 km/h.
- When: since 1 September 2026.
- Who: private e-scooters, self-balancing boards and Segways that exceed 20 km/h.
- The catch: what counts is the speed stated in the manual, not the speed you actually ride at.
What the rule says
The measure was driven by Jean-Luc Crucke, the federal Mobility Minister. Announced for 1 September 2026, the requirement came into force on schedule.
Who is affected
Affected: private motorised personal vehicles with a top speed above 20 km/h. Personal e-scooters, self-balancing boards, Segways and similar.
Not affected:
- shared rental scooters, which operators have committed to keeping limited to 20 km/h;
- standard e-bikes, whose assistance cuts out at 25 km/h. Speed pedelecs already fall under their own rules.
The catch: the speed in the manual
The test isn't the speed you ride at, nor the one shown on your display. It's the manufacturer's specifications, as they appear in the vehicle's manual.
In other words, riding slowly doesn't exempt you. A machine whose manual states a top speed above 20 km/h still requires a helmet, even if you stick carefully to the permitted 25 km/h.
Keep the manual, or failing that the product sheet, somewhere handy.
Why now
Nearly 2,500 injury accidents involving an e-scooter in Belgium in 2025, and 13 deaths.
Among riders admitted to A&E, 65% had a head injury.
Only 4% were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
That figure explains everything else.
What about your scooter
Put simply: almost every machine we sell exceeds 20 km/h in the manufacturer's spec. Teverun, Navee, Punk, Rovoron, all the performance ranges are affected.
Only city models limited to 20 km/h and children's scooters escape it, and they're rare in a Brussels garage.
If you don't have a helmet yet, now is the time to sort it out.
Which helmet to choose
Two standards exist side by side, and they are not equal.
- EN 1078, the bicycle standard. Acceptable for slow city riding and short journeys.
- ECE 22.06, the motorcycle standard. Far more demanding: impact tests at several speeds and a rotational impact test. It's the level of protection we recommend for daily use, and it's the approval carried by the helmets we keep in stock.
A reminder. On public roads in Belgium, an e-scooter is treated like a bicycle: speed is capped at 25 km/h. The 20 km/h threshold discussed here is about what the machine is capable of according to its manual, not the speed you're allowed to ride at.
The Stormer Strike, an ECE-approved full-face helmet, is one of the models we keep in stock. See all helmets.
The rest is a question of fit. A helmet in the wrong size doesn't protect, and an uncomfortable helmet ends up on a shelf within a week.
Checks and fines
The fine is €64, plus €10.67 in administrative fees. At first, police say they will take an educational approach, without ruling out fines depending on the circumstances. European discussions on possible registration of these vehicles are still ongoing.
Not sure about your machine?
Drop by the workshop. We'll check its spec sheet, tell you whether you're affected, and let you try on the three brands we keep in stock. Five minutes, no appointment needed.
Rue de Linthout 176, 1040 Etterbeek. info@streetride.be
Sources: RTBF, La Libre, DH, BX1, The Brussels Times. Written on 22 August 2026, updated on 28 September 2026 after the rule came into force.