Riders of electric scooters in Italy have just one month to comply with new legislation requiring compulsory third-party insurance and an official identification sticker. If not, they face fines of up to €400.
Italy’s famously anarchic relationship with electric scooters is about to get a great deal more regulated. From 16 May 2026, anyone riding a privately owned electric scooter on public roads must display a targhino. Furthermore, the owner must hold a valid third-party liability insurance policy. The deadline marks the end of a 60-day transitional period following the publication of the implementing decree in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on 18 March 2026.
The change represents a fundamental shift. The electric scooter will now align fully within the regulated world of motorised transport, with insurance obligations the same as for conventional vehicles.
What is the targhino?
The targhino is a tamper-proof laminated adhesive. It is produced by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato using anti-counterfeiting technology. It measures 50 x 60 mm, displays six alphanumeric characters and must be fixed to the rear mudguard. Crucially, it is linked to the owner’s tax code (codice fiscale) rather than to the vehicle itself. This means it is personal to the owner, not the scooter. In the event of a sale, the targhino stays with the seller.
The sticker can be requested online via the Portale dell’Automobilista using SPID second-level credentials or a CIE electronic ID card. It costs €8.66 via PagoPa.
A full RC Auto policy not just a top-up
Until now, electric scooters have been widely treated as “light” vehicles, covered at most by optional general liability or personal mobility policies. Under the new rules, riders will need a full RC Auto policy, anchored to Article 2054 of the Civil Code and the full framework of Title X of the Private Insurance Code. Generic household or family liability policies will no longer suffice.
The insurance policy must carry the code of the scooter’s targhino to be legally valid, and is registered via a Ministry of Transport platform that is interoperable with the ANIA insurance database. This allows police to carry out real-time cross-checks.
Minimum mandatory coverage levels are €6.45 million for personal injury and €1.3 million for property damage. These are the same thresholds that apply to cars, motorbikes and mopeds.
Policies can be taken out by anyone aged 18 or over. For those aged 14 to 17, a parent or legal guardian can apply on their behalf. Families sharing a scooter between multiple members should check carefully whether their policy covers all riders or only the named policyholder. In the latter case, an accident caused by a family member not listed on the policy may not be covered.
RC insurance for a scooter will probably range between €25 and €150 per year. That means total annual compliance costs — including the targhino — will start at around €35.
Fines and delays
Riders who fail to comply face administrative fines of between €100 and €400.
There is, however, a practical complication. The obligation takes effect on 16 May. However, it is likely many owners may not receive their targhino by that date, as Motorizzazione Civile offices in some parts of Italy are unable to schedule appointments in time. Consumer association Assoutenti asked the government to protect owners who have followed the correct procedures but are caught in administrative delays.
