E-bike injury claims have pushed up premiums for motorists, a non-profit has warned, as the cost of damages paid out to those injured surpasses £100 million.
The number of claims submitted to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), the organisation that compensates victims of uninsured and hit-and-run collisions, has increased since 2019, with the number of claims soaring by 73 per cent between 2023 and 2025.
Claims relating to e-scooters and e-bikes accounted for £108 million of the total incurred cost from 2015 til May 2026. When claims involving e-unicycles and mobility scooters are included, the total rises to almost £111 million.
MIB has received claims for traumatic brain injuries, complex fractures requiring surgery and rehab, as well as soft tissue injuries such as ligament damage as it reported the severity of these injuries has also worsened.
These injuries can also impact the victims’ families, livelihoods and mental wellbeing, the organisation warned.
The cost of compensating micromobility victims is a cost on the general motoring public, MIB warned, as it is funded by a levy on all UK motor insurers, the cost of which is passed on to premium payers.
The non-profit has called for greater education and awareness around legislation after a recent survey from YouGov showed more than half of adults in the UK were unaware that privately owned e-scooters are illegal on public roads.
Angus Eaton, chief executive officer at MIB, said: “We’re seeing a worrying gap between how commonly people use micromobility vehicles and how well they understand the law around them. Many people simply don’t realise that riding a privately owned e-scooter on public roads is illegal, and that means they’re riding uninsured.
“The consequences of a collision can be severe including serious injuries like brain trauma and complex fractures that can have a lasting impact on people’s lives,” he added. “This is why improving awareness is so important. When people understand the rules and the risks, they’re in a far better position to make safe and informed choices.”
Under current UK law, e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles, meaning they require both a driving licence and insurance. As there are currently no insurance products available for private e-scooters, anyone riding one in public is automatically driving uninsured.
Government-approved rental e-scooters that are insured as part of official trials are legal to be used in public, however private e-scooters can only be legally used on private land.
Meanwhile, electric bikes are only legal if they meet Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) regulations, including a maximum motor power output of 250W and assistance that cuts out at 15.5mph. Those that exceed these limits may be classed as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements.
Riding an e-scooter illegally carries the same penalties as uninsured driving, including vehicle seizure, an unlimited fine if taken to court, six penalty points on your licence, a potential driving ban, and higher insurance premiums in the future.
Where a rider does not yet hold a licence, the DVLA can create a “ghost licence,” meaning penalty points will still apply later. If a collision results in injury, riders can also be personally liable for compensation costs, which can be substantial and long-lasting.
