Tengrinews.kz — New requirements aimed at improving safety when using rental electric scooters came into force in Kazakhstan on July 1, 2026: rental companies must register scooters, install identification numbers on them and take out insurance.
A question arose: do these rules apply to owners of personal electric scooters? A Tengrinews.kz correspondent contacted the Almaty Police Department for clarification.
According to the department’s official representative, Saltanat Azirbek, the new requirements apply only to sharing services.
Owners of personal electric scooters do not need to register them, obtain numbers or take out insurance. However, a driver’s license is required to operate them.
At the same time, new rules for electric scooter users will come into effect in Almaty on August 25, including a ban on riding on sidewalks. This will apply to both personal and rented vehicles.
“The new requirements apply to all electric scooters, regardless of ownership. The legislation does not divide personal mobility devices into private and rental ones, so the requirements of the traffic rules are mandatory for all users without exception,” Saltanat Azirbek noted.
How violations will be issued without numbers
Since personal electric scooters are not subject to registration, we asked how police will identify violators and hold them accountable.
“The absence of a state registration number does not exempt anyone from complying with traffic rules and does not prevent them from being held liable.”
According to police, compliance with the rules will be monitored both during patrols and using surveillance cameras and other photo and video recording tools.
Once the violator’s identity is established, they will be held liable in accordance with the law. The same mechanism will be used to monitor speed limits.
How to ride in places without bike lanes
Police explained that if further movement on an electric scooter is impossible without violating traffic rules or creates a threat to other road users, the rider must dismount and continue on foot.
“If a person is not riding an electric scooter but is walking alongside it, they are considered a pedestrian and have the rights and obligations established by the traffic rules for pedestrians,” police said.