Are Electric Scooters Legal in New Hampshire?
NHNew Hampshire
Legal (License Required)
Quick Facts
Max Speed
New Hampshire does not have a statewide specified speed limit for electric scooters, but local regulations may impose limits for safety purposes.
Minimum Age
Riders must be at least 16 years of age to operate an electric scooter on public roads in New Hampshire. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements.
Helmets Required?
Statewide, New Hampshire does not mandate helmet use for electric scooter riders. However, individual cities and towns might have their own helmet laws for scooter operation.
Summary
New Hampshire statutes only recognize Class 1–3 e-bikes (RSA 259:27-a / 265:144-a); stand-up scooters default to the “motor-driven cycle” definition in RSA 259:65, so they must be registered/licensed like mopeds or small motorcycles until HB 715 (2025) creates a dedicated class.
Detailed Information
RSA 259:27-a and RSA 265:144-a define Class 1, 2, and 3 electric bicycles, give Class 1 and 2 riders bicycle-style rights statewide, and restrict Class 3 bikes from natural-surface trails unless a jurisdiction signs them open—plus anyone under 18 on a Class 3 must wear a helmet. Because New Hampshire never adopted a stand-up scooter definition, those devices fall back to the motor-driven cycle category in RSA 259:65 (≤5-hp motorcycles/mopeds), which triggers the usual title, registration, equipment, and operator-license requirements before you can ride on a public way. Lawmakers attempted to carve out a “personal electric vehicle” class in 2024 (HB 1445) and filed a follow-up bill for the 2025 session (HB 715), but until legislation passes, scooters must comply with the motor-driven cycle rules and any local ordinances layered on top.
Official References
Updated on November 10th, 2025
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