Retailers accused of promoting illegal e-scooter use on UK roads

Retailers including Amazon, Argos, and Currys have been found to advertise e-scooters for use on public roads and paths, despite this being against UK law. An investigation from the Press Association (PA) found major brands and independent sellers were promoting their use on the roads. But only rented e-scooters can legally be ridden on roads, cycle paths, and in parks in the UK.

Privately-owned e-scooters can only be used on private land with the landowner's permission. The major outlets changed their advertising after being contacted by PA. They also pointed to guidance on their websites which said customers had to follow local laws.

But smaller retailers still appear to be promoting e-scooters for commuting or riding in towns and cities. PA said an e-scooter for sale on Amazon was recommended for "urban commuting". Amazon said its guidelines stated that e-scooters should not show pictures of riders on roads or pavements and that entries on its website had to state that e-scooters were prohibited from use in public in the UK.

Argos said it had "updated wording on a search page to replicate what we already include on our product pages to be even more clear for our customers". On Tuesday, a sponsored Google search result from Argos was still advertising "Commuter E-scooters & City Ride", though the company said it had removed it the previous day and may take some time to update on Google. Currys said it was reviewing its website "to make sure no product listings suggest e-scooters can be used on public roads or spaces".

A description of an e-scooter as a "fun, efficient means of getting around your local area" appears to have been taken down from its UK site, and its pages selling e-scooters have a note explaining the law. In 2025, the retailer had an e-scooter advert banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which said in its ruling the ad "omitted significant information about legal limitations" of where to ride e-scooters. The ASA advises advertisers to include a prominent statement explaining the law, but says this is not enough if their ads also give the impression e-scooters can be used anywhere.

Many smaller retailers still had pages online with electric "commuter" scooters for sale. One said its e-scooters were "a great way for adults to get around the city, zipping between traffic at speeds of up to 15mph". Another said its products "for commuting" were a "smart choice for daily travel needs".

There were no warnings on the sales page that this was not allowed in the UK. Riders of regulated rental e-scooters must have a provisional or full driving licence. People who break the rules with a private e-scooter can be fined or have points added to their licence.

According to government estimates, there were 10 deaths and 485 serious injuries in e-scooter collisions in 2025. The Department for Transport has said there could be up to 1.2 million privately-owned e-scooters in the UK. Why this matters: The UK government's ambiguous stance on e-scooters has created a confusing environment for consumers and retailers alike.