Where may a motor-assisted scooter be operated under Texas law?

Under §551.352(a), only on a street or highway with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less, though it may cross a road or street with a higher limit at an intersection. Under §551.352(d), a person may operate one on a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles or on a sidewalk. Under §551.352(b), a county or municipality may prohibit operation on a street, highway or sidewalk if its governing body determines the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.

Does Houston have a scooter curfew?

The City of Houston says that on November 19, 2025 City Council approved amendments to Chapter 45 of its Code of Ordinances that set a citywide curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for the rental and operation of micromobility devices, which the City says include e-scooters, and that personal e-scooters are not exempt. The City's news release lists the exceptions during curfew hours, such as use as the direct means of transportation to or from school or a place of employment. This guide does not say how the ordinance applies to any trip.

Does Texas require a helmet on an electric scooter?

The word "helmet" does not appear in the text of Transportation Code chapters 542, 545, 550 or 551 as read on October 30, 2026, and §551.352 states no helmet rule for motor-assisted scooters. This guide read only those chapters; it does not say that no other Texas law, local rule or rental term addresses helmets.

Is a scooter crash reported like a car crash?

Section 550.026(a) requires the operator of a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in injury to or death of a person to give immediate notice to the local police department, the sheriff's office or the nearest Texas Department of Public Safety office, as the section provides. Section 550.062 requires an officer who investigates a "motor vehicle collision" with injury or death to file a written report with TxDOT within 10 days. This guide does not say how these sections apply to a crash involving only a scooter; see the linked crash report guides for how reports are requested.

What does TDI say about insurance and electric scooters?

TDI's electric scooter page says "you probably don't have coverage through your home or auto insurance if you crash or get hurt," that "your health insurance probably will" cover injuries to the rider but "won't cover injuries to anyone in your path," and that you should "check with your insurance agent to see if you're covered." TDI also says to read the scooter rental agreement before you ride. Your own policies and any rental terms you accepted state what they cover.

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Auto Accidents

E-scooter accident in Houston: Texas scooter rules, the City's ordinance, reports and insurance basics

What Texas law and the City of Houston's scooter ordinance say about where electric scooters may be operated, the 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew, helmets, crash reports, and what TDI says about insurance and scooters.

14 min readPublished October 30, 2026Last updated October 30, 2026Edited by Joseph Budzinski, CTO, InjuryClaimGuide

The short answer

Texas law has a specific name and a specific subchapter for many electric scooters: a "motor-assisted scooter," defined in Transp. Code §551.351 as a self-propelled device with a motor not exceeding 40 cubic centimeters, a deck to stand or sit on, and the ability to be propelled by human power alone. Section 551.352 says where one may be operated and lets a county or municipality prohibit operation for safety. The City of Houston has its own rules as well: Chapter 45 of its Code of Ordinances, amended on November 19, 2025, sets an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew for micromobility devices, and the City says it covers personal scooters as well as rentals (City of Houston).

This guide also covers what the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says about insurance and scooters, how Texas crash-report rules are worded, and the two-year limitation period for injury lawsuits. It is general information, not legal advice, and it does not say whether any rule, coverage or deadline applies to any crash. Whether a device is a "motor-assisted scooter," an electric bicycle or something else is a question about the device, and this guide does not answer it for any device.

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Key facts (as of October 30, 2026)

Texas definition. A "motor-assisted scooter" has at least two wheels in contact with the ground, a braking system, a gas or electric motor not exceeding 40 cubic centimeters, a deck designed to allow a person to stand or sit, and the ability to be propelled by human power alone (§551.351).
Where it may be operated. Only on a street or highway with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less (crossing a higher-limit road at an intersection is allowed), and on a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles or on a sidewalk (§551.352(a), (d)).
Local power. A county or municipality may prohibit operation on a street, highway or sidewalk if its governing body determines the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety (§551.352(b)).
Houston curfew. City Council approved amendments to Chapter 45 on November 19, 2025 that prohibit the rental and operation of micromobility devices between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.; the City says the ordinance took effect immediately and that a fine may not exceed $500 (City of Houston, ARA).
Helmets. The word "helmet" does not appear in the text of Transportation Code chapters 542, 545, 550 or 551 as read on October 30, 2026 (chapter 551 text).
TDI on insurance. TDI says you "probably" don't have coverage through your home or auto insurance after a scooter crash, and that your health insurance "probably" covers your own injuries (TDI, Electric scooter insurance).
Report duty. The operator of a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in injury to or death of a person must immediately notify the police or sheriff's office the section names (§550.026(a)).
Two years. Suit for personal injury must be brought not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues, subject to the exceptions §16.003(a) names (CPRC §16.003).

How this guide fits with the bicycle, pedestrian and road-defect guides

Several existing guides cover neighboring ground, and this one does not repeat them. The Texas bicycle rules entry and the Houston bicycle accidents guide cover bicycles and electric bicycles under the same chapter 551. The Houston pedestrian accidents guide and the pedestrian right-of-way entry cover people on foot. The pothole and road defect guide covers claims against the City, Harris County and TxDOT. This guide adds the scooter-specific text: the chapter 551 scooter subchapter, the City of Houston's Chapter 45 ordinance and TDI's scooter insurance page.

What does Texas law call a scooter, and where may it be operated?

Chapter 551 groups several low-powered devices. Subchapter E, "Motor-Assisted Scooters," begins with the definition in §551.351: a self-propelled device with "at least two wheels in contact with the ground during operation," "a braking system capable of stopping the device under typical operating conditions," "a gas or electric motor not exceeding 40 cubic centimeters," "a deck designed to allow a person to stand or sit while operating the device," and "the ability to be propelled by human power alone." The same section says the term "does not include a pocket bike or a minimotorbike," and defines that second term separately.

Section 551.352 then states four operating rules in its own words:

"A motor-assisted scooter may be operated only on a street or highway for which the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less," and it "may cross a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour" (subsection (a)).
"A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of a motor-assisted scooter on a street, highway, or sidewalk if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety" (subsection (b)). The Department of Transportation has a similar power for highways under subsection (c).
"A person may operate a motor-assisted scooter on a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles or on a sidewalk" (subsection (d)).
"A provision of this title applicable to a motor vehicle does not apply to a motor-assisted scooter" (subsection (e)).

The statute defines the device by its motor size and features, not by who owns it, so a rented device and a personally owned device are described by the same words. Whether a particular device meets the definition depends on the device, which this guide does not assess.

Which other Texas traffic rules touch a scooter rider?

Subsection (d) of §551.352 also says: "Except as otherwise provided by this section, a provision of this title applicable to the operation of a bicycle applies to the operation of a motor-assisted scooter." Our bicycle rules entry quotes the bicycle provisions in §§551.101 through 551.107.

Electric bicycles are a separate category. Section 551.002 extends bicycle provisions to an electric bicycle, and §551.107(a) says certain subtitles and Chapter 551A "do not apply to the operation of an electric bicycle." The City of Houston's answers to frequently asked questions about its Chapter 45 amendments likewise say a micromobility device does not include electric bicycles, among other devices.

Other provisions name scooters too, including these. Section 545.428 makes it an offense for a person who, with criminal negligence, operates a motor vehicle within the area of a crosswalk and causes bodily injury to "a pedestrian or a person operating a bicycle, motor-assisted scooter, electronic personal assistive mobility device, neighborhood electric vehicle, or golf cart." Subsection (d) states an affirmative defense if the injured person was violating a provision of the subtitle relating to walking, movement or operation in a crosswalk or on a roadway. And §541.001 defines a "sidewalk user" as "an individual lawfully operating" a bicycle, a motor-assisted scooter, an electric personal assistive mobility device, a skateboard, roller skates or a similar device "on a sidewalk." Under §552.0035, a vehicle operator must stop and yield to a sidewalk user crossing a roadway in a crosswalk under the conditions subsection (a) lists, including that no traffic control signal is in place or in operation, and a sidewalk user may not approach or enter a crosswalk at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent, with more than eight miles per hour "prima facie evidence" that it is not.

Does Texas require a helmet on a scooter?

The statutes read for this guide do not state one. The word "helmet" does not appear in the text of Transportation Code chapters 542, 545, 550 or 551 as read on October 30, 2026, and §551.352 sets no helmet rule for motor-assisted scooters. This guide read those four chapters only. It does not say that no other Texas law, no local rule and no rental term addresses helmets, and it does not say what any helmet rule would mean for any crash.

What does the City of Houston's scooter ordinance say?

The City's ParkHouston page says that on November 19, 2025, "Houston City Council unanimously approved amendments to Chapter 45 of the Code of Ordinances, relating to micromobility devices (e-scooters) and off-highway vehicles (ATVs)," that the amendments "establish a citywide curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.," and that they "became effective immediately upon approval" (City of Houston, ParkHouston). The City Secretary's minutes of the November 18-19, 2025 Council meeting record Item 20, an ordinance "amending Chapters 26 and 45 of the Code of Ordinances" relating to micromobility devices and off-highway vehicles and "establishing a Nighttime Curfew," as Ordinance 2025-0971, adopted. The City's pages say:

What it covers. The City's news release says "e-scooters and other self-propelled devices such as hoverboards, electric skateboards, and electric roller skates are considered micromobility devices," and that mobility scooters for people with disabilities, and the self-balancing devices the City's FAQ classifies as electric personal assistive mobility devices, are not subject to the ordinance (City of Houston, ARA). The City's answers to frequently asked questions, dated November 10, 2025 and written about the proposal, say the term does not include all-terrain vehicles, mopeds, motorcycles, electric bicycles, motorized mobility devices, electronic personal assistive mobility devices or neighborhood electric vehicles.
Curfew. The release says the ordinance prohibits "the rental and operation of micromobility devices and off-highway vehicles between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. within the Houston city limits," and also prohibits "the rental of micromobility devices from temporary structures, such as tents and pop-up structures." The FAQ lists the places covered by operation as "public roadways, streets, alleys, sidewalks, trails, and city parks."
Exceptions. The release says "personal e-scooters are not exempt from the ordinance," and that the only exceptions during curfew hours are use as "the direct means of transportation to or from the individual's school or place of employment," emergencies, use by law enforcement, fire or emergency medical personnel or City employees on official duties, and limited special-event use.
Fine and impoundment. The release says a violation "can result in a fine not exceeding $500" and that retrieving an impounded device costs $100 per device. The ParkHouston page says impounded devices may be retrieved on payment of $100 per device within 30 days, that after 30 days devices "are considered abandoned and will be disposed of by the City," and that an impoundment may be contested by filing a hearing request "(Sec 45-343(e))" within 14 days of the impoundment.

The City also posts a copy of the ordinance text on the ParkHouston page; that copy is unsigned and leaves the ordinance number and the passed, approved and effective date lines blank, so this guide does not quote it. The codified Code of Ordinances, which is hosted by an outside code library, could not be opened on October 30, 2026, so this guide gives no section numbers other than the one the ParkHouston page cites, and the City may amend its rules. The City's pages do not mention civil injury claims, and this guide does not say how a curfew violation or an exception bears on any crash.

Texas's uniformity rule is also part of the picture. Section 542.201 says the traffic subtitle "applies uniformly throughout this state" and that a local authority "may not enact or enforce an ordinance or rule that conflicts with this subtitle unless expressly authorized by this subtitle," while §551.352(b) expressly lets a municipality prohibit scooter operation for safety. This guide does not say how the two interact for any rule.

What does TDI say about insurance for scooter crashes?

TDI's electric scooter page (TDI, Electric scooter insurance, last updated 10/14/2024) says, in its own words, that "you probably don't have coverage through your home or auto insurance if you crash or get hurt," that "home policies don't usually cover damage caused by motorized vehicles, and your auto policy probably won't cover an electric scooter," and that "your health insurance probably will" cover injuries, but "it won't cover injuries to anyone in your path." It adds that "some cities in Texas require scooter rental companies to have insurance coverage," which "mainly covers damage to public property, not injuries or damage to other vehicles," and tells readers to "check with your insurance agent to see if you're covered" and to "read the scooter rental agreement" before riding.

Those are TDI's general statements, hedged with "probably" and "usually," not statements about any policy. TDI's Auto insurance guide describes medical payments coverage, personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as parts of an auto policy; this guide does not say whether any of them applies to a scooter crash, and TDI's scooter page says an auto policy "probably won't" cover a scooter. For how those coverages work after a car crash, see our guides on personal injury protection and who pays medical bills after a Texas car accident. What a rented or personally owned device's own terms, a renters or homeowners policy or a health plan provides is stated by the document itself, so check the rental terms you accepted and your own policies.

Does a scooter crash have to be reported to the police, and what is on the record?

Chapter 550 uses the words "operator of a vehicle." Under §550.026(a), "the operator of a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in injury to or death of a person or damage to a vehicle to the extent that it cannot be normally and safely driven shall immediately" give notice of the collision, by the means the section describes, to the local police department, the sheriff's office or the nearest Department of Public Safety office, depending on where it occurred. Under §550.021, an operator involved in a collision that results or is reasonably likely to result in injury to or death of a person must stop, determine whether a person requires aid and remain at the scene until the information-and-aid duty in §550.023 is met.

The officer's duty is separate: §550.062(a) requires "a law enforcement officer who in the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle collision" to make a written report if the collision resulted in injury or death or property damage "to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more," filed electronically with TxDOT "not later than the 10th day after the date of the collision." Section 541.201 defines "vehicle" as "a device that can be used to transport or draw persons or property on a highway" and "motor vehicle" as "a self-propelled vehicle," and §551.352(e) says provisions applicable to a motor vehicle "do not apply to a motor-assisted scooter." This guide does not say how those definitions apply to a crash involving only a scooter, or to a scooter and a car. For how crash reports are requested in Houston and what they contain, see our Houston crash report guide and the chapter 550 entry.

How long does Texas law generally allow to file an injury lawsuit?

Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003(a) says that, "except as provided by Sections 16.010, 16.0031, and 16.0045," a person "must bring suit for … personal injury … not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues." Our entry on the two-year filing deadline explains the section and the provisions that change the count. This guide does not say when any period begins or ends for any person.

What if a road or sidewalk defect was involved?

When a claim involves a road or sidewalk owned or maintained by a city, county or the state, the Texas Tort Claims Act adds its own rules. Section 101.022 says that for a premise defect a governmental unit "owes to the claimant only the duty that a private person owes to a licensee on private property, unless the claimant pays for the use of the premises," and that this limit "does not apply to the duty to warn of special defects such as excavations or obstructions on highways, roads, or streets." Section 101.101(a) says a governmental unit "is entitled to receive notice of a claim against it under this chapter not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred," and §101.101(b) ratifies a city's charter notice period. Our pothole and road defect guide covers the City of Houston's written-notice rule and the rules for Harris County and TxDOT, and the Tort Claims Act entry quotes the Act. This guide does not say whether any defect or any government is involved in a crash.

Is there a Houston or Harris County rule beyond the ordinance?

The City of Houston's Chapter 45 amendments are the local rule this guide found. The City's FAQ, written before the vote, also says that "use of e-scooters is currently prohibited on sidewalks in a business district and some public trails"; this guide did not read the provisions that set those limits. We did not find a separate City permit or program page for shared scooters on houstontx.gov that states current terms, so none is described here. We read no Harris County scooter rule. The City's news release says a City Council committee meeting would be planned to hear feedback on the ordinance, so check the City's ParkHouston scooter page for its current text.

What people commonly keep after a scooter crash

These are general record-keeping items, not instructions:

Pictures of the location, any damage, the device and the surface or sidewalk where the crash happened
The place, time, lighting and what happened, written down while it is fresh
Names and phone numbers of witnesses
The police report or incident number, the agency's name and the officer's name and badge number, if an officer responded
Medical records and bills
The rental terms you accepted, the receipt or trip record, and your own insurance declarations pages and health plan card
Any 311 or other report made about a defect where the crash happened

For what to do after a car crash in Houston, which has overlapping steps, see what to do after a car accident in Houston.

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Frequently asked questions

What does Texas law call an electric scooter?: Transportation Code §551.351 defines a "motor-assisted scooter" as a self-propelled device with at least two wheels in contact with the ground during operation, a braking system capable of stopping the device under typical operating conditions, a gas or electric motor not exceeding 40 cubic centimeters, a deck designed to allow a person to stand or sit while operating it, and the ability to be propelled by human power alone. The definition does not include a pocket bike or a minimotorbike. This guide does not say whether any particular device meets the definition.
Where may a motor-assisted scooter be operated under Texas law?: Under §551.352(a), only on a street or highway with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less, though it may cross a road or street with a higher limit at an intersection. Under §551.352(d), a person may operate one on a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles or on a sidewalk. Under §551.352(b), a county or municipality may prohibit operation on a street, highway or sidewalk if its governing body determines the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.
Does Houston have a scooter curfew?: The City of Houston says that on November 19, 2025 City Council approved amendments to Chapter 45 of its Code of Ordinances that set a citywide curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for the rental and operation of micromobility devices, which the City says include e-scooters, and that personal e-scooters are not exempt. The City's news release lists the exceptions during curfew hours, such as use as the direct means of transportation to or from school or a place of employment. This guide does not say how the ordinance applies to any trip.
Does Texas require a helmet on an electric scooter?: The word "helmet" does not appear in the text of Transportation Code chapters 542, 545, 550 or 551 as read on October 30, 2026, and §551.352 states no helmet rule for motor-assisted scooters. This guide read only those chapters; it does not say that no other Texas law, local rule or rental term addresses helmets.
Is a scooter crash reported like a car crash?: Section 550.026(a) requires the operator of a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in injury to or death of a person to give immediate notice to the local police department, the sheriff's office or the nearest Texas Department of Public Safety office, as the section provides. Section 550.062 requires an officer who investigates a "motor vehicle collision" with injury or death to file a written report with TxDOT within 10 days. This guide does not say how these sections apply to a crash involving only a scooter; see the linked crash report guides for how reports are requested.
What does TDI say about insurance and electric scooters?: TDI's electric scooter page says "you probably don't have coverage through your home or auto insurance if you crash or get hurt," that "your health insurance probably will" cover injuries to the rider but "won't cover injuries to anyone in your path," and that you should "check with your insurance agent to see if you're covered." TDI also says to read the scooter rental agreement before you ride. Your own policies and any rental terms you accepted state what they cover.
How long does Texas law generally allow to file an injury lawsuit?: Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003(a) says a person must bring suit for personal injury not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues, except as provided by §§16.010, 16.0031 and 16.0045. Claims against a governmental unit have their own written-notice rules, including the six-month period in §101.101(a). This guide does not say when any deadline starts or ends in any situation; an attorney can advise you about your specific situation.

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