The tolerance period for electric mopeds without registration ended on December 31, 2025. Since January 1, 2026, CONTRAN Resolution No. 996/2023 (Brazilian National Traffic Council) has been fully enforced, and inspection of e-scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds has been intensified.
The main change is the need to correctly identify the type of equipment. E-scooters that fall under the category of self-propelled individual mobility equipment remain exempt from a driver's license, registration, plate, and licensing. However, models with a throttle, power, or speed above the limits of that category may be classified as electric mopeds.
In Maringá, this difference also must be observed alongside the rules of Municipal Law No. 11,981/2025. The owner must check the nominal power stated on the invoice, as well as the speed and operation characteristics of the vehicle.
If the equipment is a moped and hasn't been regularized within the deadline, it is prohibited from circulating on public roads. Below, learn how to identify the category and what steps are necessary to ride legally in 2026.
What changed for electric mopeds in 2026?
Since January 1, 2026, electric mopeds require registration, licensing, a plate, and appropriate qualification to circulate on public roads.
The transition period for the pre-registration in RENAVAM (National Vehicle Registry), carried out by manufacturers and importers, ended on December 31, 2025, and was not extended. Therefore, mopeds that haven't been regularized are now barred from public roads.
To ride an electric moped, you need a Category A driver's license (CNH) or an ACC (Authorization to Drive Mopeds). Registration with RENAVAM, annual licensing, plating, and compliance with traffic and safety rules are also required.
When is an electric scooter considered self-propelled?
An e-scooter is self-propelled when it meets the power, speed, and dimensions limits set by CONTRAN Resolution No. 996/2023.
Self-propelled individual mobility equipment must have a motor of up to 1 kW, a maximum factory speed of up to 32 km/h, a width of up to 70 cm, and a wheelbase of up to 130 cm.
In this category, a driver's license, registration, plating, and licensing remain unnecessary. The scooter must have an electronic speed indicator and/or limiter, a bell, and night signaling on the front, rear, and sides. Speed warning via a smartphone app is also accepted.
Even without registration, the equipment must comply with local rules. In Maringá, Municipal Law No. 11,981/2025 sets a maximum speed of 20 km/h on bike lanes and cycle paths, and 6 km/h on sidewalks, squares, and parks.
What characteristics turn the equipment into a moped?
Models with a throttle and performance above the limits for self-propelled devices or e-bikes may automatically be classified as electric mopeds.
The electric moped is defined by the regulation as a vehicle with power up to 4 kW and a maximum factory speed of up to 50 km/h. When the equipment exceeds the limits of the self-propelled or e-bike category, the classification can change even if the seller markets it as a scooter.
The throttle is a key point in this analysis. E-bikes regularized as pedal-assist cannot have a throttle and must have a motor up to 1 kW, speed up to 32 km/h, a bell, a left rearview mirror, and night signaling, including on the pedals.
To avoid doubts, check the technical description, nominal motor power, and maximum factory speed on the invoice and documentation provided by the seller.
What to check before riding in Maringá?
Before using the vehicle, confirm the category, mandatory equipment, and the location