Do you need insurance for a low-speed electric scooter in the Tricity?

The short answer

If your scooter qualifies as a low-speed electric vehicle under Central Motor Vehicles Rules — top speed of 25 km/h or less and a motor rated at 250 W or less (continuous) — then no, insurance is not legally mandated. These vehicles are exempt from RTO registration, and with that exemption comes the absence of compulsory third-party insurance that the Motor Vehicles Act otherwise requires for registered vehicles. But the situation is not entirely black and white, and where you ride in the Tricity matters.

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What the law actually says

Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), a two-wheeled electric vehicle must meet both of the following conditions to qualify for the low-speed exemption:

• Top speed: 25 km/h or less
• Motor output: 250 W or less (continuous rated power)

If both conditions are met, the vehicle does not require RTO registration, a number plate, road tax, a driving licence, or — and this is the point of this article — mandatory insurance.

That exemption is uniform across all three parts of the Tricity. Chandigarh (a Union Territory), Mohali (Punjab), and Panchkula (Haryana) all operate under the same Central CMVR framework. The rules themselves do not change depending on which side of the border you are on.

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The grey area you should know about

Here is where it gets less straightforward.

Some legal interpretations hold that even an unregistered, exempt electric scooter should carry at least third-party liability cover, on the grounds that the Motor Vehicles Act’s third-party insurance requirement applies broadly to motor vehicles used on public roads. Others read the exemption as removing that obligation entirely, precisely because the vehicle is not classified as a registrable motor vehicle.

There is no single authoritative resolution to this debate that has been published as a clear notification or court order. What that means practically:

• On-ground enforcement varies. Traffic police in Chandigarh UT, Mohali (Punjab Police), and Panchkula (Haryana Police) operate under different state or UT transport departments, and day-to-day practice can differ between the three jurisdictions.
• You may never be asked. But if an incident happens and you have no cover, the absence of insurance becomes your problem regardless of what the law strictly requires.
• The verified position, per CMVR is that mandatory insurance is not required for a qualifying low-speed exempt vehicle. But given that some interpretations differ, confirm the current position with your local RTO before treating this as settled.

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One thing that catches buyers off guard

Speed alone does not get you the exemption. This is the most commonly misunderstood point.

A scooter whose controller is capped at 25 km/h but whose motor is rated above 250 W continuous is still classified as a registrable motor vehicle under CMVR. That means registration is required, road tax applies, a licence is needed, and so is mandatory third-party insurance.

Before assuming your scooter is exempt, check the motor’s continuous rated output in the specification sheet, not just the advertised top speed. Among low-speed scooters, models like the Zelio Gracy, Zelio X-Men+, and Zelio Logix are built to the 25 km/h and 250 W specification precisely to qualify for this exemption. But verify the spec sheet for whatever model you are considering.

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Why voluntary insurance still makes sense

The legal picture aside, there is a straightforward practical case for taking out voluntary cover.

Third-party liability — the minimum sensible cover — is inexpensive for a low-speed scooter. If you injure a pedestrian or are involved in a road incident, an uninsured vehicle leaves you personally liable for any compensation. The legal grey area described above makes this more relevant, not less.

Some insurers in India now offer standalone electric vehicle policies or add low-speed EVs as a category. A basic third-party cover for this class of vehicle is worth enquiring about from a general insurer. Comprehensive cover — which protects your own vehicle against theft and damage as well — is also available and worth considering given that these scooters, while modestly priced, are still a meaningful household purchase.

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What you do not pay for: the avoided-cost picture

To put the insurance question in context, it helps to understand what a qualifying low-speed scooter genuinely saves you compared to a registered petrol or high-speed electric two-wheeler:

• No RTO registration and no green number plate (a modest one-time saving)
• No road tax (in fact Rs 0 on any electric two-wheeler in the Tricity, even when registered — Chandigarh and Punjab both give a 100% EV road-tax exemption in 2026)
• No driving licence requirement (minimum age is 16)
• No mandatory insurance premium — the avoided third-party cover is roughly Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 a year, which is the real recurring saving here

The total on-road cost of an exempt low-speed scooter equals its ex-showroom price. You can ride it the day you buy it. A voluntary insurance premium is the one cost you might choose to add — and it is worth adding.

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The Tricity-specific read

Chandigarh UT, Mohali, and Panchkula are governed by the same Central CMVR, but they are administered by three different authorities on the ground. Anecdotally, enforcement posture on low-speed EVs has not been uniform across the three areas. This is not a reason to ride uninsured — it is a reason to get clarity from the authority that actually governs where you live and ride.

• If you are in Chandigarh, your relevant authority is the Chandigarh UT transport department.
• If you are in Mohali, that is the Punjab regional transport office.
• If you are in Panchkula, that is the Haryana regional transport office.

A brief visit or call to your local RTO with the motor rating and speed specification of your scooter in hand will give you a current, jurisdiction-specific answer. No article — including this one — can substitute for that.

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In summary

Question	Answer
Is insurance legally mandatory for a qualifying low-speed scooter?	Not under CMVR, as verified — but interpretations differ
Does the rule change across Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula?	The CMVR framework is the same; enforcement on the ground can vary
Should you still get voluntary cover?	Yes — third-party liability cover at minimum is sensible
What should you confirm locally?	Your RTO’s current position on insurance for your specific vehicle

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Sources

• Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) — low-speed electric vehicle exemption criteria (verified June 2026)
• Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) / Chandigarh Power Distribution Ltd — domestic tariff order effective 1 November 2025 (The Tribune, October/November 2025)
• Zelio E-Mobility official specifications — zelioebikes.com (verified June 2026)
• EV Chandigarh local-facts data set, last verified June 2026

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Rajinder Singh is Chief Advisor at EV Chandigarh. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules and enforcement practices can change — confirm with your local RTO for the current position applicable to your vehicle and jurisdiction.