Amazon, Argos and Currys have been caught advertising e-scooters for use on public roads and paths – an activity that is illegal under UK law. A Press Association (PA) investigation found major brands and independent sellers promoting their use on roads, where only rented e-scooters are allowed. Privately-owned e-scooters can only be ridden on private land with the landowner's permission.
After PA contacted them, the major outlets changed their advertising. Amazon said its guidelines prohibit showing riders on roads or pavements and require listings to state that e-scooters are prohibited from public use in the UK. Yet PA found an e-scooter on Amazon recommended for “urban commuting”. 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 that Google may take time to update. 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 now include a note explaining the law. In 2025, Currys had an e-scooter advert banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which ruled 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 ads also give the impression e-scooters can be used anywhere.
“Major retailers illegally advertised e-scooters for commuting on public roads despite UK ban, PA investigation found.”
But many smaller retailers still have pages online with electric “commuter” scooters for sale. One described its e-scooters as “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 pages that this is 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. The government estimates that thousands of private e-scooters are being used illegally on UK roads, yet the advertising continues.