Electric Scooters are legal - within the relevant regulations
As of 2026, Montana has undergone a significant legislative shift to legalise electric scooters.
The previous classification of e-scooters as 'motorized non-standard vehicles' - which effectively banned them from state roads - was overturned by House Bill 588 (signed in 2025)
This new law moved Montana from a patchwork state of local regulations to one that grants e-scooters a clear legal status.
State-level classification and definition
Under the 2025/2026 framework, electric scooters are no longer "non-standard" outcasts.
Legal Status: E-scooters are now granted the same rights and responsibilities on the roadway as bicyclists and moped riders.
Speed Cap: The vehicle must not be capable of speeds exceeding 30 mph.
Distinction: They are explicitly distinguished from "motor vehicles."
Because they are not motor vehicles, you cannot be charged with a standard DUI for riding one, though you can still be cited for public intoxication or reckless behavior.
Licensing and age requirements
Montana has moved toward a high-access model to provide an alternative for those without motor vehicle access.
License: No driver’s license is required to operate a motorized scooter.
Age: There is no explicit state-wide minimum age, though most local ordinances and rental programs maintain a 16+ standard for street use.
Registration: E-scooters are exempt from titling, registration, and license plate requirements.
Operational rules and permitted areas
The new law sets a baseline for where you can ride, while leaving the most sensitive areas to local control.
Roadways: Permitted on all public roads where bicycles are allowed. You must follow the flow of traffic and stay as far to the right as practicable.
Sidewalks: Under the 2025/2026 law, scooters are prohibited from being operated by motor on sidewalks or bike paths unless local ordinances specifically permit it.
Yielding: Riders must always yield to pedestrians in all settings.
Equipment and technical specifications
To meet the safety standards of the new Montana Code, your scooter must have:
Brakes: A system capable of bringing the scooter to a stop from 10 mph within 25 feet.
Night Lighting: A front white headlamp and a red rear light or reflector are mandatory for any operation between sunset and sunrise.
Municipal variation:
While the state now allows road use, cities still control their sidewalks and specific downtown zones.
| City | Sidewalk Access | Key 2026 Restriction |
| Missoula | Prohibited in Business Dist. | Strictly regulated on the Riverfront Trail; yields to pedestrians are heavily enforced. |
| Bozeman | Prohibited on Main St. | 2025 ordinances require "safe speed" on shared paths; parking must be in designated zones. |
| Billings | Permitted (except downtown). | Must stay off primary high-speed arterials where bike lanes are absent. |
| Helena | Limited. | Follows the state baseline; roadway use is the primary legal path. |
Montana Electric Scooter Legal Summary:
For a vehicle like the Bo Model M:
Speed: Since the Bo Model M is typically governed to 25 mph maximum, it fully complies within Montana's 30 mph legal limit.
New Legislative Framework: Because the 2025 law (HB 588) specifically addressed the previous "non-standard vehicle" problem, you no longer need to worry about the lack of a VIN or manufacturer's certification for road use.
As long as you have the required lights and brakes, you are road-legal.
Disclaimer: Bo USA Inc. endeavours to keep these documents up to date and relevant, however does not in any manner guarantee the accuracy of the included findings regarding electric scooter laws in the United States. Always carry out secondary research to validate any statement - and refer directly to the relevant authority before presuming accuracy.
Electric scooter riders or those considering to purchase or begin riding electric scooters should refer to their local governments to obtain the most up-to-date information on the applicable, local legal standing of scooters.
The Bo Model-M: Since the electric scooter is legal in Montana, it is worth investing in a vehicle that is going to have a real integrity and quality to its manufacture. This means it will bring you pleasure every time you use it.
To that end, it is interesting to know that Bo is the only electric scooter designed and engineered by a team of real car guys. Where the rest of the scooter industry took plasticky toys and ruggedised them, we started with a blank sheet of paper to develop the best vehicle in the world for local journeys.
Of course, you can only really feel the benefit of that when you ride it for yourself; that is why we give an extraordinary 60 day return policy and have a customer response team full of the engineers who made it. When you contact Bo, you're going straight to the source.
Visit the Model M page - click here
Learn more about how we made the 'M' - click here
Go watch a Youtube about the Model-M - click here
Return to the State-by-State regulation page - click here
