Can you take an electric scooter on a plane? Battery rules and better ways to travel

What the official rules say

Two official sources decide what goes on a US flight: the federal hazardous materials rules and TSA screening. We read both before writing this guide. This is general information, not legal advice, and rules change, so confirm the current version and your airline’s own policy before you pack.

• The federal rules (49 CFR 175.10, from the US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration). Portable electronic devices powered by lithium batteries may travel in checked or carry-on bags. A lithium ion battery must not exceed 100 Wh. With the approval of the operator (the airline), a device may contain a battery of more than 100 Wh but not more than 160 Wh.
• Devices in checked bags. The same rule says a device in a checked bag must be completely switched off.
• Spare batteries. Spares go in carry-on bags only, each protected against short circuit. With airline approval you may carry no more than two spares of 101 to 160 Wh each.
• TSA’s pages on lithium batteries. TSA says spare lithium ion batteries, including power banks, must be in carry-on bags only, that the 100 Wh limit covers nearly all batteries in everyday electronics, and that larger spares of 101 to 160 Wh need airline approval, with a limit of two per person.
• TSA’s page on hoverboards. For both carry-on and checked bags, TSA’s answer is “Check with Airline”. Hoverboards may pass the checkpoint, but the airline sets its own policy.

The examples in the federal rule are phones, cameras, laptops, watches and medical devices. It does not name electric scooters at all, which is why the airline’s own policy matters so much. TSA also notes that the final decision on any item at the checkpoint rests with the TSA officer. The FAA publishes passenger battery guidance on its PackSafe pages, and your airline’s dangerous goods page is the place to confirm what it accepts.

How to work out your battery’s watt hours

Multiply the battery voltage by its amp hours. A 36V 5Ah battery holds 180 Wh. A 48V 10Ah battery holds 480 Wh. Some makers print the Wh figure on the product page or the battery label, and our battery voltage guide explains volts, amp hours and watt hours in more depth.

Here is how the lightest adult scooters in our catalog compare with the 100 and 160 Wh lines:

• Teewing X6 Backpack: a 36V 5Ah battery, about 180 Wh. It weighs 22 lb and folds into its own backpack, and it still sits above 160 Wh.
• NAVEE V25 Pro: 36V 5.2Ah, listed at 187 Wh.
• Segway E2 Plus II: 21.6V 10.2Ah, listed at 220 Wh.
• E-TWOW Booster ES: 36V 7.8Ah, listed at 281 Wh.

Commuter and performance models go far higher, often 500 to 3,000 Wh. So for adult electric scooters, the honest answer is that the battery is too big for the passenger rules, even before the airline’s policy comes into it.

A few small kids’ models sit lower. The NANROBOT K1 runs a 22.2V 2.6Ah battery, about 58 Wh. Even then, a scooter is not one of the devices the federal rule lists, so whether it flies is your airline’s decision.

What about mobility scooters?

The federal rule has a separate section for wheelchairs and battery-powered mobility aids used by passengers with disabilities. For a lithium ion mobility aid whose battery is not adequately protected by the device, that section allows a battery of up to 300 Wh, carried in the cabin, plus one spare of up to 300 Wh or two spares of up to 160 Wh each.

That section is written for mobility aids, not for scooters bought to commute or ride for fun. If you use a mobility device, contact the airline’s accessibility desk well ahead of your flight. The stand-up and seated electric scooters we sell are not medical mobility devices.

Driving: the easiest way to bring your scooter

A car trunk takes almost any folding electric scooter, and no battery limit applies. Measure the trunk against the folded size on the product page, lay the scooter on a blanket, strap it so it cannot slide, and keep it out of a hot or freezing car for long stops. Our guide to transporting an electric scooter in a car covers lifting, loading, racks and battery care step by step.

Browse our foldable electric scooters if a compact fold matters for road trips.

Trains and buses

Each rail and bus operator sets its own rule, so read it before you buy your ticket. As one example, Amtrak’s page on special items in baggage says:

• E-bikes and folding scooters up to 50 lbs may travel, with a maximum tire width of 2 inches on most routes (2.5 inches on the Capitol Corridor and Gold Runner, 4 inches on the Pacific Surfliner).
• Folding scooters must be folded and compacted before boarding, and stored between your legs, under your seat or in areas for folding bikes.
• Non-folding scooters are accepted only where checked baggage service is offered.
• The vehicle and its battery must carry certification from a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or CSA Group.
• No charging onboard or on Amtrak property, and the scooter must be powered off while you travel.

Amtrak’s list of prohibited items also bars hoverboards, Onewheel boards and self-balancing scooters from stations and platforms. Rules differ by route and change over time, so check the page for your train.

City buses, subways and intercity coaches each have their own policies, and some restrict scooters at busy hours. A light scooter is far easier on any of them. Our backpack electric scooter guide covers carrying a small scooter on stairs and platforms, and lightweight electric scooter picks lists the lightest models we stock.

Other ways to have a scooter at your destination

• Have one shipped there. If you are moving or staying a while, order to that address. Every order ships free to the lower 48 states, and orders placed by 2 PM ET ship in 1 to 2 business days.
• Rent or share locally. Many cities have shared scooters for short stays. Check the local rules on where they may be ridden.
• Leave it at home and plan the return. For a short trip, a scooter in the trunk of a friend’s car, or no scooter at all, is often simpler than an airline exception.

A short checklist before any trip

• Work out your battery’s watt hours: volts times amp hours.
• Read your airline’s dangerous goods or special items page, and ask the airline in writing.
• For a train or bus, read that operator’s current rules on weight, folding, tire width and charging.
• Fold it, switch it off and protect the controls before you travel.
• Never modify, remove or swap the battery to fit a rule.

Related guides: Electric scooter parts explained covers what the battery and BMS do, and buying a used electric scooter explains how to check a battery’s health.

Questions riders ask