How to protect your electric scooter from theft

The best lock is taking it inside

Thieves take what is left outside. One of the biggest advantages of an electric scooter over a bike is that it folds. Many commuter models weigh 30 to 45 pounds and fit under a desk, beside a table or in a corner of a shop.

Ask your workplace, gym or building if you can bring it in. Many will say yes to something that folds and stands against a wall. If you plan to do this every day, weight matters when you choose a model: see how to choose an electric scooter.

If you have to leave it outside

• Lock the frame or deck to something fixed. A bike rack or a thick signpost bolted into the ground. Check that the post cannot be lifted out, and that the lock cannot slide off the top.
• Do not lock only the stem or a wheel. The stem folds and wheels can be unbolted. Loop the lock through the frame where the stem meets the deck, or through a solid part of the deck.
• Choose a busy, well lit spot that a camera or a shop window looks onto.
• Keep the lock off the ground. A lock resting on the pavement is easier to smash.
• Take the key or fold down the display if your model allows it, and take anything removable with you.
• Do not leave it for long. Overnight outdoors is where most thefts happen.

Which lock to use

Buy the lock with the scooter, and spend properly on it. A thief with the right tool gets through a cheap lock in seconds.

• Hardened steel U-lock (D-lock): the best balance of strength and weight. Choose one small enough to fit around the frame and a post without leaving room for a bar to lever it.
• Heavy chain with a padlock: very strong and flexible around awkward posts, but heavy to carry.
• Folding lock: strong, compact and easier to carry than a U-lock.
• Cable lock: only as a second lock for a wheel, never on its own.
• Disc brake lock: a small lock that fits through the brake rotor so the wheel will not turn. It stops a ride-away, not a carry-away.

At home

Keep it inside your home, not in a shared hallway, lobby or shed. If it has to stay in a garage or shed, lock it to a ground anchor bolted into the floor or wall, and keep the door locked. Out of sight is better than on show from the street.

Wherever it lives, charge it safely: on a hard surface, away from your exit, while someone is home. See our battery care guide.

Trackers and app locks

A small hidden tracker helps you find it if it goes. A Bluetooth tag works in busy areas through nearby phones. A GPS tracker with its own SIM works anywhere but needs charging and usually a subscription. Hide it inside the deck or under a fender, not somewhere a thief will check first.

Some models have an app lock or a motor lock that stops the electric scooter from being ridden or makes it hard to push. Use it every time, alongside a real lock. Check the product page of your model for what it includes.

Maker figures, checked September 2026. Real range and speed depend on rider weight, terrain, temperature and riding mode.

Keep records now

• Photograph the electric scooter from both sides, plus any marks or stickers that make it recognizable.
• Write down the serial number. It is usually on the underside of the deck or the base of the stem.
• Keep your order confirmation. It shows the model and the date you bought it.
• Register the serial number with the maker if they offer it.

If it is stolen, report it to the police straight away with these details, and check local listing sites for the model over the next few days.

Insurance

Check your renters or homeowners policy first. Some cover an electric scooter at home but not when it is locked outside, and some exclude motorized vehicles altogether. If yours does not cover it, specialist bike and scooter insurance usually does. Read what the policy expects of you, such as a lock of a certain grade.

Browse lighter, easier to carry models in the electric scooter shop.

Questions riders ask