Scooter Rental in Barcelona – Safety Tips, Where to rent and Prices

Looking for renting a scooter in Barcelona? Awesome, yet how does it actually work? What options are there, and what should you know beforehand?

My name is Matt and I live in this beautiful city we will talk about today. Welcome to the ultimate guide to the best scooter rental in Barcelona.

I want to walk you through everything you need to know here. I cover the safety issue, prices, companies to rent from and more tips!

Quite frank, I want to scare you a bit for your own good and safety. But at the same time, I want you to get excited about this unique way to explore the city.

You should also consider doing a bike tour instead. They are slower and more safe (for unexperienced drivers). Check this guide on the best bicycle tours in Barcelona.

Furthermore, at the end of this guide, you will definitely be fired up to hop on and ride off. Because, if anything, this city on two motorized wheels is just amazing. It is simply the best way to get around!

Read: how to get around Barcelona? A full guide

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment below. I unquestionably would love to help you!

I will cover in detail:

1. Where should you rent?
2. Prices
3. Things you have to know BEFORE renting
4. Is it safe to drive in Barcelona?
5. Conditions to rent
6. No experience in riding a scooter? Read this
7. Scooter Tours
8. Rental Apps
9. Buying a scooter in Barcelona
10. Long term rental in Barcelona
11. FAQ
12. Map with all sights

Moreover, I included a big map at the end of this article with all the rental companies and the main sights you have to visit (read here the 24 must do’s in Barcelona).

Read all my articles on where to stay and best things to do in my Barcelona guide summary.

Looking for renting a car in Barcelona, Spain or Europe? Read my guide on how to rent a car in Europe.

1. Where should you rent the scooter?

There is a ton of different companies for scooter rentals in Barcelona, offering a range of options from premium model to cheap scooter rental in Barcelona, ensuring affordability for every budget. But no worries, it is much easier than it seems to find the right option for you.

So basically, where to book or rent from?

Here is an overview of different companies for traditional scooter or Electric scooter rental in Barcelona. (including prices)

1. Cooltra – from 40€/ day
2. Vesping – from 20€/ 2 hours
3. Ride On – from 28€/ day
4. Get Your Guide

Find all Scooter Tours in Barcelona here

1.1 Cooltra – best for Electric Scooters

Cooltra has several offices around town and also has bikes for rent.

Prices start from 40€ per day – yet, the prices depend on availability.

Besides, the scooters are basic and fun, kept in white with a big, blue logo on the side. Personally, I prefer the classic red Vespa.

One super cool thing: They offer electric bikes, too. Generally, it is one of the few places to rent electric scooters in Barcelona from.

1.2 Vesping

Vesping is the rental for the good-ol’ Vespas. Prices start from 20€ for 2 hours and 40€ for the whole day.

They have the white-orange Vespas, and every single one is equipped with a GPS Satellite Navigator. Hence, you can better plan your trip and visit all the spots you want!

There are 4 pre-programmed itineraries on the GPS. Quite useful!

Their office is located close to Sagrada Familia. However, that may not be ideal. Although you have the blue and purple metro line options from there.

Personally, I prefer to rent my scooter downtown.

1.3 Ride On

Ride On opened their shop in Poble Sec, near Montjuic. You have the red and green metro line nearby from there.

Interestingly, it is the cheapest scooter rental in Barcelona, starting from 28€ per day.

The scooters, however, are very regular and basic. But if you are looking for the cheapest option, Ride on must be it.

And before I forget, make sure you check if insurance is included in your rental too.

1.4 Get Your Guide

Number 5 on the list of scooter rental companies is Get Your Guide.

Get Your Guide is basically an online booking service for tours and sightseeing tickets. Therefore, you can book with them your Sagrada Familia Ticket, the Park Güell Ticket and as well as your motorbike.

Read: 3 sights you have to pre-book before visiting Barcelona

Also, they sell Vesping Scooters mentioned above at #3.

Check Get Your Guide Prices here

2. How much is renting a scooter? The Prices

The prices can be as low as 20€ per hour or even 28€ for the whole day.

You can either rent a scooter per hour, per day as well as for a tour.

The longer you rent, the cheaper it is.

Certainly, there are a lot of different companies and agencies. Scroll up again to see my comparison.

An important thing to keep an eye on is the deposit and what is included in the price.

Usually, the gas is not included and at least 1 helmet is always provided. If you are with a companion, you maybe need to rent a second helmet as it may not be included.

Good to know: Avoid an extra free and always ask if the 2nd helmet is included in the price. This always depends on the rental.

Remember, wearing a helmet is mandatory. Without a helmet, the police will stop you in zero time and you are looking at a big fine.

I would not even consider riding without a helmet – for financial reasons and your own safety.

Personally, we have never heard of any company renting without helmets, but in case someone offers you a discount for not using the helmet, leave right away. Again, we never heard about this, just in case!

Furthermore, do make sure that the price you pay covers the basic insurance. There is also extra insurance against theft. This is worth it to consider!

3. Things you have to know BEFORE renting

First of all, hiring a motorbike, vespa, scooter or motorcycle in Barcelona is AWESOME. As a local, I guarantee you that!

Seriously, it was the best investment I did when I moved to the city.

Without a doubt, you can get around Barcelona in no time. And once you adapt to the traffic, it is seriously safe.

However, you have to know what to expect when driving a scooter. Also, just a quick tip, please don’t drive as you do in a Mario Kart. (I will keep mentioning Super Mario Kart, get ready!)

I wrote down a list of things you should consider before getting one.

3.1 You need a driving license

You need to own a valid drivers license to handle a motorbike in Spain.

Luckily, when you come from the European Union and you own a valid drivers license from any European country, you are ready to go.

Assuming, your license allows riding scooters, starting from 49cc, obviously!

What about the United States of America and Canada?

When you come from the USA or Canada, however, make sure you bring your IDP.

IDP stands for International Driver Permit. Moreover, I will go into detail on the IDP under Conditions to rent a scooter.

3.2 Drive safe – in a passive manner

Now that we have the legal requirements, let’s get this thing on the road.

Always remind yourself: This is not Mario Kart! Yes, we all love to throw bananas at other Gokarts and shoot the red shell. But then again, this is regular Barcelona traffic.

Above all, you are here to enjoy an epic day out in the city on a cool motorbike. Therefore, getting hurt and visiting a hospital is definitely NOT on our list.

For sure you will have a fantastic time, but please read through my security tips.

Vehicles you should look out for:

Taxis and Cabs: The taxis are the worst drivers, meaning they can drive quite aggressive. However, they actually drive really safe, but they are quite selfish on the road. So stay away from them and keep a distance!

Bikes: Bicycles, on the other hand, drive everywhere and nowhere. Thus, you should really pay attention to these guys. Apparently, bicycles here consider themselves invisible or indestructible.

Cars: Contrarily, cars do drive quite gentle and they pay attention to scooters. To be completely honest, this was really surprising for me to experience when I started to cruise around.

But bear in mind that this is no generic rule, obviously.

Other Scooters: And finally what about the scooter drivers themselves? Well… they drive crazy!

I have seen young drivers playing their Mario Kart in real-life. And I have seen quite a lot of accidents, more than I did in Vietnam.

As far as I can tell, 98% of these accidents happened due to careless driving!

Let me share with you this simple rule:

In order for you to have an awesome time and skip the accidents, please do

• drive slowly
• passively and
• always pay attention to the road.

Besides, some roads are one-way roads, though most of them are two line roads.

Therefore, it will be very helpful to get a GPS.

BUT please, please, please: Do not use your phone while driving.

This is seriously dangerous for you and the other vehicles. You can stop on the side of the road and have a look where you have to go.

Or better yet just simply hand your phone over to your co-pilot on the back and he or she can navigate you instead.

TIP: A good app to use is Maps.Me (available for Android and iOs)

3.3 You can get around in no time

We are done with the legal, and boring stuff. Also, now we already know how to survive Barcelona on two wheels. It’s time to get around.

Let’s compare the two motor wheels with the other transportation options.

Starting with, the metro connection is really good and frequent. You can catch a metro every 2-3 minutes.

Secondly, the buses do a really good job as well, bringing the people from A to B. With maps.google.com you can always check the best connections in your location.

In my experience, this the best way to get the schedules for public transport in the city.

But still, lastly, a scooter is a whole different experience. It is far better, faster and super flexible. Even more, this is perfect especially for everyone spending only 2 or 3 days in Barcelona.

A few examples of Metro vs Scooter:

With the metro, it takes you around 30 minutes from Placa Catalunya to Park Güell. 
But with a motorbike, on the other hand, it will take you half the time in the metro; only around 15-20 minutes.

Another quite a good example is visiting the not-so-hidden-gem-anymore of Bunker del Carmel, you have to take a metro or bus.

From the bus station or metro stop, you still have to walk then another 10-20 minutes.

But when taking the scooter, you are sitting on the bunker and perfectly enjoying the view in around 15 minutes. Plus, you can park right nearby.

These are just a few examples to show you the benefits of a scooter.

Moreover, to give you a better idea, I have added a map below.

You can also check out the big guide I wrote on how to get around Barcelona with more details.

3.4 Parking is easy

Finding a parking spot for your motorbike is no problem at all.

In fact, you can almost park it on every single street and corner. On the contrary, it can be quite hard to park in downtown since we are not allowed to park right in front of a shop, for instance.

However, you can always have a look at where the locals’ park.

But generally, there are official parking all over. Even more, I included here a photo of the marked parking spots to better help you out.

Here are some parking rules in a nutshell:

• Only park on white, marked spaces on the streets
• Blue, green and yellow marked spots are for cars only – and not for bikes
• Park only on the sidewalks more than 3 meters wide, besides the curb. Never block the pedestrian paths.
• Do not park in front of the dumpsters or large bins
• It is totally safe to park it all night on the streets or sidewalk

Most of all, a great thing to know, parking for motorbikes is always FREE.

I have never paid any parking for a motorbike. So that’s another cost you save, comparing to renting a car in Barcelona.

Usually, parking a car in Barcelona is so expensive, it can be as easy as 3€ per hour.

My own personal story: I once parked in front of a hotel without realizing it. As I was about to walk away from my bike when the hotel concierge came running after me. He told me in a nice way that I cannot park there since it was intended for hotel guests only. He was right, there was the sign, and I missed it… Oooops… My bad!

I basically had no idea and they could have easily called a tow truck. But yeah, it was a lucky day for me!

4. Is it safe to drive a scooter in Barcelona?

Let us talk about what happens when you’re actually sitting on it.

As I told you from the beginning, I wrote this guide to scare you – a bit at least. Not because I am a mean person, but because it is about your health and safety.

Moreover, I already walked you through the different vehicle types here and their skill-level of driving in Barcelona.

Again, in a nutshell:

Taxis: Crazy, selfish, but usually safe drivers. Most certainly they know their streets. If they have the chance to go first, they will! So pay extra attention to Taxis, they are your “enemies” to stay away from.

Bikes: Basically a crazy person on two wheels. They like to drive wherever they want; especially bigger groups on bikes. Do pay attention!

Cars: Surprisingly, the cars are considerate and respectful with scooter and motorbikes. They pay the most attention to two-wheel vehicles. I am assuming they know motorbikes are small and can be easily overseen.

Scooters: Fast and love to sneak in every little hole they see. In a traffic jam and on a red light, they slowly pass all the cars until they get in the first row.

The traffic in Barcelona is generally safe. There are following rules:

• Be thoughtful driver
• Drive passive and slow
• Do not use the bus line, taxi line or bike line
• Don’t skip red lights
• Pay attention to the traffic
• Don’t use your phone or a GPS while driving (set this up before)
• Do not wear flip-flops
• Always wear the helmet

Here are a few more handy instructions:

• Check the mirrors before accelerating
• Always use the turn indicators
• Do not leave the GPS on the bike – it can get stolen
• Check the insurance with the company when renting
• No smoking while driving

And my personal favorite:

• Don’t throw bananas at other vehicles like in Mario Kart

5. Conditions to rent a scooter

There are basically 3 conditions to scooter rental in Barcelona.

1. A valid driving license
2. Experience
3. A deposit

5.1 Drivers License

You need a valid drivers license to rent a vespa in Barcelona.

Generally, this can either be a European Drivers License or the so-called IDP for internal visitors from the US, Canada and anyone outside the EU.

Also, I am not familiar with any rental service giving away a motorbike without a proper drivers license.

Even if there would be a shady company doing so, I would not recommend this. The police can stop you here, and a fine is extremely quite high as much as 500€.

Not worth it, I’d say.

What about the United States of America and Canada?

When you come from the USA or Canada, make sure you bring your IDP.

IDP stands for International Driver Permit. Commonly, you can get this in your home country before you leave.

You can ask in your home town how you can get an international driving license.

Furthermore, you will need this as well if you are planning to rent a car somewhere in Europe and actually around the world.

The same goes for visitors from Australia, Japan and every other country outside of the European Union.

No International Driver Permit for Scooter in Barcelona?

Well, unfortunately then you cannot rent a scooter.

6. No experience in riding a scooter? Read this

If you are coming over without any driving experience what so ever, don’t fear. You can still hop on a scooter and cruise around.

My personal opinion: If you are really not feeling good driving a scooter, skip it! You have to feel confident!

There are two options for non-experienced drivers.

1. Quick Driving Lesson
2. Scooter Tour

Option 1: Basic driving lessons.

Just let your rental know you are not familiar with cruising a motor vehicle, usually they will provide safety tips and walk you through it. However, if you are not comfortable driving away or in case you don’t have the license, you can always ask for a driver or take a scooter tour.

In general, this is a really popular option for female solo-travelers. But then again, this option exists for both male and female. Just ask!

Option 2: Hop on a Scooter Tour

Last but not least, you can book scooter tours.

There are full tapas and sightseeing tours. You will drive by the majestic Sagrada Familia, to the beach, all the way up to Montjuic Mountain with its castle.

7. Scooter Tours in Barcelona

Scooter Tours in Barcelona are super popular!

For several good reasons. You can you explore the city in a genuine way and you are able to see plenty of beautiful modern buildings along the way. Plus, you get from A to B in little time.

So, is there any cool tours in Barcelona by scooter?

Yes, actually there are many you can choose from:

• E-Scooter Guided Tour
• Corporate Tour
• Tour for Students
• Barcelona – Architecture Tour

Find all Scooter Tours in Barcelona here

8. Apps for Scooter Rental in Barcelona

Lately, many of the new scooter sharing apps popped-up around town. You have the Ecooltra App, Yego App and Reby – to mention a few.

One good thing is, they are all similar and simple to use.

The first step is to register. You have to sign up with your email, send the required documents via your phone and then lastly you wait until you are approved. The confirmation takes usually around 1 day.

Documents you have to send over as a photograph include your driver’s license, a selfie, and your passport.

For locals, these apps are really cool. For visitors, well, not so much in my opinion.

To elaborate more, let me share a few pros and cons here.

Pros/ Advantages:

1. You pay as you go. Payment is usually per minute. The price at Cooltra is 0.26€/ minute. Meaning, a 15 minutes ride would cost 3.90€.
   While at Yugo, you pay 0.25€ per minute.
2. The app is easy to use although you have to be registered before, obviously.
3. There is usually a scooter nearby. And it basically takes you max 5 minutes walk to the next one. Generally, they are everywhere around town!
4. They always have 2 helmets inside; perfect to take a friend with you.

Cons/ Disadvantages:

1. You have to pre-register which takes around 1 day. (I signed up in 2018, back then it took them 2 days)
2. Some companies like YUGO only allow the scooters in a certain area. For instance, you cannot ride up the Tibidabo, not even up to Park Güell.
3. My biggest issue: The costs add up. Keep an eye on the minutes you would like to ride the whole day.

Let us do some math.

Let us rent at Cooltra for 0.25€/ minute. A regular scooter rental service rents a vespa for 40€ per day.

That means, we can ride 2 hours and 40 minutes until we “break-even”. That may sound like a long time.

But #1: Keeping an eye at the clock is stressful, especially in the traffic here.

#2 You have to keep in mind the time you have always to find a new bike plus the actual walking and searching. And then #3: you cannot go everywhere like Park Güell.

Conclusion Sharing Apps:

For locals and the city, these apps are fantastic! They really are, many friends and I included use them regularly.

In fact, these apps are really designed for the locals; not for tourists.

Therefore, as a tourist coming for 2-3 days, better go with the daily rental. They are more flexible and you don’t have to keep an eye on the time. With daily rentals, you are much much less in a rush.

9. Buying a scooter in Barcelona

Buying a scooter is a great idea if you are staying longer than 6 months in Barcelona. I think, it only makes sense then.

Basically, for buying a scooter, you have to be officially registered in Barcelona as a resident. Even more, you have to possess a so-called NIE, your Spanish identification number. If you are not registered, you cannot own a motorbike in Spain. Simple as that!

Furthermore, there are a couple of websites where you can find second-hand motorbikes and scooters.

I like Wallapop and Vibbo.es, personally.

Just type in “comprar moto Barcelona” or “comprar moto segunda mano en Barcelona”.

I myself found really great deals here. You can buy scooters starting from as little as 500€.

On the other hand, I am not a big fan of the cheapest options out there. There is the saying “buy cheap, buy twice“.

Personally, I do not recommend to go for any unknown or cheap Asian brands. The most solid brands in my experience are the Italian motorbikes. This includes Vespas, Piaggio, Aprilia, and Garelli.

Moreover, it always helps to have a basic understanding of how a good engine has to look like, how well a motorbike is preserved, you name it.

But if you are completely inexperienced with buying motorbikes and everything that’s inside one, then go with a mechanic or professional vendors.

Good to know: Many mechanics sell second-hand motorbikes from former clients too. They usually come with a guarantee, plus you have a reliable mechanic – in the best case scenario.

Very important: I recommend buying a scooter model no one else has (or very few people!)

A lot of scooters get stolen in Barcelona; that is a fact.

But the interesting part: the scooters that were stolen are the most common models like Honda Scoopy for instance. The thieves take those scooters apart and sell the pieces.

Accordingly, the model you should avoid is the Honda Scoopy. I would also advise to not buy a Vespa here. They are really expensive and quite fragile when not maintained properly.

If you want to ride a Vespa, just rent one.

Costs for buying a scooter in Barcelona

A scooter needs to pass the ITV / MOT every two years, and it costs around 25€.

More so, the taxes for the scooter are as little as something around 10€ per year. Interestingly cool, right?!

Generally speaking, the insurance for the scooter can cost between 120€ and 220€. It all depends on your age and other criteria.

I paid 220€ in the first year and then switched to Linea Directa where I only paid 150€ per year.

If you have any questions on how to buy a scooter in Barcelona, please drop me a line in the comments. I would be very happy to help you out if possible.

10. Long term scooter rental in Barcelona

In the last two chapters of this article, I want to share with you my insider tips to buying and long term scooter rental in Barcelona. This is for everyone moving to or already living in the city or surroundings.

My dear traveler, you can skip this part now and proceed to the next.

In terms of renting long term, please check again the apps above. They are a better option than renting long-term. If you’re looking for Barcelona scooter rental options, these apps provide flexibility and ease of use for short-term rentals.

11. FAQ – Frequently asked questions

Alright, you have made it this far. Congratulations! You are now one step closer to renting a motorbike in Barcelona.

Below we cover our frequently asked questions we hear all the time.

Do I need to wear a helmet?

Yes, you definitely need to wear a helmet. It is illegal to drive a motorbike in Barcelona without a helmet. You can get fined for that.

Besides the fine, wearing a helmet is for your own safety. The streets here are as unforgiving as they are in your home town.

Should I rent a scooter in Barcelona?

That is a big yes! If you enjoy the freedom, liberty, and flexibility than renting then a motorcycle in Barcelona is for you.

But if it happens that you are scared of scooters or simply do not enjoy them, better stay away from them and join a bike tour or walking instead.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Barcelona?

You need a valid drivers license and pay a deposit. Experience is a good idea too!

How old do you have to be to rent a scooter in Spain and Barcelona?

From the age of 15, you are entitled to ride a moped up to 49cc. You have to get your drivers license for this though.

Can I drive a scooter in Spain with a provisional License?

Yes, you can. But please double-check with the company first.

Can I drive a 125cc scooter on my car License?

Yes! With a European Drivers License, you are entitled to ride a 125cc scooter in Spain.

Do you need a license to drive a 49cc scooter rental in Barcelona?

Yes, you do need a license. There is no way around it.

Does Barcelona have scooters?

Yes, there are many! I could not find an exact, official number, but Barcelona has at least 500.000 scooters. In general, it is a very common and convenient transportation method here.

How much is renting a scooter in Barcelona?

Prices start from 20€ per 2 hours. A scooter hire for the full day starts from 28€.

You can rent for hours, days and even weeks or months. You cannot rent only for 1 hour!

Check my section about prices.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

Yes, you always need to pay a deposit. This can be anything from 150€ to 300€.

All companies listed above are trustworthy and deposit is returned when the bike gets back in full shape.

What about Insurance?

Every rental company handles this differently. All of them offer extra insurance we highly recommend. Usually, you can get extra insurance covering damages exceeding 390€ for something around 15€  to 20€.

Always check and verify with your company the insurance situation!

Scooter rental in Barcelona airport – is it a good idea?

Uff…I do not recommend that at all! I would rather take the metro, train or bus to the city center and rent there. The drive from the Airport is not really beautiful anyways, and you will come with luggage. Nah, not a good idea, I’d argue.

Moped Hire Barcelona?

Absolutely, moped hire is available in Barcelona as well. It’s a fantastic way to explore the city’s streets and attractions.

12. Map with Sights

I have created this handy map to further assist you. I hope it helps you get all planned out before traveling to Barcelona.

Even more, I have also marked all the mentioned companies and the main sights you cannot miss.

These include:

• Sagrada Familia
• Park Güell
• Tibidabo (for Sunset)
• Bunkers del Carmel (perfect for a Picnic with Panoramic View)
• Bogatell Beach Area
• Montjuic Castle
• Gothic Quarter

I marked the downtown area in a light purple for better orientation.

My Summary

I hope I gave you everything you need to know to start your scooter adventure. Moreover, safety tips are really important to remember.

Above all, my best recommendation would be getting a scooter for 2 days.

This allows you the time and freedom to hop on and tour around the main sights of Barcelona like Passeig de Gracia with Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, way up to Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia, then the beach.

Ending the day at the Bunker del Carmel to watch the sunset would be perfect.

Remember, you should prebook your tickets to Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.

We have also many guides:

• 12 things to prepare before coming to Barcelona
• where to stay in Barcelona
• Barcelona nightlife: tips and dress code

Find all our articles at our Barcelona Itinerary.

Any Questions? Throw them at me.

PLEASE bother me in the comments in case there are any questions or doubts left.

I want this guide to be as useful and complete as possible.

So, go ahead and type in your questions or comments below. I will be more than happy to reply in details.

Safe travels and happy scooter riding!