Sales of electric motorcycles and scooters are on the rise across the country, but what is the risk of owning them?

Average 270 electric motorcycles are sold monthly across the countryaccording to the Automobile Association of Peru (AAP), at least 3,200 units are expected to be sold at the end of the year.

According to Technical Manager of the Automobile Association of Peru, Elliot Tarason, the demand for these cars is growing by almost 100% every year; however, for an institution, the use of these units poses a risk to users, as many choose to distribute without purchasing accident insurance.

“The rules establish that in the event of an accident of two vehicles each covered with their own SOATbut in this case (with electric motorcycles) the problem would be that the motorcycle would not be covered by another vehicle’s SOAT,” he said.

Clients are addicted to offers of commercial houses, who attract customers by promising they don’t need a license plate, property card or insurance, Tarasona said, despite the fact that these are mandatory requirements under General transport law.

Scooter riders are also prone to traffic accidents.

But electric motorcycles aren’t the only issue, as are electric scooters and skateboards, which are considered “personal vehicles” as of 2019; that is, those who reach speeds of 25 kilometers per hour.

According to Ministerial Decree No. 308-2019-MTC, personal vehicles can only drive on cycle paths or the right lane in streets and shreds. Because they can move around the track, drivers are at risk of being traffic accident victims.

In 2021, there were 50 deaths of scooter drivers and cyclists nationwide, according to the PNP’s Traffic Accident Prevention and Investigation Division.

“These skateboards need to circulate on bike lanes or the right lane of patches and streets, and they share the right lane with a car, then it can cause Accident between skateboard and vehicle For this reason, the creation of some insurances should be regulated, since, not being motor vehicles, they circulate and share a lane with motor vehicles,” he said.

How much does SOAT cost for a motorcycle for personal use?

According to comparabien.com.pe, price of an annual motorcycle policy for personal use in Lima and Callao it ranges from S/590 to S/800. In Arequipa the minimum price is S/380, in La Libertad it fluctuates between S/520 and S/800, in Amazonas the cheapest SOAT reaches S/200, while in Piura you can find insurance from S/300, and in Cajamarca – from S / 300. from S/230 to S/800.