People who bought an electric scooter (step in Dutch) while on holiday abroad may face high costs at home if involved in an accident, insurers warn.

In the Netherlands many individual modes of transport are banned from the roads because they have not been approved by the vehicle authority RDW and their owners are not insured.

‘It is a bit confusing because they are allowed abroad,’ insurance sector spokesman Oscar van Elferen told broadcaster NOS. ‘While some third party insurances may cover the costs in other cases the damages will ultimately have to be paid by the owner of the electric scooter,’ he said.

Owners also risks a fine of €380 and having their scooter confiscated.