Electric bikes and scooters in Paraguay: a practical buying guide

To buy the right e-bike or e-scooter in Paraguay, start from your daily route and where you'll be allowed to ride: in Asunción scooters may not use the pavement and must keep to the right-hand lane, like bicycles (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Then pick a seller who gives a written warranty and stocks parts in the country, and check the charger works on Paraguay's 220 V.

E-bike, e-scooter or electric motorbike?

• E-bike (pedal-assist): the motor helps while you pedal. The most versatile option for trips of several kilometres, hills, and carrying a backpack or shopping.
• E-scooter: light and foldable, easy to take on the bus or store at work, but its small wheels struggle on cobbled streets and potholes.
• Electric motorbike: if it has a throttle, a seat and motorbike speeds, treat it as a motorbike. Law 5531/15 requires motorbikes to leave the dealer with a number plate and inspection, with the registration card (cédula verde) processed afterwards at the vehicle registry (Última Hora, 2016⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Ask the seller in writing whether the model is registered as a motorbike.

If your route has a lot of cobblestones, an e-bike with large wheels is usually more comfortable than a scooter.

Where can you ride?

Asunción's traffic regulation, passed by the city council in 2022 to align with national traffic Law 5016, says anyone riding a bicycle, scooter, tricycle or similar (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠):

• may not use pavements or pedestrian areas (for scooters);
• must ride in the right-hand lane, with the traffic;
• may not ride between lanes or between rows of cars;
• is subject to rules on helmets and hi-vis vests.

In other cities, ask the municipality whether there's a local ordinance. For leisure rides, Asunción's Costanera has had a bike lane since January 2023, though in March 2025 ABC counted about 20 potholes between General Santos and Primer Presidente (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), so ride with lights and watch the surface.

What to check before paying

1. Real range: ask how many kilometres it does with a rider of your weight, not in eco mode. Plan the round trip with a margin.
2. Battery: capacity, whether it's removable for charging indoors, and the price of a replacement.
3. Charger and voltage: Paraguay runs on 220 V, 50 Hz; Brazil uses 127 or 220 V at 60 Hz (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Make sure the charger label says 220 V or «100–240 V, 50/60 Hz», especially if you buy at the border.
4. Written warranty: who honours it in Paraguay, what it covers (motor, battery, controller) and for how long. Get an invoice.
5. Parts and repairs: tyres, inner tubes, brake pads and chargers. If nobody in your city stocks them, a puncture can leave you on foot for a week.
6. Brakes and lights: test them in the shop before you talk price.

Heat and rain: looking after the battery

In the hottest months, November to February, temperatures can approach 45 °C (Wikivoyage⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Don't leave the scooter or bike in the sun and charge the battery indoors, following the manual's guidance on charging temperature.

Heavy rain floods avenues in Asunción and neighbouring cities (GOV.UK⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Don't ride through standing water: besides the risk of being swept along, the battery and motor can be damaged. Ask what water protection the model has and whether the warranty covers water damage.

Buy in Ciudad del Este or at home?

Ciudad del Este has a huge range, but ask where warranty claims are handled before you buy. If it means going back to the same shop and you live far away, factor in the trip and repair time. Buying near home gives you a workshop you can return to.

Before paying, ask to see the product working, have the warranty written on the invoice and get shown how to swap the battery.