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Do I need insurance for an e-scooter in Germany?

In short

Yes. An e-scooter approved for the road needs motor liability insurance with an insurance plate, personal liability is not enough. From age 23 it usually costs EUR 15 to 35 a year, younger riders pay about EUR 30 to 60. With partial cover against theft it is around EUR 40 to 90. Riding without insurance is a criminal offence.

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Do I need insurance for an e-scooter in Germany?

What it costs

Published annual premiums for the 2026/2027 insurance year in Germany.

Example	Typical range
Liability, rider aged 23 or over	about EUR 15 to 35 a year
Liability, rider under 23	about EUR 30 to 60 a year
Liability and partial cover	about EUR 40 to 90 a year
Legal minimum cover for personal injury	EUR 7.5 million

Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariffs. When partial cover pays off and the extra charge in the worked example are guide values from our quoting practice. Your premium depends on age, riders and scope; we get the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Student, 21, new e-scooter for EUR 600

She rides to university every day and parks the scooter outside the lecture hall. This is how the annual premium adds up.

Liability with surcharge for under 23	about EUR 30 to 60
Partial cover against theft and fire	about EUR 20 to 40
Possible compensation after a theft in year one	up to about EUR 600, minus deductible

Together about EUR 50 to 100 a year. After two or three years, when the scooter is worth little, liability alone is enough.

Why personal liability is not enough

Under the German regulation for small electric vehicles (Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge-Verordnung, eKFV) an e-scooter is legally a motor vehicle. Personal liability policies exclude damage caused by using motor vehicles. So you need separate motor liability insurance, which you can recognise by the small insurance plate at the back of the scooter.

A bicycle or a pedelec with pedal assistance up to 25 km/h is different: personal liability is enough there. If you ride both, you need two policies.

Vehicle	Which insurance	Plate
E-scooter up to 20 km/h with approval	motor liability, mandatory	insurance plate, new every year
Rental e-scooter	liability of the rental company	already on the scooter
Pedelec up to 25 km/h	personal liability is enough	none
S-pedelec up to 45 km/h	motor liability, mandatory	insurance plate
E-scooter without approval, faster than 20 km/h	cannot be insured	not allowed on public roads

Scooters bought abroad

Many e-scooters sold in other countries reach 25 km/h or more and have no German approval. They cannot be insured here and must not be ridden on public roads, cycle paths or pavements, only on private land. Before you bring a scooter to Germany or buy one online, check that it has a German general operating permit (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis, ABE) or an individual approval under the eKFV.

Insurance from your home country does not count either. In Germany the scooter needs a German insurance plate. You do not need a driving licence, but you must be at least 14 years old.

What liability pays and what not

Motor liability pays for damage you cause to others: the car you hit, the injured pedestrian and their loss of earnings. The law requires at least EUR 7.5 million for personal injury, good policies offer EUR 50 million or more.

It does not pay for your own scooter or your own injuries. For the scooter there is partial cover, for your injuries only private accident insurance helps, or the other party's liability if they were at fault.

When partial cover pays off and when not

Partial cover mainly pays for theft, fire and, depending on the policy, a short circuit in the battery. It is worth it for new scooters from about EUR 500 that you park in town or at the station.

For an older scooter worth EUR 150 or 200 you do not need it: the extra EUR 20 to 50 a year is out of proportion to what you could get back. Many policies only pay after a theft if the scooter was locked. A fall you caused yourself is not covered by partial cover either.

The insurance year and the plate

Unlike car insurance, the insurance year runs from 1 March to the end of February. Every year there is a plate in a new colour, for 2026/2027 it is black. Last year's plate is invalid from 1 March.

If you buy a scooter during the year, you can start at any time. Depending on the provider you pay the full or a pro rata annual premium. The policy usually ends automatically at the end of February if you do not order a new plate, which is convenient if you leave Germany.

Rental scooters, alcohol and other limits

For rental e-scooters the rental company has taken out liability insurance. Still read the terms of use: you are often liable for damage to the scooter itself or pay a share.

The same alcohol limits apply as for cars. From 0.5 per mille you face a EUR 500 fine, two points and a one month driving ban, which then also applies to your car. If you cause an accident while drunk, the insurer can claim up to EUR 5,000 back from you.

Step by step

Check that your scooter is approved under the eKFV, usually shown on the type plate.
Have the vehicle identification number and purchase date ready.
Decide whether you need partial cover next to liability.
Take out the policy and fix the plate clearly visible at the back.
Order the new plate before 1 March or let the policy expire.

Checklist

Valid plate in the colour of the current insurance year
Cover well above the legal minimum
Partial cover only for a new or expensive scooter
All riders included if younger family members ride too
Lock, if partial cover only pays for theft when the scooter was locked

Common mistakes

Believing personal liability also covers the e-scooter
Riding with last year's plate after 1 March
Bringing a scooter without German approval and riding it on the road
Buying expensive theft cover for a used scooter worth little
Riding home after two beers and risking your car licence

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

What happens if I ride without insurance?

It is a criminal offence. You face a fine or up to one year in prison, and after an accident you pay all damage yourself.

Do I need my own insurance for a rental e-scooter?

No, the rental company provides liability. Check what you have to pay for damage to the scooter itself.

Can I use a scooter I bought in another country?

Only if it has German approval under the eKFV. Many foreign models are faster than 20 km/h and cannot be insured or ridden on public roads here.

From what age may I ride an e-scooter?

From 14, no licence needed. Many insurers charge a surcharge for riders under 23.

Can I move my plate to a new scooter?

Usually yes, if you report the change to the insurer. It enters the new vehicle number.

Will my premium go up after a claim?

No. Insurance plates have no no-claims classes. The insurer can cancel at the end of the insurance year or change the premium.

Does my insurance apply abroad?

Liability usually applies in Europe. Whether you may ride there is decided by each country, some require more or ban private scooters.

Sources

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