Does insurance pay if my e-scooter is stolen in Germany?
In short
Does insurance pay if my e-scooter is stolen in Germany? Only with partial cover (Teilkasko). The mandatory liability behind the insurance sticker pays nothing for theft, and you should not rely on household insurance. Partial cover usually pays the replacement value minus a deductible of about EUR 25 to 150, often only if the scooter was locked. With partial cover the policy costs about EUR 40 to 90 a year.
Published annual premiums for the 2026/2027 insurance year in Germany.
Example
Typical range
Liability only, rider aged 23 or over
about EUR 15 to 35 a year
Liability only, rider under 23
about EUR 30 to 60 a year
Liability and partial cover with theft protection
about EUR 40 to 90 a year
Deductible under partial cover
about EUR 25 to 150 per claim
Guide values as of October 2026 from publicly quoted tariffs.
Residual value and payout in the worked example and the point from which partial cover pays off
are guide values from our quoting practice.
Your premium depends on age, riders and scope; we get the exact quote for you.
Worked example
Commuter, 34, e-scooter for EUR 700, stolen at the station after 18 months
The scooter was secured to a bike rack with a chain lock. This is how partial cover calculates.
Purchase price
EUR 700
Replacement value after 18 months
about EUR 350 to 450
Deductible under the policy
EUR 150
Payout
about EUR 200 to 300
Without partial cover the EUR 700 would be lost entirely. Without a lock, the insurer could have cut or refused the payment, depending on the policy.
Which insurance pays after a theft
Every road approved e-scooter in Germany needs motor liability, shown by the insurance sticker (Versicherungsplakette). It only pays for damage you cause to others. If the scooter is stolen, you get nothing from it.
Only own damage cover pays for theft, for e-scooters usually as partial cover added to liability. The German insurers' association lists household insurance (Hausratversicherung) as theft protection for pedelecs, not for e-scooters. Whether your household policy includes a scooter depends only on its terms.
Insurance
Pays for theft?
Note
Motor liability with sticker
no
only damage to others
Partial cover for the e-scooter
yes
replacement value minus deductible, check the lock rule
Household insurance
usually no
meant for bicycles and pedelecs
Rental e-scooter
up to the rental company
end the ride, inform police and provider
The lock rule often decides
Many policies only pay if the scooter was secured with a lock at the time of the theft. Some just require any lock, others a separate lock attached to a fixed object. If you break the rule, the insurer may cut or refuse the payment.
Read the rule before you park the scooter for the first time and choose your lock accordingly. If the scooter stands outside for a long time, take the battery with you if it can be removed: batteries are stolen on purpose.
How much you get back
Depending on the policy, partial cover pays the purchase price or the replacement value, meaning what an equivalent scooter costs at the time of the theft. The deductible is taken off.
For a new scooter a large part of the price comes back. After two or three years the value has dropped, and after the deductible little is left. Keep the receipt and photos, without them it is hard to prove the value.
What to do after the theft
Report the theft to the police straight away. Give the parking spot, how it was locked, the vehicle identification number, colour, special features and the code on the insurance sticker. You need the police confirmation for your insurer.
Then report the claim to your insurer promptly, the deadline is in your policy. Have the receipt, photos and policy number ready.
When you do not need partial cover
For an older scooter worth EUR 150 or 200, partial cover is not worth it: after the deductible hardly anything would come back. The same applies if the scooter stays in your flat at night and you never leave it outside unattended.
It makes sense for new or expensive scooters that you park at the station, at university or outside the office. The risk there is high: in 2023, 277 in 10,000 e-scooters with own damage cover were stolen, compared with 4 in 10,000 cars.
Step by step
Report the theft to the police immediately, with the vehicle identification number and sticker code.
Report the theft to your insurer promptly, check the deadline in your policy.
Send the receipt, photos and policy number.
State how and where the scooter was locked.
For a new scooter, transfer the sticker or take out a new policy.
Checklist
Partial cover in the policy, not just liability
Lock rule of the policy known and followed
Receipt and photos of the scooter kept
Vehicle identification number written down
Deductible that suits the value of the scooter
Common mistakes
Believing the sticker also protects against theft
Only blocking the wheel or not locking the scooter at all
Relying on household insurance without knowing its terms
Throwing away the receipt and being unable to prove the value later
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does liability insurance pay if my e-scooter is stolen?
No.
Motor liability only pays for damage you cause to others.
For theft you need partial cover.
Does household insurance pay for a stolen e-scooter?
Usually not.
It is meant for bicycles and pedelecs.
Whether your policy includes an e-scooter is only stated in its terms.
Which lock do I have to use?
Your policy decides.
Some only require any lock, others a separate lock attached to a fixed object.
Do I get the purchase price back?
Depending on the policy, the purchase price or the replacement value at the time of the theft,
minus the deductible in both cases.
What if only the battery is stolen?
Whether parts are covered is stated in your policy.
If you park outside for a long time, better take a removable battery with you.
Who pays if a rental e-scooter I hired is stolen?
The rental company's terms of use decide.
End the ride in the app and inform the police and the provider immediately.
