E-scooter, e-bike and PEV laws in Germany
In Germany, e-scooters are legal: max 20 km/h, minimum age 14, helmet not required, insurance required (unconfirmed), plate or sticker required (unconfirmed).
General information, not legal advice. Rules change often; confirm with the local transport authority before riding.
Last researched Oct 12, 2026 · values compiled from published secondary sources; none were checked against the text of a law.
- E-scooters: Based on published secondary sources (some details unconfirmed)The sources are listed below; values were not checked against the text of the law.
- E-bikes: Based on published secondary sources (some details unconfirmed)The sources are listed below; values were not checked against the text of the law.
- Other PEVs: Source unclearSources were read, but it was not recorded which values came from them.
E-scooters
Stand-up electric kick scootersBased on published secondary sources (some details unconfirmed)| Status | Legal — Allowed under a specific framework.1,2 |
|---|---|
| Max speed | 20 km/h (6-20 km/h)1,2 |
| Power & device limits | Not confirmed |
| Weight limit | Not confirmed |
| Minimum age | 141,2 |
| Helmet | Not required1,2 |
| Where you can ride | Cycle paths/lanes first, then roadway; footpaths and pedestrian zones only if signed1,2 |
| Licence & registration | Type approval (ABE) + annual insurance sticker (Versicherungsplakette); no licence1,2unconfirmed |
| Insurance | Insurance required1,2unconfirmed |
| Plate / sticker | Required1,2unconfirmed |
| Penalties & alcohol | Alcohol 0.5 per mille (0.0 for novices/under 21), 1.1 = criminal; drink-riding can cost your car licenceunconfirmed |
| Notes | eKFV amendment (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 32): technical rules (two independent brakes, battery standard, indicators for new models) phased in from 1 Apr 2026; fine increases from 1 Mar 2027; municipalities can regulate rental parking.1,2 |
"Unconfirmed" = the source of that value was not recorded, or part of it was not taken from a source; "Not confirmed" = we have no sourced value, so none is shown. Footnote numbers point to the source list below.
Is this information correct for Germany?
E-bikes
Pedelecs, speed pedelecs and throttle e-bikesBased on published secondary sources (some details unconfirmed)| Status | Legal — Allowed under a specific framework.3 |
|---|---|
| Max speed | Assistance must cut out at 25 km/h (walk-assist/throttle only up to 6 km/h)3unconfirmed |
| Power & device limits | 250 W continuous (EU Reg. 168/2013 exemption, EN 15194)3 |
| Minimum age | None for pedelecs3 |
| Helmet | Not confirmed |
| Where you can ride | Same as bicycles: cycle lanes/paths where present, otherwise the road3 |
| Licence & registration | No licence, registration or insurance for 250 W / 25 km/h pedelecs3 |
| Penalties & alcohol | Not confirmed |
| Notes | Not confirmed |
Other PEVs
Hoverboards, electric unicycles, e-skateboards, SegwaysSource unclear| Status | Prohibited — No lawful use on public roads.unconfirmed |
|---|---|
| Max speed | — |
| Power & device limits | — |
| Minimum age | — |
| Helmet | — |
| Where you can ride | Not confirmed |
| Licence & registration | — |
| Penalties & alcohol | — |
| Notes | Self-balancing devices WITH handlebar (Segway-type) are allowed under eKFV; hoverboards, EUCs and e-skateboards have no approval route and are banned on public roads.unconfirmed |
What changed
- Mar 1, 2027Not yet in force (as of Oct 12, 2026)higher fines
- Apr 1, 2026In forcenew technical requirements for newly approved models
- Feb 6, 2026In forceeKFV amendment published
Frequently asked questions
- Are electric scooters legal in Germany?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), yes. E-scooters are legal in Germany under a specific framework. Where you can ride: Cycle paths/lanes first, then roadway; footpaths and pedestrian zones only if signed.
- What is the e-scooter speed limit in Germany?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), e-scooters in Germany are limited to 20 km/h.
- Do you need a helmet to ride an e-scooter in Germany?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), helmet not required.
- What is the minimum age to ride an e-scooter in Germany?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), the minimum age is 14.
Sources
- 1.RecordingLaw - Germany e-scooter rulesRecordingLaw · Secondary · Opened · read Oct 12, 2026
- 2.Voylt - eKFV reform summaryVoylt · Secondary · Seen only as a search excerpt · read Oct 12, 2026
- 3.Wikipedia - Electric bicycle lawsWikipedia · Secondary · Opened · read Oct 12, 2026
- 4.eKFV (gesetze-im-internet.de)gesetze-im-internet.de · Law · Not opened: URL taken from a citation in another source or search results
Country entries derived in part from RecordingLaw's e-scooter law guides (recordinglaw.com).
EU e-bike baseline from Wikipedia's overview of electric bicycle laws.