After e-scooters were officially approved in Germany in 2019, they literally flooded the streets and provided plenty to talk about. On the one hand, because accidents with electric scooters were increasing – and on the other hand, because many models were not (yet) street legal. There is now a legal basis for the use of electric scooters, which states how vehicle owners must behave in public spaces and under what conditions e-scooters are permitted on the road. The most important questions about electric scooters are summarized and answered below.
According to the ADAC, there is no driver’s license requirement for e-scooters – provided that the scooter with electric drive does not drive faster than 20 kilometers per hour. In addition, only road-legal e-scooters are permitted on cycle paths, cycle lanes and cycle lanes. “On the sidewalk, in the pedestrian zone and in one-way streets against the direction of travel are forbidden for the small e-scooters – unless driving on is permitted by the additional sign “e-scooter free”,” adds the automobile club. However, this does not apply to the “Radfahrer frei” sign.
Here, too, there is no obligation for e-scooter drivers. However, the official recommendation of the ADAC is that it is generally safer if you wear a helmet while driving.
Regardless of whether you want to drive the electric scooter on public roads or on private property: the driver must be at least 14 years old to operate an e-scooter. He does not need a moped test certificate or a driver’s license. However, the minimum age is the law.
Even if you don’t need a driver’s license for the e-scooter, the same blood alcohol limits apply as for drivers – if these are exceeded, you not only face a hefty fine, but also points in Flensburg. If you commit an administrative offense or criminal offense, you must expect the following consequences:
Another important note from the ADAC: As long as you are still in the probationary period or are under 21 years old, the blood alcohol limit is 0.0.
The Road Traffic Act (StVO) and the Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance (eKFV) result in the following requirements for street-legal e-scooters:
If you own an electric scooter that can drive at least 6 km/h and at most 20 km/h, it needs an operating permit for road traffic. In addition, you have to insure your vehicle – i.e. you need motor vehicle liability insurance including insurance number plate. If you only use the e-scooter on private property, you do not need a road permit.
The following rules also apply to e-scooters on the road:
It is not allowed to ride an e-scooter hands-free or to attach the vehicle to another.
When riding on a bike lane, you need to allow faster cyclists to overtake you.
If you commit an administrative offense with the e-scooter, you will incur fines of different amounts. Although these are not as high as when the alcohol limit is exceeded, they still put a strain on the wallet. A small excerpt follows:
violation
fine
Driven through the traffic light on red:
60 Euro
Riding on the sidewalk or cycle path:
55 Euro
Driven side by side:
15 Euro
Driven hands-free:
10 Euro
E-scooter used for two:
20 Euro
Attach to another vehicle:
10 Euro
Driving without insurance:
40 Euro
Bell is missing or not working:
15 Euro
Light missing / not working:
20 Euro
Sources: ADAC; catalog of fines
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