Does an e-bike need insurance?

A pedelec with a maximum speed of 25 km/h needs neither mandatory insurance nor an insurance plate. Personal liability insurance is voluntary, but the ADAC considers it indispensable. S-pedelecs up to 45 km/h and E-Bikes that can be ridden with a throttle without pedaling need an insurance plate. Basic home contents insurance usually does not cover theft while you're out and about.

Below, you'll find what each type of insurance covers and when voluntary insurance becomes mandatory. The bikes below the text come from our E-Bikes, with the manufacturer's specifications in each case.

Do you need to insure a pedelec?

No. A pedelec only assists when you pedal, has a maximum rated continuous power of 250 watts and a maximum speed of 25 km/h, and is legally subject to the regulations for bicycles (§ 1 para. 3 StVG). According to the ADAC, you do not need an insurance plate.

This also applies if your pedelec has a start or walking-assistance function, as long as it does not propel the bike at more than 6 km/h without pedaling. Whether you insure your bike anyway is up to you. There are three types of coverage, and they cover very different things.

Liability insurance: voluntary but important

If you hit someone's car with your pedelec or injure a pedestrian, the issue is the other person's damage. According to the ADAC, personal liability insurance often covers such damage. The ADAC considers it voluntary but indispensable.

The word "often" is important. Check with your insurer in advance whether your policy covers damage involving your pedelec.

Are E-Bikes covered by home contents insurance?

Partially. According to the ADAC, basic home contents insurance usually only applies in cases of burglary from locked rooms. If your E-Bike is stolen outside the train station, café or office, it will not help.

If your bike is kept in a locked room at night, your home contents insurance may cover it. The exact coverage provided by your policy is set out in the insurance terms and conditions.

What additional coverage bicycle insurance provides

Separate bicycle insurance goes further. According to the ADAC, which offers such insurance itself, it protects against theft, theft of individual parts, vandalism, accident and fall damage, and, for E-Bikes, also against defects in the motor, battery and electronics.

How much of this a particular policy actually includes varies by provider. Read the terms and conditions before taking out the policy, including those relating to the lock, storage location, battery and motor.

S-pedelecs and mopeds: an insurance plate is mandatory

The situation is different for S-pedelecs with speeds of up to 45 km/h. They are motor vehicles and need their own insurance plate. A moped may not be operated on public roads without a valid insurance plate (§ 4 para. 3 FZV).

According to the ADAC, the same applies to E-Bikes that can be ridden with a throttle without pedaling: as mopeds up to 25 km/h and as light motorcycles up to 45 km/h. Anyone riding such a bike on public roads cannot avoid having an insurance plate.

What you should have ready for the policy

Make a note of the frame number and keep the receipt. It is best to photograph the number as soon as you unpack the bike, so you will have it to hand even after a theft.