More and more people in Germany are riding an e-scooter they own themselves. According to the German Insurance Association (GDV), 1.66 million e-scooters were insured in the country at the end of 2025, around 1.36 million of them in private hands. In 2022, the total number of electric scooters still stood at 764,000.
Privately owned e-scooters are involved in accidents less frequently than rented ones. In 2025, private vehicles accounted for six third-party liability claims per 1,000 insured e-scooters, while rental scooters accounted for 13 claims per 1,000 vehicles, the GDV reported. In total, insurers registered around 11,700 e-scooter liability claims in 2025.
People who own their scooter tend to ride a great deal, are more likely to wear a helmet and are less often found on pavements, explained Kirstin Zeidler, head of accident research at the GDV. She called on e-scooter rental operators to take more responsibility, saying they must "contribute more clearly to ensuring that people do not ride two to a scooter, do not ride on pavements and do not ride under the influence of alcohol."
Secondary schools should teach the rules, she said. Many people are not aware, for example, that a total alcohol ban applies to under-21s on an e-scooter. "That does not only cost a fine, it can also jeopardise a future driving licence," Zeidler warned. Well-developed cycle paths and more enforcement checks are also needed, she added.
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