German Police Crack Down on E-Scooters as New Strict-Liability Law Shifts Burden to Owners

Since June 2026, police across Germany have been conducting intensified roadside checks on e-scooters — inspecting insurance badges, brakes, lights, and whether riders are drunk or illegally using pavements. An early operation in Einbeck, Lower Saxony, already generated numerous criminal complaints for violations of the Compulsory Insurance Act.

The enforcement blitz is the visible side of a broader regulatory clampdown. In March 2026, the federal cabinet approved a bill (21/5871) that introduces strict liability for e-scooter and Segway owners, aligning their legal exposure with that of car drivers. Under current rules, accident victims often cannot recover damages — especially when hit by a rented scooter whose rider disappears. The new law removes the need to prove driver fault: the owner is liable regardless of negligence.

Justice Minister Hubig made clear that rental companies must be held more accountable. The reform closes what she described as a legal gap between bicycles and motor vehicles.

Unfallzahlen explodieren

The numbers explain the urgency. In 2020, around 180,000 e-scooters were insured in Germany. By 2023, that figure had jumped to 990,000. In 2024, roughly 12,000 people were involved in e-scooter accidents — double the 2020 count.

Rental scooters, which make up only 20 percent of the fleet, cause 40 percent of all damage. In 2024 alone, insurers recorded 5,000 claims totaling €25.5 million.

Cities tighten fleet sizes

Local authorities are taking their own measures. Frankfurt am Main plans to reduce the maximum fleet size for rental operators from 12,000 to 10,500 vehicles starting in July. Despite more than 10 million rides last year, gaps in coverage on the city's outskirts persist.

Battery reuse enters the frame

Alongside legal changes, sustainability efforts are advancing. In June, companies Valeo and VoltR launched a remanufacturing service for e-scooter batteries. The refurbished units achieve up to 95 percent of their original health, at a cost saving of up to 50 percent.

European neighbours act too

Germany is not acting alone. Italy will introduce mandatory insurance for private e-scooters from 16 July. Austria tightened its rules in May, with higher fines and a turn-signal requirement for new vehicles coming in March 2027. Greece has banned minors from using e-scooters altogether.

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