A new license plate every year

Scooter insurance

They are cheap to buy and give the driver a feeling of freedom: Scooters, mopeds, and mopeds are the ideal summer companions. And best of all: small motorcycles with a maximum displacement of 50 cubic centimeters (ccm) and a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour (km / h) only need an insurance license plate. Registration, vehicle tax, or general inspection are superfluous with the scooter.

What insurance does your scooter need?

Motorized speedsters must also be insured against liability in the event of damage. Liability insurance covers damage that you cause to other people and their property – for example if you injure someone in an accident or cause a scratch on a car.

The vehicle badge on the scooter serves as proof. The color of the sign changes annually. In 2020 the scooter license plate will be black. Since March 1, you are no longer allowed to drive around with the green license plate from 2019. That was only valid until February 29th. From March 1, 2021, you will need a new, then blue, insurance number.

These motorcycles are subject to insurance
In addition to motor scooters, mopeds, or mopeds, e-scooters and Segways also need insurance cover. If you roll through the streets without an insurance label, you are liable to prosecution. In addition to a fine, there is a risk of up to one year in prison. If you then also cause an accident, you have to pay the costs incurred, including damage claims, out of your own pocket. And in the worst case, that can run into the millions.

You need insurance for these vehicles:

• Mopeds and mopeds
• Scooter
• E-scooter
• Segways
• Pedelecs (electric bikes with motor assistance over 25 km / h)
• Quads and trikes
• Electric wheelchairs (at a maximum speed of over 6 km / h)
• Mini cars (so-called light vehicles with a top speed of 45 km / h)

Take out motorcycle insurance for faster machines

Motor scooters with a displacement of 51 ccs to 125 ccs are exempt from vehicle tax – just like the slightly slower models. In contrast to mopeds or mopeds, the somewhat more speedy machines have the main inspection and emissions inspection every two years.

For small motorcycles, however, scooter liability insurance is not sufficient. They are properly insured through motorcycle insurance. But be careful: unlike moped insurance, this does not expire every year for motorcycles; the insurance coverage continues automatically. If you want to change, you have to cancel in good time – with a one-month notice to the so-called main due date. When this is exactly is stated in the insurance policy of the motorcycle.

Does partial comprehensive insurance make sense?

Compared to cars and motorcycles, mopeds and mopeds are up to eight times more likely to be stolen. This has been determined by the Association of the German Insurance Industry for 2017. With partial comprehensive insurance, you protect your scooter against such cases. The motor vehicle liability insurance, however, does not pay if the scooter is stolen. Partial comprehensive insurance does not only apply in the event of theft but also in the event of a game accident, marten bite, or cable short circuit.

The partially comprehensive insurance often includes a deductible of 150 Dollars. Therefore, weigh up whether it is worthwhile for you, especially if your moped is one of the relics from bygone times and is only worth a little more than the excess is high. Partial comprehensive insurance is then no longer worthwhile.

Some providers do without the objection of gross negligence when it comes to partial coverage – a really sensible thing. The insurance also pays out if the scooter is parked on the street at night and is stolen.

How do I find the right insurance?

Getting scooter insurance is not difficult. Finding the right one, however, is not that easy. There are now numerous providers on the market who advertise inexpensive scooter insurance. However, the cheapest price is not necessarily decisive. Rather, the performance must also be right.

We recommend a contract with increased coverage of 100 million Dollars per claim or 15 million euros per injured person. So you are adequately protected even in the event of serious accidents. If the insurer also covers gross negligence or offers you an improved no-claims discount for your car, this is a good additional offer.

Before you take out insurance for your moped or moped, you should definitely compare the offers.

You will find it on the Internet. In order to get an overview of the providers on the market, comparison portals such as consumer forum info, Nafi, and Check24 help. However, they often only list a fraction of the companies that offer scooter insurance. Alternatively, ask the local insurance office.

What does scooter insurance cost?

Moped insurances are comparatively cheap. You should still expect a contribution of 37 to 70 euros per insurance year for liability. Drivers who are younger than 23 often pay a significantly higher contribution. Depending on the provider, scooter insurance costs between 20 and 60 Dollars more. If you also want to protect yourself against theft and book partial coverage, it will also be more expensive.

If you conclude the contract in the current insurance year, i.e. before or after the reference date on March 1st, the insurer will adjust the price proportionally downwards. If you are a good-weather driver and drive your scooter especially in the summer months, you can also save one or two euros with a season license plate.

How do I take out scooter insurance?

If you want to take out insurance, you have to look at the operating license from the manufacturer of the scooter or moped. Here you can find the chassis number and the year of construction. Based on this information, the insurer will issue you an insurance policy.

If you take out the contract at a local insurance branch, you can take the sticker home with you. However, if you have applied for scooter insurance online, you will receive the license plate within a few days by post. However, this only works if you have given the insurer a direct debit mandate. If you pick up the license plate directly, you can also pay in cash.

By the way, hobbyists shouldn’t mess around with their speedster too much. Illegally coiffed scooters lose their operating license and thus also their insurance cover.

How long is my insurance number valid?

Scooter liability for mopeds, mopeds, and the like up to 50 ccm is only ever valid for one insurance year. The year usually starts on March 1st and ends on February 28th or 29th of the following year. After that, the insurance expires automatically – the same applies to partial coverage. So you don’t have to cancel separately. This is particularly useful if you want to switch to cheaper scooter insurance. Make sure to renew your protection in good time. Then you continue to roll legally on the streets.

If you sell your moped before the insurance year ends, it is best to inform your insurance company immediately. It reimburses you for the overpaid contribution. Alternatively, the insurance can also be transferred to the new scooter owner. This then pays the remaining contributions for the current insurance year on a pro-rata basis.