From what age can you ride an e-bike?

That depends on what type of E-Bike it is. For a pedelec with assistance up to 25 km/h and 250 watts, there is no statutory minimum age; however, ADAC advises against letting children under 14 ride one. An S-pedelec capable of up to 45 km/h requires an AM-class driving licence, which you can obtain from the age of 15.

Below, we go through the four types distinguished by law and explain what applies to each. The bikes below the text come from our E-Bikes. Each one states what the manufacturer itself specifies.

Four types of E-Bikes, four rules

According to ADAC, the term E-Bike is not clearly defined in law. How a bike is classified depends on its motor and how fast it can take you. In practice, there are four cases:

• Pedelec: The motor only assists while pedalling, up to 25 km/h, with a maximum rated continuous power of 250 watts. No minimum age.
• S-pedelec: The motor assists while pedalling up to 45 km/h. AM class, from the age of 15.
• E-Bike with a throttle up to 25 km/h: It moves without pedalling and is generally classified as a moped. A moped test certificate is required.
• E-Bike with a throttle up to 45 km/h: It is classified as a light motor vehicle. AM class, from the age of 15.

According to ADAC, in most cases, anyone who buys an E-Bike gets a pedelec with assistance up to 25 km/h.

Pedelec: no minimum age, but clear advice

Under the law, a pedelec is treated like a bicycle (§ 1 para. 3 StVG). A starting or walking assistance function up to 6 km/h may also operate without pedalling. You need neither a driving licence nor a test certificate, and there is no specified minimum age.

Nevertheless, ADAC recommends that children under 14 do not ride a pedelec because of the particular characteristics of acceleration. This is not legally binding; the law does not set an age limit.

E-Bike from 12 or from 14?

The age of 14 is often mentioned, but it does not appear in any law concerning pedelecs. It comes from ADAC's recommendation. So a twelve-year-old may ride a pedelec, and no one requires proof of eligibility for it.

The situation is different as soon as it involves more than a pedelec. An S-pedelec or an E-Bike with a throttle capable of up to 45 km/h may only be ridden with an AM-class licence, meaning from the age of 15 at the earliest. And anyone who wants to carry someone on the bike must be at least 16 (§ 21 para. 3 StVO).

S-pedelec: AM class from the age of 15

S-pedelecs assist while pedalling up to 45 km/h and are motor vehicles. They may only be ridden by anyone who holds at least an AM-class driving licence. According to the Driving Licence Regulation, the AM class is available from the age of 15; until the 16th birthday, it is valid only for journeys within Germany (§ 10 FeV).

Age alone is not enough. An S-pedelec needs an insurance plate, wearing a helmet is mandatory, and it generally has no place on a cycle path. Exceptions are currently possible in Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia under certain conditions.

E-Bike with a throttle: moped or light motor vehicle

If an E-Bike travels up to 25 km/h using a throttle without pedalling, ADAC generally classifies it as a moped. You do not need a driving licence for it, but you do need at least a moped test certificate. This is only issued to anyone who demonstrates in an examination that they know the traffic regulations and the dangers of road traffic (§ 5 FeV).

If the bike can travel up to 45 km/h without pedalling, it is classified as a light motor vehicle. In terms of age, the rules are then the same as for an S-pedelec: AM class, from the age of 15.

How can you find out which E-Bike you have?

Three details in the product description are enough: the rated continuous power in watts, the speed at which assistance ends, and whether it has a throttle. Pay attention to the term rated continuous power: this is what the law is based on, not peak power.

In the product description, look for rated continuous power, cut-off speed, and throttle. If any of these details is missing, ask before you buy.