Do you need a driving licence for an e-bike?

You don't need a driving licence for a pedelec: It only assists while pedaling, with a maximum of 250 watts and up to 25 km/h, and is legally considered a bicycle. You may only ride an S-Pedelec up to 45 km/h with an AM category driving licence. For an E-Bike with a throttle grip up to 25 km/h, you need at least a moped test certificate.

Below you'll find where the limits are, what category AM means, and how to identify which type of bike you're looking at. The bikes below the text come from our E-Bikes. Each one states what the manufacturer says about the motor.

Can I ride an E-Bike without a driving licence?

Yes, if it is a pedelec. Only anyone driving a motor vehicle on public roads needs a driving licence (§ 4 para. 1 FeV). A pedelec is not one: Under § 1 para. 3 StVG, a bicycle is not considered a motor vehicle if the motor has a maximum continuous rated power of 0.25 kW, only assists while pedaling, and cuts out at 25 km/h at the latest.

A starting or walking-assistance function that moves the bike at up to 6 km/h without pedaling does not change this. The ADAC sums it up as follows: As with cycling, you don't need a driving licence or test certificate for a pedelec.

What driving licence do you need for an S-Pedelec?

At least category AM. S-Pedelecs assist while pedaling up to 45 km/h and are motor vehicles. According to the Driving Licence Regulation, you can obtain category AM from the age of 15; until your 16th birthday, it is only valid for journeys within Germany (§ 10 FeV).

The other obligations that apply to motor vehicles come with the driving licence: an insurance plate, a helmet, and generally using the road instead of the cycle path. According to the ADAC, the alcohol limits for motor vehicles also apply. Anyone getting on an S-Pedelec after an after-work beer should know this.

E-Bike with a throttle grip up to 25 km/h: moped test certificate

If your E-Bike moves by throttle grip without pedaling, it is not a pedelec. Up to 25 km/h, the ADAC generally classifies it as a moped. You don't need a driving licence for this, because mopeds are exempt from the driving licence requirement (§ 4 para. 1 FeV).

However, you must demonstrate in an examination that you know the regulations for motor vehicles and are familiar with the dangers of road traffic. This is what the moped test certificate is for (§ 5 FeV). An insurance plate and a helmet for motorized two-wheelers are also required.

E-Bike with a throttle grip up to 45 km/h: category AM

If the bike can reach up to 45 km/h without pedaling, the ADAC classifies it as a light motor vehicle. The same then applies as for an S-Pedelec: category AM driving licence, insurance plate, and helmet. Cycle paths are off-limits.

What is the difference between a pedelec and an E-Bike?

In everyday speech, most people say E-Bike when they mean a pedelec. The law does not clearly define either term, the ADAC writes; how a bike is classified depends on the motor and the speed it can reach. Three details matter for the driving licence question: the continuous rated power, the speed at which assistance ends, and whether it has a throttle grip.

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