Guides and tips
Scooters are a flexible and affordable alternative to cars. To ensure you can travel safely at all times, we offer bespoke inspection services tailored to your scooter. TÜV NORD Mobilität is your reliable partner for MOT tests, modifications and expert reports relating to your scooter.
They have always been a familiar sight on the streets of southern European cities, but the fascination with scooters is now taking hold in Germany too. In urban centres such as Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Leipzig in particular, more and more people are switching to scooters.
No wonder: in the hustle and bustle of city traffic, these little speedsters are not only practical, manoeuvrable and comparatively cheap – when the sun is shining, riding them is guaranteed fun.
Riding a scooter in windy conditions
Riding a scooter in the rain
It isn’t exactly pleasant, but riding a scooter in the rain isn’t a problem. The key is having the right equipment: a helmet with an anti-fog visor or double-layer visor ensures good visibility.
Gloves with rubber nubs, which push the raindrops off the visor like a windscreen wiper, are also extremely helpful. You’ll also need to adjust your riding style, as riding on wet roads can quickly turn into a slippery business.
Riding a scooter with a passenger
If a passenger is riding on the scooter, the handling, performance and braking behaviour change fundamentally, as there is now significantly more weight on the rear wheel.
A few practice laps are recommended before the first ride on public roads. If the passenger is riding a motorised two-wheeler for the first time, it helps to briefly explain the scooter and how it behaves whilst riding beforehand.
Although the appearance of these nimble little runabouts varies considerably, the open-knee design – that is, the absence of a fuel tank between the legs – is still considered the key visual difference from their bigger brother, the motorbike.
However, heavy motorcycles may only be ridden with an ‘open’ motorcycle licence (A). In contrast, a licence for a motor scooter is easy and inexpensive to obtain, as the vast majority of vehicles fall into the small and light motorcycle categories.
Find out more about the difference between small and light motorcycles, or the difference between mopeds and scooters:
A scooter is straightforward and affordable. But what exactly does the umbrella term ‘scooter’ cover? Mopeds and motorised bicycles, for example, are often used interchangeably, but they have specific features that distinguish them from a classic scooter.
Here are the finer points of the scooter ABC:
The classic scooter is characterised by the absence of a knee-up space; the opening is so deep that the rider’s feet rest on it. Unlike mopeds, scooters therefore have no pedals or footrests.
This also makes the typical, extremely comfortable riding position possible, with speeds generally not exceeding 45 km/h. However, scooters can also be limited to 25 km/h. And there are an increasing number of models capable of speeds in excess of 100 km/h.
E-scooters are the battery-powered version of a traditional motor scooter. To ride these vehicles, you must hold a test certificate and be at least 15 years old.
They should not be confused with e-scooters, which fall into the category of small electric vehicles. These minimally motorised two-wheelers are limited to a maximum speed of 20 km/h.
A driving licence or test certificate is not required, but riders must be at least 14 years old.
A moped has an engine capacity of less than 50 cm³ and is not permitted to travel faster than 25 km/h.
As traditional motorised bicycles are characterised by pedals, fast e-bikes also fall into this category. Strictly speaking, you need a moped licence to ride these motorised bicycles. “This isn’t a driving licence in the traditional sense, but a certificate of competence without a practical test,” explains Wertz.
However, the following applies: for e-bikes > 25 km/h, a moped test certificate is not sufficient. For pedelecs <= 25 km/h, neither a helmet nor a test certificate is required.
Furthermore, a helmet must be worn on every ride and the insurance sticker for mopeds is also mandatory. “However, since young people can now obtain an AM driving licence as early as 15 years of age, the moped licence is losing its significance,” says the TÜV NORD expert.
The word ‘moped’ is a combination of the terms ‘motorbike’ and ‘pedals’. Visually, it is very similar to a moped. However, this bicycle with an auxiliary motor is permitted to reach speeds of up to 45 km/h.
The pedals can also be used not only to rest your feet on, but also to assist the motor and to brake.
You start the vehicle using the so-called kick-start, which activates the engine with your foot. Once underway, your feet rest on the footrests.
Visually, the Mokick bears little resemblance to a classic scooter; the vehicle is more like a motorbike. However, you are not allowed to travel faster than 45 km/h on the Mokick.
The 125cc scooter is hugely popular in Germany. That’s because this city runabout isn’t just practical; it’s even suitable for longer trips.
The necessary Class A1 driving licence can be obtained from the age of 16. In Germany, a 125cc scooter may also be ridden with a standard car driving licence (Class B), provided that the licence was obtained before April 1980 or the B196 extension has been added.
Riding a scooter offers a great sense of freedom, but it also comes with responsibilities. In general, the same rules apply to scooters as to all other motorised vehicles on the road.
What specific aspects must scooter riders be sure to bear in mind?
From what age can you ride a scooter? Here is an overview of the minimum ages for riding different types of scooters and motorbikes:
Moped test certificate:
AM:
A1:
B:
A2:
A:
Anyone who holds a Category B driving licence can apply for the B196 extension, which entitles the holder to ride light motorcycles. The B196 is equivalent to the A1 licence, but is easier and cheaper to obtain. “Unlike the small motorcycle licence, however, the B196 endorsement does not entitle the holder to ride light motorcycles abroad, nor does it pave the way to the full A licence,” notes Matthias Wertz.
In addition, applicants must meet certain requirements:
Although no-name bikes are often cheaper to buy, they can cause problems when repairs are needed. When buying a bike, it is therefore worth investing in a well-established manufacturer and ensuring you have a local repair shop so that you can be sure of getting hold of spare parts.
When buying a scooter, you shouldn’t just focus on its appearance. Everyone’s body shape is different, and not every model will suit you.
Before buying, you should try out models from different manufacturers and take a test ride. Ensuring that a motorised two-wheeler is ergonomically suited to you not only guarantees a comfortable ride, but is also a fundamental aspect of safety.
Anyone considering buying a retro model or even a classic car should be cautious. As mopeds are not required to undergo a general inspection (HU), a significant number of motorised two-wheelers on the road have forged documents. Before deciding to buy, you should seek advice from an association or club.
Although only a helmet is compulsory, anything that makes sense on a motorbike also makes sense on a scooter. Many scooters now reach speeds of over 100 km/h, so protective clothing is more than just sensible – in the worst-case scenario, it can save lives.
You can already find good-quality, second-hand scooters at affordable prices in the low four-figure range. As there are generally no road tax or MOT costs involved, not only is getting started in the world of scooter riding relatively inexpensive, but so is the day-to-day running of the vehicle.
Mopeds and scooters with an engine capacity of up to 50 cc are not subject to mandatory general or emissions inspections.
Scooters over 50 cc that require registration are subject to regular general and emissions inspections. Further information can be found under General Inspections for Motorcycles.
