The e-scooter insurance plate (Versicherungskennzeichen) is the proof that your electric micro-vehicle carries liability insurance, and its colour changes in a fixed rhythm. If you ride your own scooter to campus, you should know which plate is intended for which traffic year and what the rules on mounting say.
In short: The German vehicle registration ordinance (FZV) fixes the lettering colour of the insurance plate by traffic year: black for 2023, blue for 2024, green for 2025, after which the sequence repeats. That gives black for 2026 and blue for 2027. For 2026 the German Insurance Association (GDV) confirms black plates since 1 March 2026 (notice of 20 February 2026). No express announcement for 2027 exists as of November 2026; that colour follows from the repetition rule in § 53 (1) FZV. The binding changeover date is the one your insurer and registration office publish. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The colour of the lettering and border is tied to the traffic year in § 53 (1) FZV.
- The order is black, blue, green and then starts again. That gives black for 2026, blue for 2027 and green for 2028.
- The plate must be reflective (para. 2), sit at the rear and be legible from 15 metres (para. 3).
- No signs that could be confused with the plate may be attached (para. 6).
- Last year’s plate is not proof of cover for the current traffic year. Cover is taken out or renewed per traffic year.
What is the insurance plate and why do you need it?
The insurance plate is a small plate with a combination of letters and digits that is linked to your insurance contract. It shows police and accident parties that the keeper holds liability insurance for the vehicle. For electric micro-vehicles such as the classic e-scooter it is the visible part of the compulsory insurance requirement. Liability cover pays for damage you cause to others, not for damage to your own scooter or to yourself.
Many students assume their private liability policy includes the scooter. As a rule it does not, because private liability policies usually exclude the use of motor vehicles. Your policy terms will tell you. For an overview of private cover during your studies, see our guide to insurance during your studies (in German).
Which colour applies in which year?
The ordinance spells out the colour sequence. Under § 53 (1) FZV the lettering is black on white in traffic year 2023, blue on white in 2024 and green on white in 2025. After that the order repeats, and the border has the colour of the lettering. Applying that rule gives the following overview.
| Traffic year | Lettering colour on white | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | black | § 53 (1) FZV, stated expressly |
| 2024 | blue | § 53 (1) FZV, stated expressly |
| 2025 | green | § 53 (1) FZV, stated expressly |
| 2026 | black | Repetition of the sequence under § 53 (1) FZV |
| 2027 | blue | Repetition of the sequence under § 53 (1) FZV |
| 2028 | green | Repetition of the sequence under § 53 (1) FZV |
The years from 2026 onwards are therefore not a separate decision but the result of the repetition rule. If you ride with a black plate in 2026, you carry the plate of the current traffic year under the logic of the ordinance. Blue is intended for the next year. For 2026 the German Insurance Association (GDV) confirms black plates since 1 March 2026 (notice of 20 February 2026). No express announcement for 2027 exists as of November 2026; that colour follows from the repetition rule in § 53 (1) FZV. More on next year’s colour is in E-scooter plate 2027: which colour the ordinance provides.
Until when is the current plate valid?
The plate is valid for one traffic year. In practice this year runs from March to February, so the changeover falls in spring. The binding changeover date is the one your insurer states in your contract documents and your registration office publishes on its information pages. After the changeover the previous year’s plate is no longer usable as proof. If you ride with an expired plate, you count as a rider without valid proof of insurance. The consequences are covered in E-scooter without insurance.
How must the plate be mounted on the scooter?
The ordinance contains specific requirements for the plate. They matter because a wrongly mounted or dirty plate can be treated as missing proof.
| Requirement | Content of § 53 FZV |
|---|---|
| Template | The plate follows the template and details in Annex 17 (para. 1) |
| Condition | Not mirrored, not obscured, not dirty (para. 1) |
| Reflection | The plate must meet the retroreflection values in section 5.3.4 of DIN 74069 (October 2022 edition) (para. 2) |
| Position | At the rear, if possible under the tail light, tilted forward by no more than 30 degrees (para. 3) |
| Height | Lower edge at least 200 mm above the road (para. 3) |
| Legibility | Legible from 15 metres, up to 45 degrees either side of the centre line (para. 3) |
| Additions | At most the nationality sign D, no confusable signs (paras. 5 and 6) |
These details are in the text of the ordinance and can be checked there. In practice: keep the plate clean, check for scratches or discolouration and do not put stickers directly next to it.
What is changing about the plate format?
On 19 December 2025 the Bundesrat commented on an ordinance amending the vehicle registration ordinance and other provisions (Drucksache 622/25, resolution). Among the requested changes is a new Annex 17a for a plate foil on a carrier plate as insurance plate for small motorcycles, as well as a revised heading of Annex 17. The document does not mention electric micro-vehicles. Ask your insurer whether and in what version the change has taken effect before you buy a new plate.
How does the changeover to the new traffic year work?
The changeover runs through your insurer. It issues the plate for the new traffic year and tells you by when the old one must be replaced. Use the time before the deadline to get the new plate. If a plate is lost or damaged, see E-scooter plate lost. If you want to switch contracts, switching e-scooter insurance (in German) explains the conditions.
If you only use the scooter in summer, read the contract terms. The plate applies for a traffic year, and a break within that year does not change this as a rule. The differences between contracts are covered in e-scooter insurance: what students should look for. Academycon offers personal advice on your overall cover, see How we work (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Which colour is the e-scooter plate in 2026?
Under the sequence in § 53 (1) FZV, black is intended for 2026. The ordinance names black for 2023, blue for 2024 and green for 2025 and lets the sequence start again afterwards.
And which colour applies in 2027?
The same repetition rule gives blue. Your insurer and registration office announce the date from which the new plate must be carried.
Is an email confirmation from the insurer enough as proof?
The plate on the vehicle is the proof the ordinance refers to. Under § 53 (7) FZV the vehicle may only be used on public roads if the requirements on colour, design and mounting are met. An email confirmation does not replace the plate.
Do you have to get a new plate every year?
Yes, because the plate is tied to the traffic year and its colour changes. How you receive the new plate is set out in your contract.
Does my private liability insurance cover the scooter?
Usually not. Private liability policies mostly exclude the use of motor vehicles. Check the terms or ask your insurer.
What to do now
- Check the colour of your current plate against the order in the table.
- Ask your insurer for the changeover date and how the plate for the next traffic year is delivered.
- Check position, cleanliness and legibility of the plate against § 53 FZV.
- Do not put the contract on hold without a replacement plate. Clarify cancellation or renewal in good time.
Related guides
- Getting around on a student budget: tickets, scooters, driving licence
- E-scooter plate 2027: colour
- E-scooter without insurance: consequences
- E-scooter from 14: minimum age, licence and plate (in German)
- E-scooter liability after an accident (in German)
Sources: § 53 FZV, design and mounting of the insurance plate, Gesetze im Internet (accessed November 2026); GDV, insurance plate 2026 (dieversicherer.de, in German, notice of 20 February 2026); Bundesrat, Drucksache 622/25 (resolution) of 19 December 2025.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
