Which colour the e-scooter plate has in 2027 can be derived from the vehicle registration ordinance, because the colour change is described there as a fixed sequence. Media and forums give differing accounts. The text of the ordinance is what counts, and for traffic year 2027 it leads to blue.
In short: Under § 53 (1) FZV the lettering of the insurance plate is black in 2023, blue in 2024 and green in 2025, after which the sequence repeats. That gives black for 2026, blue for 2027 and green for 2028. The GDV confirms black for 2026 (notice of 20 February 2026); an announcement for 2027 is still pending. Your insurer and registration office name the exact changeover date. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- Blue is intended for 2027, on a white background with a blue border.
- The sequence is a three-year cycle: black, blue, green. Then it starts again.
- The law names 2023 to 2025 expressly, later years follow from the repetition rule.
- An amending ordinance on a plate foil for small motorcycles is in the legislative process. The Bundesrat resolution does not mention electric micro-vehicles.
- For the changeover date, your insurer’s information applies.
Which colour is the e-scooter plate in 2027?
Blue. § 53 (1) FZV provides that the lettering colour changes every traffic year. It expressly lists black on white for 2023, blue on white for 2024 and green on white for 2025. After that the order repeats in the same sequence. Because 2026 follows on from the series that began in 2023, 2026 is black and 2027 is blue. 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.
How do you work out the colour for any year?
The repetition rule can be read as a three-step sequence. Subtract 2023 from the year you want and divide the result by three. If there is no remainder, the colour is black, with remainder one blue, with remainder two green. The table shows the results. The years 2023 to 2025 are stated in the law, all later years are derived.
| Traffic year | Remainder after subtracting 2023, divided by 3 | Lettering colour |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | black |
| 2024 | 1 | blue |
| 2025 | 2 | green |
| 2026 | 0 | black |
| 2027 | 1 | blue |
| 2028 | 2 | green |
| 2029 | 0 | black |
| 2030 | 1 | blue |
| 2031 | 2 | green |
Once you know the order, you can work out which plate belongs to which year without a press release. The table does not replace a check with your insurer, who issues the plate for your vehicle.
Why do reports on the colour sequence contradict each other?
Guides often describe the colour change from the point of view of a single year, for example “black instead of green from March 2026”. That causes confusion, because the same sequence is sometimes given as “blue, then green” and sometimes as “black, blue, green”. Both describe sections of the same three-year cycle. The ordinance itself gives the complete order. Where an article names a colour without citing the ordinance, compare it with the legal text. For an overview of what applies in 2026, see E-scooter insurance plate 2026 and 2027.
What is decided and what is in the legislative process?
The valid colour sequence in § 53 (1) FZV is in force. Most recently an amending ordinance to the vehicle registration ordinance was in the process. The Bundesrat adopted a resolution on it on 19 December 2025 (Drucksache 622/25, resolution) and suggested, among other things, a new Annex 17a with a plate foil on a carrier plate as insurance plate for small motorcycles. The heading of Annex 17 is also to be extended to cover motorised invalid carriages and light four-wheeled motor vehicles. The resolution contains nothing on the colour change, and electric micro-vehicles are not mentioned.
| Item | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Colour sequence black, blue, green with repetition | in force | § 53 (1) FZV |
| Reflective plate under DIN 74069 | in force | § 53 (2) FZV |
| Plate foil on carrier plate (Annex 17a) | amending ordinance in process, Bundesrat 19 Dec 2025 | Bundesrat Drucksache 622/25 (resolution) |
When must the blue plate be carried?
The plate belongs to the traffic year, not the calendar year. In practice the traffic year changes in spring, usually from the end of February to March. Your insurer states the binding date and the transition period for the old plate, and local registration offices provide further information. Until the changeover you may carry the current plate, afterwards you may not. Plan the swap in good time, especially if you use the scooter throughout the semester. The consequences of missing proof are described in E-scooter without insurance.
What applies to the plate and its mounting regardless of colour?
Colour is only one feature. Under § 53 FZV the plate must also be reflective, mounted at the rear and legible from 15 metres, and it must not be obscured or dirty. Additions are limited to the nationality sign D. The details are in the guide on the insurance plate. For the minimum age and whether a licence is needed, see E-scooter from 14 (in German).
What does the colour change mean for students in everyday use?
The yearly change allows a quick check. Police and others can tell from the colour whether a plate belongs to the current traffic year without checking the contract. For you this means that a plate in the wrong colour stands out even if the contract was in place. This affects students above all who use the scooter across the changeover of the traffic year, for example between winter and summer semester. If you do not watch for the new plate in spring, you ride with an outdated proof despite running cover.
In addition, the colour says nothing about the scope of the insurance. Whether damage to third parties, personal injury or property damage is covered, and up to what amount, is set by the policy terms. Compulsory insurance covers damage you cause to others. Damage to your own scooter or theft is not covered by it. How to compare offers is described in e-scooter insurance: what students should look for.
Frequently asked questions
Is the e-scooter plate in 2027 blue or green?
Blue. Green follows for 2028 under the order in § 53 (1) FZV. Green was fixed for 2025.
Why was 2026 black?
Because the sequence starts again with black after green in 2025. Black already stands for 2023 in the ordinance.
Can I keep using an old plate?
No, every traffic year has its own plate. A plate from the previous year does not show cover for the new traffic year. How you receive the new plate is set out in your contract documents.
Does the colour rule apply to other vehicles?
§ 53 FZV governs the insurance plate as a whole. Which types of vehicle must carry such a plate follows from the ordinance and the registration rules. For e-scooters, ask your insurer for details.
What to do now
- Note the order black, blue, green and the colour of your current plate.
- Ask your insurer for the changeover date and how the blue plate will be delivered.
- Remove the old plate only once the new one has arrived and mount the new one at the rear as set out in § 53 FZV.
- Decide whether to continue or switch the contract before the new traffic year begins.
Related guides
- Getting around on a student budget
- E-scooter insurance plate 2026 and 2027
- E-scooter plate lost
- Switching e-scooter insurance (in German)
- E-scooter rules from 2027
Sources: § 53 FZV, design and mounting of the insurance plate, Gesetze im Internet; 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.
