E-scooters with indicators compared

The amendment to the Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance was published in the German Federal Law Gazette in February 2026. It stipulates that newly manufactured e-scooters must be fitted with turn indicators from 2027. Scooters already on the road with a valid operating permit are grandfathered – you don’t need to retrofit anything.

The reason is safety: anyone signalling a turn by hand on an e-scooter briefly rides one-handed. On the small wheels, a single pothole can then quickly lead to a fall. With indicators, both hands stay on the handlebar.

Not all indicators are equal. These points make a difference in everyday use:

Retrofit indicator kits are available for older scooters. Legally this is tricky: changes to the lighting can affect the operating permit if the components are not approved. If indicators matter to you, a model that has them fitted at the factory is the safer choice – also with regard to insurance and police checks. Since there is no retrofit requirement for existing vehicles, there is no need to rush.

Alongside the indicator requirement, the traffic rules for e-scooters are being brought into line with those for cyclists. These include using the green filter arrow for cyclists, riding side by side where nobody is obstructed, and using areas marked with the additional sign “cyclists permitted” (Radverkehr frei). At the same time, fines are going up, for example for illegally riding on the pavement.

Indicators are worthwhile for anyone who rides in city traffic every day and turns often – especially in the dark and on bumpy cycle paths, where riding one-handed is risky.

We show listings here that, according to their title, have indicators and road approval. Check the exact features in the product description.