Where To Rent An Electric Scooter In Cologne – Rules, Costs, Providers, And Addresses! (In 2022)
Do you want to rent an electric scooter in Cologne (Köln in German)? You can rent shared scooters in Cologne as one of the few big cities!
We regularly receive questions about this topic: How does a sharing step app work? Which app should I download in Cologne? Where can you find the e-steps? And what are the costs? On this page, you will get answers to all your questions.
Rules and legislation in Cologne
Before answering the frequently asked questions, let’s first discuss the rules and legislation in Cologne. Since the introduction of shared scooters, the rules have been tightened throughout Germany because of a lot of traffic chaos. Therefore, keep in mind the following rules:
- Lighting, bell, and insurance sticker are mandatory.
- A maximum speed of 20 km/h, and driving on sidewalks is not allowed.
- The minimum age is 14 and co-drivers are not allowed.
- Above a blood alcohol level of 0.5%, you will receive a fine
- Helmet or driver’s license is not mandatory, but is advised
If you violate these rules, you risk a fine. This can go up to 1000 euros! Such a fine was recently issued in a large city after someone drove around intoxicated on a Lime scooter.
Which electric scooter sharing apps can you use in Cologne?
There are currently three providers of e-scooters in Cologne: ‘Lime’ (black-green), ‘Circ’ (black-orange) and the German startup ‘Tier’ (black-turqoise). The partial scooters are comparable in performance and travel between 25 and 50 km on a battery. You can use them between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. because they are collected at night for checking and charging.
Costs
For renting a shared scooter, you pay a standard 1 euro , and then 15 cents per minute. So you pay 10 euros for one hour of driving. In short, for a small price you can see all of Cologne’s attractions in no time.
These shared scooter providers are active in Cologne
The three largest providers in Cologne are Lime, Tier, and Voi. Each provider has its own app and different costs:
Bird
Costs: €1 for unlocking and €0.15 per minute for use
Bolt
Cost: no unlocking fee and €0.05 per minute to use
Dott
Cost: €1 to unlock and €0.25 per minute to use
Lime
Costs: €1 to unlock and €0.25 per minute to use
Tier
Cost: €1 to unlock and €0.15 per minute to use
Voi
Cost: €1 to unlock and €0.25 per minute to use
Take advantage of free rides
Every provider makes it possible for new drivers to take advantage of free rides. In the mobile app you will find unique referral codes that you can share with friends.
Are you going on a trip with several people? Then share this personal code with each other before the first ride and enjoy free credit in the following way:
How does a sharing scooter app work?
Almost every sharing step app works the same.
- First, download the application from the App Store or Google Store and create an account.
- Connect your debit or credit card and find the nearest shared scooter on the map in the application.
- Unlock the e-scooter with a QR code which is usually visible on the handlebars.
- Afterward, park the shared scooter within the indicated zones and click on ‘End Ride’.
