E-scooters that travel at a maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour must be approved by the Kraftfahrtbundesamt (Federal Motor Transport Authority) in accordance with the Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge-Verordnung (Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance). You may only ride these scooters on cycle paths. If there is no cycle path, you may switch to the carriageway or road. Riding on the pavement is generally prohibited.
You are therefore not allowed to ride your e-scooter on pedestrian paths. Driving in pedestrian zones is also strictly prohibited. On private property, where the road traffic regulations do not apply, you can drive your e-scooter wherever you want.

You do not need a driving licence to use an e-scooter, as you do for a conventional vehicle. However, the minimum age for use is 14 years. There is also no requirement to wear protective equipment or a helmet.
However, as with cycling, it is highly recommended that you wear a helmet as you will be riding your e-scooter on public roads in most cases and a helmet is important to mitigate head injuries in the event of a fall or accident.

Most e-scooters travel at a maximum speed of twenty kilometres per hour, and there is a reason for this: in June 2019, the legislature brought into force the Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance. This includes a speed limit for the road registration of e-scooters.
The speed limit is twenty kilometers per hour. Scooters that can travel at speeds higher than twenty kilometres per hour are therefore not permitted on the road.

Most e-scooters have one of two different battery types. These are either lead gel batteries or lithium-ion batteries.
For rough guidance, a lithium-ion takes less time to fully charge for the same volume. But of course, the charging time also depends on the storage capacity.
So if you value a short charging time, you should choose a model with a lithium-ion battery. However, these batteries are more expensive and usually a price driver for e-scooters.

E-scooters are subject to compulsory insurance in Germany. This is also stipulated in the Ordinance on Very Small Electric Vehicles. Therefore, you also need an insurance number plate, which you stick visibly on your e-scooter.
If you participate in public traffic with your e-scooter without insurance, you are committing an offence that is punishable by a fine. In addition, in the worst case scenario, you will have to pay for any damage caused if you have an accident.

The minimum age for using a road-legal e-scooter is 14 years. Riding e-scooters is therefore reserved for young people and adults. Children under 14 years of age have to do without the comfort, but can also have fun with ordinary pedal scooters.