'Bicycle Theft in Germany: How to Protect Your Bike and What to Do After

Bicycle theft in Germany remains a widespread problem: according to police crime prevention data, 214,264 cases of bicycle theft, including unauthorized temporary use, were reported in 2025. Therefore, it is important for owners to record their bicycle’s details in advance, lock it properly, and know what to do in the first few hours after it goes missing.

Even a good lock offers no guarantee. But the combination of a sturdy lock, frame number, bicycle registration card, coding, and appropriate insurance significantly increases the chances of recovery or compensation.

How to Reduce the Risk of Theft

The main rule: you shouldn’t just lock the bike—you need to secure the frame to a fixed object. Locking just one wheel doesn’t help, because the bike can be carried away or loaded into a car.

The practical minimum for protection:

Use a heavy-duty U-lock, folding lock, chain, or high-security cable lock of proven quality;
Lock the frame and at least one wheel to a bike rack, railing, or other fixed object;
Do not leave your bike unattended for long periods in dark and deserted areas;
At train stations, schools, swimming pools, sports centers, and large parking lots, choose visible spots with foot traffic;
Remove easily detachable accessories: bike computer, lights, bags, and the e-bike battery, if possible;
For expensive bicycles, use a second lock of a different type: this increases the time it takes to break in;
Keep your receipt, photos, frame number, and lock details separate from the bicycle.

If the bicycle is stored in a shared basement or Fahrradkeller, it’s still worth locking it to a fixed post. For insurance purposes, this may be an important condition of the policy.

Frame Number, Bicycle Registration Card, and Encoding

For the police, the bicycle’s unique identifying features are the most important. A description like “black city bike” is almost useless, whereas the frame number, photos, brand, model, and distinctive details help place the bicycle on the police’s wanted list and distinguish it from similar ones.

The Fahrradpass typically includes the following information:

make and model;
color, frame size, and type of bicycle;
Frame number;
Coding number, if the bicycle is coded;
date of purchase and price;
owner’s information;
Photos of the bicycle and any distinctive features.

The police-issued Fahrradpass can be kept as a paper document. Important: The official police Fahrradpass app for iPhone and Android is no longer available, so you shouldn’t rely on it. You can keep the information as a PDF, a printout, or in another secure format.

Here’s what a bicycle passport with the bike’s key details might look like.

What Does Registration Offer?

The ADFC and many police advisory centers recommend bicycle coding. During the coding process, a unique code is applied to the frame, linking the bicycle to its owner. The ADFC uses the EIN code: it helps the police and lost-and-found offices identify the owner more quickly, and makes reselling the bicycle significantly less attractive to thieves.

An example of visible bicycle coding.

Coding is not a substitute for a lock and does not provide absolute protection. Its purpose is different: to make the bicycle less desirable for resale and to facilitate identification if it is found.

What to Do If Your Bike Is Stolen

Act quickly and keep your documents safe. The police and your insurance company usually require the same information.

Check the surrounding area. Sometimes a bicycle is moved, towed away due to improper parking, or left nearby after a brief period of unauthorized use.
File a report with the police. You can do this at a police station or through your state’s Onlinewache, if available. Provide the frame number, brand, model, color, photos, code, location, and approximate time of the theft.
Obtain a case number or confirmation of the police report. You’ll need this number for insurance and any follow-up inquiries.
Report the theft to your insurance company without delay. The Consumer Advice Center emphasizes that theft must be reported immediately to both the police and your insurer.
Check lost-and-found offices and classified ads. Look through classifieds, local groups, bike marketplaces, and the lost-and-found office. If you find a similar bike, do not meet with the seller alone and do not try to take it by force: report the information to the police.
Notify your insurance company if the bike is not found. Many policies require you to notify the insurer if the bike has not been returned within three weeks of filing a theft report.

Not all sources specify the same “strict” time limit for filing a claim. A reliable guideline is to report the theft to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible and adhere to the deadlines specified in your policy.

What kind of insurance covers a bicycle?

There are two main options: household property insurance with bicycle coverage or separate bicycle insurance. There is no one-size-fits-all best option: it all depends on the bicycle’s price, where it’s stored, the terms of the policy, and whether you need repair or roadside assistance.

Home Contents Insurance

In home insurance, a bicycle is usually classified as household property. Basic coverage most often applies to burglary: for example, if the bicycle was stolen from a locked apartment, a locked basement, or a garage after a break-in.

If a bicycle is stolen on the street, at a train station, in a courtyard, or from an unlocked common area, this is often considered simple theft (Diebstahl). This typically requires a separate bicycle clause (Fahrradklausel) or an extended coverage provision in your household property insurance (Hausratversicherung).

Before relying on your home insurance, check the following:

Is simple theft outside the home covered?
Does the coverage apply at night, or are there outdated time restrictions?
What is the maximum coverage amount for a bicycle?
Does a bicycle have to be locked with its own lock?
Is a specific type of lock or a minimum price required?
Are accessories, the e-bike battery, and individual parts covered?
What documents are required when filing a claim?

Separate Bicycle Insurance

Separate insurance is often of interest to owners of expensive bicycles, e-bikes, and those who ride frequently. It may include:

protection against bicycle theft;
coverage for the theft of permanently attached parts;
E-bike battery protection under the terms of the contract;
repairs following an accident, a fall, vandalism, or user error;
Roadside assistance or breakdown service while traveling;
a temporary replacement bicycle, transportation, lodging, or return home within the policy limits.

The broader the coverage, the higher the premium. The Consumer Advice Center notes that specialized bicycle insurance policies can be expensive and are more often justified for high-end bicycles. It’s best to compare exact prices again before signing a contract: rates depend on the bicycle’s value, the city, the range of options, the bicycle’s age, and the lock requirements.

What Bike Insurance Does Not Cover

Even good bicycle insurance does not replace other policies. If you damage someone else’s car, injure a pedestrian, or damage someone else’s property through your own fault, this is usually a matter of third-party liability insurance, not bicycle insurance.

Additionally, the insurance company may deny or reduce the payout if the terms of the contract are violated: the bicycle was not locked, there is no proof of purchase, no police report was filed, the notification deadline was exceeded, or accessories not covered by the policy were claimed.

Checklist of Documents in Case of Theft

Save the following information in one place in advance:

Proof of purchase or other proof of ownership;
Frame number;
brand, model, color, frame size;
photos of the bicycle from different angles;
photos of distinctive damage, stickers, and accessories;
Encoding number, if available;
receipt or lock details;
insurance policy number;
PDF or printout of the Fahrradpass.

After a theft, be sure to add the police report number and any correspondence with your insurance company to this list.

Common Mistakes

Buy an expensive bike and skimp on the lock.
Lock only the wheel, not the frame.
Leaving an e-bike with its battery attached on the street overnight.
Don’t write down the frame number after purchase.
Keep the receipt only in the box, which has long since been thrown away.
Assuming that household property insurance automatically covers any theft from the street.
Search for a bicycle located via GPS on your own without involving the police.
Posting too much personal information along with your storage address on social media.

FAQ

Should you report it to the police if the bike isn’t expensive?

Yes. Without a police report, it’s nearly impossible to have the bicycle listed as stolen, and insurance companies usually require proof of the report. Even if the chances of recovery are low, including the frame number in the report helps if the bicycle is found later.

Is it possible to inspect a used bike before buying it?

Ask for the sales contract, the seller’s ID, the frame number, and the receipt, if you still have it. If the seller avoids providing documents, rushes the transaction, offers a price that’s too low, or won’t let you see the frame number, it’s best to walk away from the purchase.

Does a GPS tracker solve the problem?

No. GPS can help pinpoint an approximate location, but the police explicitly advise against searching for a stolen bicycle on your own. Provide the coordinates and evidence to the police.

Which is more important: the Fahrradpass or the coding?

It’s best to use both tools. The Fahrradpass stores the information needed for police reports and insurance claims, while visible coding makes the bike less attractive for resale and helps identify the owner if the bike is found.