You can register your bicycle and any e-bike, create a bicycle pass, or have it entered into the police database. But why should you do that? It's quite simple: Many, many bicycles are stolen. Expensive bicycles, cheap bicycles, old and new – it doesn't matter. Especially in larger cities, but also in the countryside. More in Northern Germany than in the South. If you register your bicycle, you can supposedly make life harder for bicycle thieves. But what does it mean to "register" a bicycle and what does registration do for you?
Why are bicycles stolen in the first place?
What a shock! The expensive bicycle is gone! Unfortunately, this happens to many cyclists every day! If bicycles weren't stolen, we could save ourselves this article. But unfortunately, more than 300,000 bikes (+ unreported cases!) change owners involuntarily every year in Germany. There are three reasons that tempt thieves to tamper with other people's bicycles:
Case 1: They need to get from A to B and prefer to do it on any bicycle rather than on foot.
Case 2: They want to ride the bicycle themselves.
Case 3: They want to sell the bicycle – this is the most common reason why high-quality bikes are stolen.
Do you get your bicycle back if it is registered?
Bicycle registration helps especially in Case 3 further. If the frame number of a bicycle is registered with the police, it can be easily established that it was yours if it reappears in used markets or is otherwise resold. Also in Case 1 you might be lucky. These bicycles are often just left somewhere. Here too, registration helps because if the bicycle is picked up, you will be notified and can prove that it belongs to you. Case 2 is unfortunately really hard to track in the big city if the thief is a bit cautious. But even here, authorities can contact you if they take the bicycle into custody.
What does it do for you to register a bicycle?
The clearance rate for bicycle thefts is unfortunately not impressive, but if your bicycle is registered, it serves several purposes at once:
- If there is a note on your bicycle about the registration, it can deter thieves in advance, because they know they can only resell the bicycle at high risk.
- The police can unequivocally assign a secured bicycle to you as the owner.
- You can prove that the bicycle is legally in your possession .
A good bicycle lock is only half the battle! Additionally, you should create a bicycle pass and register your bicycle with the police! Image © Kryptonite
How is a bicycle registered?
Registering your bicycle is quite simple. You simply announce at an official place that a specific bicycle or e-bike belongs to you.
First, you create a bicycle passport , and through this bicycle passport, you can subsequently register the bike with the police and other providers.
A bicycle coding works a bit differently. Here, the bicycle receives an individual number. Since there is a lot of important information about this, you can find a detailed article about bicycle coding in our bike blog.
Where can you register a bicycle or e-bike?
There are different places where you can register your bicycle or e-bike.
- Bicycle registration via bicycle passport
- Bicycle registration in the database of various providers
- Bicycle registration with the police
- Bicycle registration with the manufacturer
The bicycle registration via bicycle passport
There are various providers through which you can create a bicycle passport, fahrradpass.info is one of them. You can create and manage the bicycle passport completely online or also fill out a paper version .
In a bicycle passport, characteristics are recorded that allow a bicycle or e-bike to be unmistakably identified and assigned to the owner. Brand, model, frame type and of course the frame number or coding number are noted here. In online versions and in bicycle passport apps, you can also store pictures of the bicycle.
The apps offer the possibility to download and print the bicycle passport if you would like to archive it as a paper version with your documents.
Depending on the provider, not only is the bicycle passport created, but your bicycle can also be registered in the provider's database. Often there are additional features, for example, you can search by frame numbers to trace a bicycle's life and ownership changes in used bikes.
Occasionally, there is a sticker included with the registration. It then says “Stealing is not worth it, bicycle is registered!” or something similar. It doesn't always fit the design of the bike, nor does it replace the bike lock, but it can deter a not-so-hardened thief.
This is how you can register your bike with the police
You can register your bike or e-bike online or via an app with the police. Some police stations also offer this service on-site, but you should inquire beforehand when and where the police register bikes. It is particularly straightforward to register the bike with the police if you have previously created a bicycle pass that already contains all the data.
You need the following documents to register your bike with the police:
- the bicycle pass
- a clear proof of ownership (e.g., the purchase receipt)
- your ID
- If your bike is already coded, you also need the coding number
The bike is then entered into the database and can be quickly and easily assigned to you as the owner if it is secured by the police.
Registering a new bike or e-bike with the manufacturer
You can also register a newly purchased bike with the manufacturer (often referred to as “registration”, international manufacturers offer a “Bike Registration” in English).
When you order a new bike, it is definitely advisable to visit the manufacturer's homepage and register the bike there using the frame number. The service you can then use depends on the manufacturer's terms and conditions. Some manufacturers offer an extended warranty on parts or frames if the bike is registered with them. Other manufacturers provide you with bike data (model, paint, equipment). You can access them if the bike is stolen.
Registering a bike – FAQs
What do you need to register your bike?
The most important “evidence” when registering a bike is the frame number. Most branded bikes today have a serial number engraved. You should also keep the purchase receipt . You need to provide your personal data , such as name, address, and so on.
For safety, you should also store meaningful photos of the bike. If you register the bike online or via an app, you can easily upload the pictures; otherwise, you can file them.
Can I sell a registered bike again?
Your bike is registered, and now you want to sell it? In this case, you can prevent the new owner from getting into trouble with a sales contract . There are sample contracts that you can download and fill out online. With such a sales contract, the buyer can also register or recode the bike anew.
Can I register a bike that doesn't have a frame number?
If your bike doesn't have a frame number, you should definitely have it coded. Through the individual coding it can be clearly assigned, then it can also be registered.
What does it cost to register a bike?
Unlike coding, registering a bike or e-bike is usually free of charge.
Does a bike or e-bike need to be registered for insurance?
There are various ways to insure a good bike. You can take out bike insurance, or bikes and e-bikes are covered by household insurance. In this case, a bike passport is very practical if you want to replace a stolen bike, but it is usually not mandatory. However, you must be able to prove that the bike belongs to you and what it cost. Therefore, you should keep the purchase receipt safe. You should read the insurer's terms and conditions here.
What else can you do besides registration to protect your bike from thieves?
Bike lock, GPS tracker or bike alarm, there are many different ways to protect your bike from thieves. It's worth checking back here on the bike blog regularly, as we are working on more articles on this topic.
❗Additional Security for Bike Registration ❗
Bike Locks | GPS Trackers & Mounts
Title image © Kryptonite
