Hoverboards in Germany: what is allowed, what is safe, and how to read a 42%-off price

This is a research-based write-up. We read iHoverboard's German shop (ihoverboard.de), its deal listing, a UK government safety report and German legal explainers on 26 October 2026. We have not used the products. This is general information, not legal advice.

A hoverboard is an easy gift to want and an easy one to regret. The two questions that matter are where you can legally ride it, and what the battery warranty actually covers. The price comes third.

Where you can ride one in Germany#

Most German guides agree: hoverboards are not allowed on public roads, cycle paths or pavements. The reason is that the rules for small electric vehicles (the eKFV) require a handlebar, which hoverboards do not have. They can be used on private land, with the owner's permission.

Insurance is the part people miss. A 2023 industry study from the reinsurer Deutsche Rück concluded that hoverboards without road approval cannot get motor-vehicle insurance, and they often fall between compulsory and private liability cover. If your child rides into someone's car on a public path, you may be personally liable. Fines for riding in public are also reported. Check the current rules for your area.

The e-scooters are a different product#

The shop also sells e-scooters it describes as "with road approval" ("mit Straßenzulassung"), at €218 and €298 on the day we looked. In Germany a road-legal e-scooter needs a type approval (an ABE), an insurance plate, lights, two brakes, a bell and a handlebar, with a top speed of 20 km/h and a minimum age of 14. The pages we read did not say which approval applies. Ask for the approval number, and see our e-scooter buying checklist.

Battery safety: what to ask#

A hoverboard is a lithium battery on wheels. Ask the seller for the CE marking, the test reports for the battery and charger, and the instruction manual in German. Be sceptical of any listing that gives no model number.

A UK example shows what can go wrong. A UK Office for Product Safety and Standards report (2025) covers a consignment of a hoverboard branded iHoverboard H8Pro, rated a serious risk of injury because the control wiring had been screwed through, which could cause a short circuit during use. The import was rejected at the border; it was not a recall of units already sold. Nothing in the report links that consignment to the German shop discussed here, and the report is about one batch. We mention it because it shows why you should check model-specific safety notices (in the EU, the Safety Gate database) before you buy any hoverboard.

What the shop sells and promises#

The German shop lists hoverboards (H1, H2 and H8 models and a seat attachment), adult and children's e-scooters, e-bikes, walking pads and accessories such as children's helmets. The terms we read:

• Delivery: free within Germany, "1 to 3 working days"; shipments from other European warehouses take about 3 to 7 working days (DHL or DPD).

• Returns: a 30-day return right with a money-back guarantee. The details are on a linked page.

• Warranty: 12 months against original defects, counted from receipt. But the battery, motor, controller, instrument panel, accelerator, horn and electronic lock are covered for 6 months, and non-pneumatic tyres and brakes for 3 months. Air tyres, accessories, cosmetic damage, accident damage and water beyond light rain are excluded.

• Support after 6 months: you pay the return shipping and the labour and parts.

One more detail: an icon on the warranty page says "24 Monate Garantie", while the text says 12 months. Get the version you are relying on in writing before you order.

The battery is the part most likely to fail and the part with the shortest cover. That is the real cost of a cheap hoverboard.

How to read the sale price#

The shop shows the H8 at €178.99 against a regular €309.99, which is about 42% off. A children's e-scooter is €98.99 against €198.99, about 50% off. Those regular prices are the shop's own. Our guide to checking a sale price is real shows how to test them, and our post on online refund rights explains your 14-day statutory withdrawal right on top of the shop's 30-day promise.

The deals right now#

These are the iHoverboard deal cards at our last check (titles in German):

• 5% off the whole range and 5% off all orders (both with a code)

• Free shipping

• Autumn sale: save up to €500, 50% off hoverboards, up to 40% off e-bikes and up to 50% off treadmills

• Spin the wheel for up to €30 off

Check which models the headline percentages cover. See every current offer on the iHoverboard coupons page.

Our take#

For a family with a garden, a hoverboard can be fun, as long as you have read the battery warranty and accepted that it stays off the street. If you want to get to school or work, you are shopping for the wrong product.

Disclosure: the deal buttons on this page use affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you buy. It does not change what we write. Read our disclosure.