Immer mehr Mini-Autos: Micro-Cars: Praktisch, aber mit Sicherheitsrisiken

Micro-Cars, also known as Moped-cars, are becoming increasingly popular on the roads, with their numbers rising by nearly 80 percent between 2022 and the end of 2025. According to the German Association of Insurance (GDV), the number of these vehicles increased from around 26,000 to approximately 46,000. Designed for short trips, these cars can be driven by 15-year-olds with a moped driving license.

They typically reach a maximum speed of 45 km/h and are often electrically powered. They can easily be registered with insurance. So, for many users, they offer a practical alternative to larger cars.

Despite their slower speed compared to regular cars, micro-cars cause approximately the same number of damages, with the insurers registering around 2,300 motor vehicle damage cases in 2025. This amounts to 50 cases per 1,000 insured vehicles, similar to the frequency seen in cars. However, the vehicles offer significantly less protection for their occupants.

Moped cars are not required to have airbags, electronic stability control, or driver assistance systems like an automatic emergency braking system, which are mandatory for cars. Kirstin Zeidler, Head of Accident Research at the Insurers, states that "the vehicle structure of micro-cars is not comparable to that of a small car." As a result, in the event of a collision, occupants are exposed to a significantly higher risk of serious or fatal injuries compared to those in a car.

The GDV emphasizes that the weight limit of 425 kilograms set for micro-cars across Europe hinders the installation of additional safety technology. More allowance for vehicle weight and mandatory safety requirements that more closely align with car standards could make micro-cars significantly safer, particularly for young drivers with limited experience on the roads who use these vehicles as an alternative to parent taxis or buses.