The validity of the insurance plate on your bike has expired. What are the consequences for its use on public roads?

In Germany, when the insurance plate (the small registration plate showing valid insurance) on your bike expires, you are no longer legally allowed to ride it on public roads. Riding without valid insurance is prohibited because it means the bike is not insured against accidents or damages. However, you are allowed to push the bike on pavements or pedestrian areas, as you are not actively using it as a vehicle in this way, which is why pushing the bike on a sidewalk is permitted. Parking the bike in a car park is not specifically regulated by the insurance validity but does not permit riding without proper insurance. Therefore, the key rule is: no riding on public roads without valid insurance, but pushing the bike on pavements is allowed for safety and legal reasons.