DDR-Moped: Re-imported Simsons also allowed to travel 60 km/h

Owners of Simson mopeds, originally manufactured in East Germany, will now be permitted to ride them at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, regardless of whether the vehicle has been re-imported. The German federal government has confirmed that these mopeds qualify for a special regulation, provided they were first put into circulation before February 28, 1992.

This decision clarifies a point of contention for thousands of Simson owners. While EU regulations generally limit light motorcycles like mopeds to 45 km/h since 2002 (previously 50 km/h), a special provision in the German reunification treaty allowed East German-built Simsons (such as the Schwalbe, Star, Sperber, Spatz, and S50/51 models) to travel at 60 km/h. Without this exception, these vehicles would have been classified as motorcycles, requiring registration and a specific driver's license.

The debate centered on whether re-imported Simsons, which were originally registered in East Germany but later brought back from abroad, would be eligible for this special status. The federal government's latest decision aims to create legal equality for all owners of these specific models, aligning the treatment of re-imported vehicles with those that remained in Germany.

Infrastructure Minister Steffen Schütz of Thuringia hailed the decision as a victory for Simson enthusiasts. Several eastern German states had actively campaigned for the re-imported mopeds to be treated the same as those already within Germany, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of these vehicles.

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We are not changing the legal situation, but have only sharpened it after further review.