Cargo bike subsidies

Private & gewerbliche Lastenrad-Förderung im Überblick

Not only are they practical for everyday life, but they also make an important contribution to sustainable urban development. The government has recognised this and promotes the use of cargo bikes, both privately and commercially.

The good news: Many federal states and municipalities support the purchase of cargo bikes with financial incentives.

We have summarised below the funding opportunities available in Aachen for you.

Don't you live nearby? On cargobike.jetzt you will find a map of Germany with all current funding opportunities.

Die Stadt Aachen bietet privaten Haushalten bis zu 2.500 € Zuschuss für den Kauf eines Lastenrads. Je nach Haushaltseinkommen variiert der maximale Betrag.

Who can be supported?

What is being subsidized?

• New cargo bikes: Two- or three-wheeled cargo bikes with a minimum payload of 45 kg and 70 litres of transport volume
• Longtails: Only if they have a solid loading area or special attachments for cargo transport

The cargo bike does not need to provide options for transporting children. It can also be subsidised for the sole purpose of transporting goods, such as shopping or school backpacks.

Important Conditions:

• A funding application must be submitted first before the order can be placed.
• Primary residence in Aachen

Additional Information:

• Special cases can also be supported, such as transport bicycles for people with severe disabilities or specialist bicycles for individuals with special needs.
• Leasing und Finanzierung des Rades ist möglich, es muss jedoch im Förderantrag angegeben werden.
• The city reserves the right to reject funding applications.

Receive up to €300 (max. 10% of the purchase price) on your new cargo bike.

Important: The funding application must be submitted within one month of purchase! No application needs to be made before the purchase.

What is being subsidized?

The BAFA supports the purchase of e-cargo bikes and e-cargo trailers that are specifically designed for bicycle-based freight transport – that is, the transport of goods by bicycle. Only brand new, mass-produced vehicles that are designed as an integral part of the bicycle and offer more transport volume than conventional bicycles are eligible for funding. These must have a permissible total weight of at least 170 kg.

Not eligible for subsidies are cargo bikes that

• are designed for passenger transport (e.g. rickshaws),
• are acquired for private purposes (e.g. shopping, commuting),
• can be used as a sales stand or for sales setups (e.g. beverage sales) or as a permanent advertising or information stand,
• are leased or acquired through hire purchase,
• are to be acquired for sharing purposes,
• can be purchased used or are equipped with predominantly used components,
• were retrofitted with an electric motor,
• are not brand new.

Who can be supported?

Funding applications can be submitted by private companies, self-employed individuals, as well as corporations or institutions under public law (such as universities). Local authorities such as municipalities and their institutions, as well as associations, are not eligible to apply.

Application procedure

Interested parties submit the application via the BAFA application platform. In advance, the information sheet on the e-cargo bike guidelines and further details should be read carefully to understand all requirements and funding conditions.

After receiving a grant notification, a usage report must be submitted, documenting the appropriate use of the funded measures.

 Freunde werben & Bonus sichern

Recommend us to others and secure a voucher worth up to €100*. This way, you can enjoy your cargo bike for even longer. And your friends? They will be pleased with an eco-friendly and practical means of transport.

* Applies only to a completed purchase of an e-cargo bike. For a cargo bike without electric assistance, the referring person receives €50. There is no annual limit.