Who can ride my company bike?

Bike leasing General information Contractual matters

April 23, 2025

2 min

The start has been made: the employer is already offering employees company bike leasing, the dream company bike has been selected and is ready to go. With the help of the selected all-round cover, the company bike is also insured against theft and damage. But does this cover also apply to people other than the registered user if third parties ride the company bike? A good question.

Man with shirt and jeans is riding his company bike in the park in summer

company bike - Who can use it?

In principle, the company bike belongs to the employee to whom the company bike was made available.

However, Lease a Bike does not generally restrict the use of the company bike by third parties. The theft and damage protection included in the all-round cover also makes no exceptions. This means that family members or friends may also use the company bike.

Legal framework for private use

Exception in the transfer agreement

However, it is recommended that you ask your employer whether the use of the company bike has been restricted to a specific group of people or a specific person in the contract. For example, private use of the company bike may only be permitted for people who live in the same household as the employee and therefore have a shared registration address.

woman in summer clothes and with sunglasses is pushing her company bike through park

man is pushing his company bike through park

What is the transfer agreement?

The company concludes the leasing agreement with the employee or the supplementary agreement to the employment contract on company bike leasing. This regulates the essential points of the leasing of the company bike between the employer and the employee, such as collection and return, handling, all-round protection, behavior in the event of damage and other matters.

Securing use by third parties

Depending on the restriction of the user group by the employer, the persons who are allowed to use the company bike according to the transfer contract are also covered by the included theft and damage protection of the company bike. This means that there are no liability risks for the employee or third parties, provided that use by third parties has not been restricted in the transfer agreement.

Private use

Possible with a company bike.

There is therefore nothing to prevent family members or friends from using the company bike privately, provided no other agreements have been made with the employer.

Important: If the company bike is used by third parties, it makes sense to point out to them that the premium and all-inclusive theft protection only applies if the bike is locked.

Info on allround protection

woman with summer clothes riding her jobbike in city, small bag hanging from handlebar

The fact that the company bike can also be used privately allows employees to make the bike part of their everyday life. Whether for the weekly shop, on the way to the gym or for a bike ride at the weekend - the bike is not only an environmentally friendly alternative to the car, it is also easy on the wallet and improves health.

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FAQ

: In good time before the end of the leasing contract, we will check whether it is possible to make you an offer to purchase the company bike. If this is the case, you will receive such a purchase offer from us by e-mail at least three months before the end of your leasing contract. You can reply to the purchase offer using the button contained in the e-mail.
You don't want to take over the bike? No problem, we will conveniently collect the company bike from your home. We will contact you for this purpose.
At the end of the contract period, you can use your existing order code to choose a new company bike from a Lease a Bike specialist dealer.
If you wish to take delivery of the bike, you can choose between various payment methods.
Once you have successfully paid for the bike, you will receive the invoice including proof of ownership. The bike then becomes your property at the end of the contract.
Bike Mobility Services GmbH will tax the non-cash benefit in accordance with §37b EStG. You will not incur any further costs.

If you do not wish to purchase the bike, we will conveniently collect it from you or your company.
: If your continued salary payments are discontinued, our payment default protection comes into effect. This happens, for example, if you are ill for longer than 42 days and receive sick pay or go on parental leave. Lease a Bike will cover the leasing installments for a maximum period of 12 months if the leasing contract has already been running for 6 months. In any case, we will always work together to find the best solution for all parties, unless one of the following options is possible or applies.

These can be:

Change of user. Your employer offers the company bicycle to another employee for the remaining term of the contract. The company takes all necessary internal measures for this (e.g. supplementary agreements to the employment contract, handover of the company bike).
Premature termination of the existing leasing contract by mutual agreement for important economic reasons with possible takeover of the used company bike by you as an employee. You also have the option of financing the purchase price via our FINANCE A BIKE product.
If you change companies, it is possible to transfer the existing leasing contract to a new company. After a credit check, the contract will be continued by the new company with all rights and obligations and the company bike will continue to be provided to you for the remaining term.
Return. If all of the above points do not apply in your case, the bike must be returned to your employer. We will then discuss the details of the individual process with your employer.
: If your continued salary payments are discontinued, our payment default protection comes into effect. This happens, for example, if you are ill for longer than 42 days and receive sick pay or go on parental leave. Lease a Bike will cover the leasing installments for a maximum period of 12 months if the leasing contract has already been running for 6 months. In any case, we will always work together to find the best solution for all parties, unless one of the following options is possible or applies.

These can be:

Change of user. Your employer offers the company bicycle to another employee for the remaining term of the contract. The company takes all necessary internal measures for this (e.g. supplementary agreements to the employment contract, handover of the company bike).
Premature termination of the existing leasing contract by mutual agreement for important economic reasons with possible takeover of the used company bike by you as an employee. You also have the option of financing the purchase price via our FINANCE A BIKE product.
If you change companies, it is possible to transfer the existing leasing contract to a new company. After a credit check, the contract will be continued by the new company with all rights and obligations and the company bike will continue to be provided to you for the remaining term.
Return. If all of the above points do not apply in your case, the bike must be returned to your employer. We will then discuss the details of the individual process with your employer.
: Premature termination of a leasing contract is also possible in certain cases during the agreed contract term of 36 months. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
: Yes, you can use your company bike for private purposes. If you are also wondering who else is allowed to use your company bike, read our blog article “Who is allowed to ride the company bike?”.

Our author

Antje Thomas

Antje Thomas has been working as a marketing manager at Lease a Bike since 2023, where she draws on her many years of expertise to assist with tasks such as content creation. The company bike of her dreams, which she’s already riding all over town: a Riese & Müller Culture Mixte vario.