Guide
Stolen e-bike: motor and battery serial numbers
On an e-bike, as well as the frame serial number, the motor and the battery have their own numbers. Write them down and photograph them before anything happens: they are usually on a label on the motor (sometimes only visible from underneath or after removing a cover) and on the battery, and also on the receipt, in the documentation or in the manufacturer's app. If your bike is stolen, give them in the police report, mark it as stolen in the manufacturer's app if it allows it and register them on destolen: the motor and battery can be sold separately.
Reviewed in October 2026.
Step by step
Find the motor and battery numbers
The motor number is usually on a label or engraved on its housing; depending on the model, you can see it from underneath, on the seat tube behind the motor or only after removing a cover. The battery number is usually on a label on the battery itself, visible when you take it out of its mount. On bikes with a Bosch system, besides the receipt, you can also find it in the Bosch app and in the display's settings menu.
Where the frame serial number isPhotograph them and keep them with the receipt
Take a sharp photo of each label and of the frame number, and keep them with the receipt, the bike passport if you have one and photos of the whole bike and of the details that set it apart. If you cannot find a number, ask your shop: it is usually on the receipt or in the diagnostic report.
Register them on destolen
Registration is free (up to 5 bikes) and has fields for the motor and battery numbers. If you report the theft, the destolen check will flag the bike to anyone who looks up any of the three numbers. With Protection or Search, if a listing mentions a serial number, we compare it with your bike's.
Turn on the manufacturer's anti-theft features
Some systems let you lock the motor assistance or mark the bike as stolen in their app. Bosch, for example, explains that with its eBike Flow app you can lock the motor assistance (the bike can still be pedalled, but without help) and, after a theft, mark the bike or the battery as stolen. Check what your bike's system offers and set it up before you need it.
If it is stolen, report it with all three numbers
In the police report, give the frame, motor and battery numbers, and keep a copy. Then mark it as stolen in the manufacturer's app if it allows it, in any registry where you have it and on destolen.
What to do if your bike is stolen in SpainWatch out for parts too
Look through second-hand listings for batteries, motors and displays of your make and model, not just the whole bike. If you see a part with your serial number, do not contact the seller: take the link to the listing and screenshots to the police.
Why the motor and battery matter
The motor and the battery are among the most expensive parts of an e-bike and can be sold separately. If a stolen bike is taken apart, the frame number no longer helps to recognise those parts, but their own serial numbers do.
That is why some manufacturers record them part by part: Bosch links the motor, battery and display to the owner's profile in its app and identifies them by serial number.
What manufacturers do: the Bosch example
According to Bosch and the specialist press, since the end of January 2026 the eBike Flow app lets you mark as stolen, at no cost, a bike with the Bosch smart system or just its battery. The flag is stored centrally and only the original owner's profile can remove it. A flagged bike cannot connect to the app, and if a workshop connects it to Bosch's diagnostic tool, the tool warns the technician.
Other motor makers have different features, or none. Check the documentation or app of your system; destolen is not affiliated with any of them.
If you are buying a used e-bike
Ask for all three numbers (frame, motor and battery) and check that they match the labels. Torn-off labels or a motor or battery that does not belong to the bike are reasons to be wary.
You can look up all three in the destolen check. Motor and battery numbers are mainly found among bikes registered on destolen whose owner entered them, because Bike Index only stores the frame number. A bike that is not reported stolen is not guaranteed to be clean.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the serial number on an e-bike battery?
Usually on a label on the battery itself, visible when you take it out of its mount. On bikes with a Bosch system, besides the receipt, you can also find it in the Bosch app and in the display's settings menu.
Can I check for free whether a motor or battery is reported stolen?
Yes. In the destolen check you can enter the frame, motor or battery number, free and without an account. If it is not found, that only means it does not appear in the sources checked.
Sources
Have your bike's details ready
Register your bike for free with photos and serial number: if it is stolen, you will have everything at hand to report it and search for it. And before buying a used one, check its serial number.