Do You Need a License for a Scooter or Moped With a 49cc Engine?
- on April 03, 2024
- Categories: Articles
Mopeds and scooters offer convenience when traveling that you can't get with other vehicles. They're small, quick, easy to use, gas-conscious, and low maintenance. However, you'll need to familiarize yourself with several aspects of ownership, including the laws in your state regarding licensing, safety, registration, and insurance. Do you need a license for a scooter or a moped? We break down everything you need to know.
Do You Need a License for a Scooter or a Moped?
The licensing laws are different by state and by vehicle. You most likely need a license to drive a moped or a scooter, but the vehicle and the state determine the type of license required.
What Is a Moped?
Originally, mopeds had a motor and pedals, and when the two words merged, "moped" was the result. Today, there are no pedals, and engine size, output, and speed instead define these vehicles. They typically only go about 28 miles per hour, and the engine size does not exceed 50cc. Mopeds are physically smaller than scooters, often making them less expensive.
What Is a Scooter?
The most obvious factor differentiating a scooter from a moped is the engine size. Scooter engines range from 50cc to 250cc and can go between 60 and 75 miles per hour, depending on the engine size. Scooters often come equipped with mirrors, lights, and horns, which you won't usually find on a moped. Because scooters are larger and have extra features, they are generally more expensive than mopeds.
Which Kinds of Scooters Require a License?
Depending on the vehicle, you may or may not need a license.
Do you need a license for a 49cc scooter? In most states, yes, you do need a license for a scooter; however, if the engine is below 50cc, it's likely considered a moped. The state may not require a special license for mopeds, but you will likely need a current driver's license. Although rarely classified as a scooter at that size, it will likely require a driver's license, motorcycle license, or additional classification.
Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to find out additional laws regarding scooters and mopeds in your state. General requirements in many states include:
- Anyone over 15 needs a driver's license or a special permit to ride on a public road.
- The law prohibits driving a scooter after dark.
- Scooter and moped drivers must ride on the far right of the road to stay out of the way of other drivers.
- Driving over 30 miles per hour classifies the scooter as a motorcycle and could require following motorcycle laws.
- You cannot drive on the interstate.
Do you need a license for a scooter in every state? Not necessarily. For example, in Alabama, you must have a motorcycle license to ride a moped, but in Colorado, you only need a valid driver's license. Alaska moped drivers must carry a Class M1 motorcycle license, and Florida drivers need either a motorcycle license or a Class E license. Virginia is unique because it requires a government-issued photo ID, not a driver's license.
Do You Need Safety Gear To Ride a Scooter or Moped?
So, now you know that in most states, you do need a license for a moped or scooter. In most states, you also need safety gear. Safety is important, and lawmakers realize riders may forego protection if the law does not require it. Just like licensing, it varies by state.
For example, in Kansas, drivers under 18 must wear a helmet, while in Kentucky, the age is 21. Mississippi requires moped riders of all ages to wear a helmet, but Missouri allows any moped driver to choose for themselves and has no helmet requirements.
Some states require more protection than the typical helmet. New York requires helmets for scooter and moped drivers of all ages, but eye protection is also required. Ohio law states that the helmet must have a chin strap for drivers under the age of 18, and South Dakota requires eye protection for all drivers unless their scooter has a windscreen.
Do You Need To Register or Insure a Scooter or Moped?
Do you need a license for a scooter, and do you need to register or insure that scooter? Registration and insurance requirements must be met before a scooter or moped owner is legal on the road, even with a license. Your DMV will have all the necessary information to understand your requirements, as they vary by state.
For example, Oregon requires you to register your moped and purchase liability insurance; in Kentucky, you do not need either. Washington, Indiana, and other states require registration but not insurance.
Nevada does not require registration or liability insurance unless you plan to ride on a public road, in which case drivers must at least register the moped. In Connecticut, moped drivers do not need to register their vehicles and will only need insurance if they do not meet the state's criteria for motor-driven cycles.
Do You Need a License for a Scooter or Moped When Purchasing?
Dealerships and private sellers typically do not require proof of a license to purchase a scooter or moped. This could vary by seller, so contact yours to be sure. If you do not have a license and can buy the moped or scooter, and your state requires a license to drive, have a friend or other licensed driver lined up to drive it home for you.
