Scooters, once, were considered viable methods of transportation–for residents of North Carolina–who did not want to pay for insurance or to register their vehicle. However, since about 2014, North Carolina has classified scooters as “mopeds” or “motorcycles” which means they must be inspected, registered, and insured before they can legally be driven on the streets.
When is a Vehicle Legally a Moped?
You likely found this blog because you wanted to know what North Carolina law requires in order to legally drive your scooter.
A scooter qualifies as a “moped” when it:
- Has three or fewer wheels
- Has a motor of less than 50 CCs
- Has no gear shifter (outside of the motor)
- Goes no faster than 30 miles per hour
If your scooter fits within the above criteria, then it is officially considered a “moped” under North Carolina law. As such, you should continue reading to find out what is needed to drive it legally.
How Do I Make My Moped Street Legal in North Carolina?
Mopeds, as defined above, must be insured, registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and regularly inspected for safety and emissions (N.C.G.S. §§ 20-4.01(27)j, 20-50, 20-52, and 20-309) to be driven legally in the state of North Carolina.
In addition, scooter drivers and passengers have to wear DMV approved helmets when on the road.
Meeting these requirements, as well as obeying general traffic laws, will allow you to drive your scooter with confidence on NC streets.
But a word of warning: if a scooter can go faster than 30 miles per hour, it is important that the driver keep the speed below 30 miles per hour because otherwise, the scooter will probably be considered a motorcycle. If the driver doesn’t have a motorcycle endorsement or learner’s permit on his/her driver’s license–or has no driver’s license–the driver may get a ticket for driving a motorcycle without a license.
The Benefits of Driving a Scooter in North Carolina
While the added regulations created by designating scooters as “mopeds” or “motorcycles” make them less convenient to drive in North Carolina than it was before 2014, there are still many advantages to owning a scooter.
When compared to other vehicles, there are several advantages to driving a scooter. Namely:
- Better fuel efficiency
- Lower purchase price
- Smaller storage/parking needs
Although, the biggest advantage of driving a scooter in North Carolina—as long as it qualifies as a “moped” as described above—is likely that the operator does not need to have a driver’s license to take it on the roads (N.C.G.S. § 20-7). So, while it may be more expensive to own and maintain a scooter now than in the past, the good news is you still don’t need a license to drive one.
If you have received a citation for operating a scooter in North Carolina or have questions about scooter law, contact us today.
