What do you need to drive a moped in Michigan
Robert Miller
Published Mar 30, 2026
Furthermore, if you plan to drive a moped in Michigan, you must have a valid driver’s license or a chauffeur’s license. If you have neither and you’re at least 15 years old, you can apply for a moped license. To get a moped license, you’ll need to pass a vision, knowledge and traffic exam.
What kind of scooter does not require a license in Michigan?
According to Michigan moped laws, a moped is a 2- or 3-wheeled vehicle. Its motor does not exceed 100 cubic centimeters piston displacement. Its top speed on a level surface is 30 mph. And its power drive system does not require the operator to shift gears.
Do I need to take a test to ride a 50cc moped?
First, you have to complete your CBT. You then have to pass the Motorcycle Theory Test and undertake training and a Practical Test on a machine up to 50cc. The advantages over just passing a CBT course alone, are that you can ride any Moped (up to 50cc) without L-plates and you may carry a pillion passenger.
What qualifies as a moped in Michigan?
Michigan law defines a moped as a two or three-wheel vehicle which meets ALL of the following limitations: Top speed is no more than 30 mph on level surface. Engine size is 100 cc or less. No manual gearshift.Do you need license for moped?
You must have a motorcycle license (M1 or M2) to drive a moped. … You must be at least 16 years old or older to drive a moped, and you must wear a helmet while you ride.
Do mopeds need insurance?
Do you have to get moped or scooter insurance? Yes. It’s illegal to ride your moped or scooter on the road without insurance.
Do you need a license to drive a 50cc scooter in Michigan?
Michigan moped laws Michigan requires that all mopeds in the state be registered unless they will be driven exclusively on private property. Furthermore, if you plan to drive a moped in Michigan, you must have a valid driver’s license or a chauffeur’s license.
How fast is a 50cc moped?
Most 50cc scooters come with a restricted engine, which limits the bike to a top speed of 30mph (48kph). However, a 50cc scooter can go at speeds of up to 60mph (96kph), while most will comfortably reach 40mph (65kph).Do mopeds have registration plates?
Front and rear plates If you own a motorcycle, moped or motor tricycle and it was first registered on 1st September 2001 or later, then it should only display a rear number plate. If your bike was registered before this date, you may also display a front number plate if you choose to, but this is not mandatory.
Can you ride a motorized bicycle without a license in Michigan?Once registered, you must have a valid drivers license or moped license to drive it on public roads, and must be at least 15 years old. … While riding a moped or motorized bike in Michigan, you must obey the following traffic regulations: You cannot drive on freeways, or on sidewalks or bicycle paths.
Article first time published onWhat licence do I need for a 50cc scooter?
With provisional motorbike licence entitlement you can: Ride a moped or scooter up to 50cc if you’re aged 16+ as long as you’ve completed your CBT, display L plates and have insurance. Ride a motorcycle up to 125cc if you’re aged 17+. Again, you’ll need CBT, L plates and insurance.
Can I ride a 50cc moped on a provisional licence?
Once you have completed the CBT course you can ride a 50cc moped, or if you are 17 years old or over, with category A on your provisional licence, you can ride a learner legal motorcycle up to 125cc.
What happens if you ride a moped without a CBT?
If you passed your driving test before 1 February 2001 you can legally ride a moped (up to 50cc) with no L plates, without taking a CBT course or the full moped test. … Anyone who passed their driving test after 1 February 2001 will have to complete their CBT before being able to legally ride a moped or motorbike.
Are mopeds street legal?
You can only drive your moped on a public road that has a speed limit of 35 mph or less, and you must always wear a helmet. Unlike motorcycles and motorized scooters, mopeds do not need to be titled or registered.
What is the difference between a moped and a scooter?
A scooter has the same step-through frame as a moped but a more powerful motor, up to 250cc. What you should know. Scooters offer higher top speeds and lower gas mileage. For example, a 150cc scooter has a top speed of 60 mph and gets up to 70 mpg, while a 250cc scooter can reach 75 mph but will get fewer than 60 mpg.
Do you need a motorcycle license to ride a scooter in Michigan?
A scooter may be either a moped or a motorcycle depending on its size. Riding a motorcycle requires a CY endorsement on your Michigan license. A properly registered moped can be ridden on the street by any licensed driver or anyone 15 years old or older with a moped license.
Do scooters need to be registered in Michigan?
Mopeds must be registered at a Secretary of State office unless operated solely on private property. A three-year registration decal costs $15 and is displayed on the back of your moped so it is visible to law enforcement officers.
Do you need a license to drive an electric scooter in Michigan?
Is a Special License Required for Mopeds and Other Electric Vehicles in Michigan? … It is legal to operate a moped with a valid driver’s or chauffeur’s license. Otherwise, those 15 and older can apply for a moped license. Applicants must pass a vision test as well as general knowledge and traffic sign tests.
Does a moped need road tax?
Mopeds usually have an engine capacity of 50cc, with anything greater being a scooter or a motorbike. This puts them in the lowest tax bracket, and makes the road tax considerably cheaper than that of a car. … The most important thing to remember about moped road tax is that you need to display a tax disc.
Can I ride a moped on my car insurance?
Yes. As with motorcycles, your moped or scooter must be insured for you to ride it on UK roads. Having insurance protects you from liability if you’re involved in an accident, damage property or vehicles or injure someone.
Why is moped insurance so expensive?
Mopeds with small engines are mostly cheaper to buy than bikes with bigger engines. This means they’re less expensive to replace and as a consequence, cheaper to insure. And bigger, more powerful bikes are more likely to be involved in accidents than mopeds are, another reason why they’re more expensive to insure.
Can a 50cc moped go on an A road?
A 50cc moped is realistically the least powerful vehicle allowed on public roads. There are restrictions on where they’re allowed to ride. For example, you can’t use a moped on A-roads or motorways because of their low top speed. … As standard, 50cc mopeds have restricted engines.
Can I ride a 50cc with a full car Licence?
If you have a full car licence issued before 1st February 2001 you may ride a restricted 50cc moped on the road without L plates (and carry a passenger), but you still need to pass your CBT test to ride any motorcycle over 50cc.
Can you carry a passenger on a moped?
You can ride a moped with no L-plate and, yes, you can take a passenger on it. Of course, being a sub-4kW, sub-50cc machine, it might not actually move under the weight of two of you, but it’s legal.
Can I ride a scooter with a car Licence?
You can ride a moped (up to 50cc) without L plates and without taking the moped test in some situations.
Can I drive a 125cc moped on a car Licence?
As stated above, if you have a full car driving licence you can ride a motorcycle up to 125cc, but you need to have completed your CBT first. … Once you’ve completed this, you can ride anything up to a capacity of 125cc with L plates and you have two years before you have to retake your CBT.
Can mopeds go up hills?
Short answer: Yes, electric scooters can go uphill. But there are caveats to consider. As a rule, the steeper the hill is, the harder it is for the electric scooter to do the climb. There are several factors that determine whether your electric scooter can go uphill or not.
How much is a moped scooter?
How much is a moped? A 50cc moped can be purchased pretty cheaply. I found several listings under $1,000 just by doing a simple Google search. Only a few were priced above $1,000, so it’s fairly safe to say that buying a moped outright will be significantly cheaper than buying a car.
Can you ride a mini bike on the street in Michigan?
All minibike drivers shall follow the rules of the road. To legally operate a moped on Michigan streets: The rider must have a valid driver’s license or a moped license (MCL 257.312a) and the moped must have a valid registration sticker, which is good for three years, and affixed to the back.
How fast will a 50cc motorized bicycle go?
Generally, motorized bikes with a 2-stroke, 50cc motor will have a top speed of around 25–30 mph, but this can vary quite a bit.
Does a provisional moped licence same as car?
You can use a provisional driving licence from the age of 16 if you want to ride a moped or light quad bike. But you won’t be able to use it to drive a car until you turn 17.