Buying and Legally Driving a Scooter or Moped in Colorado

I'll be the first to admit that I laughed when it was first suggested to me. "Look at that cute little scooter," my mother said, "Think how much you'd save on gas."

Yes, I laughed. But her words planted a seed in my mind that blossomed. Pretty soon I was thinking beyond how much I'd save in gas, to how much I'd save in insurance and the outright purchase of a scooter in the first place. Suddenly, it wasn't a laughing matter. I could picture myself hopping on the thing and heading off on a dirt road to sneak a quick route into town. I could feel the wind on me, my girly form of a motorcycle addict's freedom.

I stopped laughing, and started doing some research. What I found out is that the average 50 c.c. scooter gets about 100 miles per gallon, costs less than $1,000 brand-new, requires very little in the way of registration and licenses, and are extremely durable and easy to maintain. Save the environment, some cash, and have some fun. What could be better?

Colorado Street Legal Scooter Basics

Before you take a single look at the options (which are enough to get you jumping before you know what to look for), understand this: In the state of Colorado, anything over 50cc is considered a motorcycle.

That might not sound like a big deal. But it kind-of is. The second you go over a 50cc engine, you have to get a regular registration and license plates for your scooter, you'll need to make an appointment with the DMV to take a driving test so that you can have a motorcycle addition to your driver's license, and the cost of insurance skyrockets.

So for the purposes of this article, we're going to talk about scooters that meet Colorado's definition of a motorized bike. If your scooter has pedals - even removable ones - you don't need to go further with the definition. If it doesn't, though, keep going. Their definition is this:

*The vehicle has a cylinder capacity which does not exceed 50 c.c.
*The vehicle has an automatic transmission which produces a maximum designed speed of not more than thirty miles per hour
*The vehicle has no more than three wheels, all of which are more than 14 inches in diameter

The one thing in this definition which is misleading is the speed. Even the most inexpensive 50 c.c. scooter will go more than thirty miles per hour - easily. The key is the wording of "maximum designed speed". Most scooters you'll find in the 50 c.c. range state that maximum speed is 25+ mph, and then goes on to clarify that this depends on the weight of the driver and rider, and the terrain. So don't let this little thing discourage you - it's not really an issue.

Now that we've covered what defines a street legal scooter, here are the things that you'll need to cover in order to drive it legally in Colorado:

*You must be 16 years of age or older to operate a scooter on a Colorado public road.
*You must have a valid driver's license (you don't need a motorcycle endorsement, though).
*You must register your scooter with the Colorado DMV - a $5.25 fee that lasts for 3 years.
*You must have the state minimum of insurance to operate a scooter on public roads - on average, insurance will cost less than $100 per year.
*You and your passenger must wear a protective helmet.

So with those two lists - first, what defines a scooter in Colorado and then what you must fulfill to legally operate it - you're ready to start looking to purchase.

Buying Your Scooter - What to Look For

There are so many sources of really reliable scooters, but just as many people trying to pass off shoddy work that could wind you up in a nasty accident and legal troubles.

When you start shopping around, look for a source that offers at least a 6 month warranty on all parts. The best I've found is a dealer that offers 12 months/12,000 miles warranty; for the most part, though, you'll be looking at 3-6 month warranties, and they don't include labor. Which isn't a great big deal if you're willing to get your hands dirty - with the manual that comes with all new scooters, and the small number of parts involved, you should be able to work on the vehicle without much help.

After finding a good warranty, start looking at safety features. You want a scooter that has anti-lock brakes, turn signals, and mirrors. In Colorado, it also has to have a horn that can be heard clearly for at least 100 feet, and a reflector or lamp on the back that can be seen for at least 200 feet.

The next thing to look at is the number of costs involved. A lot of dealers offer a really great price on 50 c.c. scooters ... and then you start looking deeper. You're going to be charged shipping - and if they don't, by default, deliver to your home you'll pay another big sum to get them to do so. You're also going to be charged paperwork fees. And if the scooter doesn't come with any accessories that you just gotta have, you'll pay more for those, as well.

Look for a dealer that is very upfront about costs. Some of the best dealers charge a couple hundred dollars more on the price of their vehicles, but they include shipping to your front door in that cost. Many suppliers are also offering accessories bundled into the cost - things like a storage trunk, remote alarm systems, etc.

Finally, make sure that the person you're working with is going to at least provide you with a full bill of sale. Without this bill of sale, you won't be able to register your scooter in Colorado ... and all the other work you've done comes to nothing. You shouldn't have to pay anything extra for this. Some dealers will even go so far as to secure your 3-year registration tags for you through the Colorado DMV.