Licensing Mopeds, Scooters and Motorcycles in Massachusetts

As the weather warms and gas prices sky rocket (over $3.60 in eastern Massachusetts today), shoppers are cruising Boston.Craigslist.com, www.EBAY.com, and local scooter and motorcycle showrooms for fun and economical transportation. Scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles are all motorbikes. All get better gas mileage than most cars. It is important to understand licensing and insurability of motorbikes before shopping.

Scooters are a kind of motorbike. Like motorcycles, they have a motor, and a seat for a rider and up to one passenger. Scooters and motorcycles may have two or three wheels. Most scooters have a step through design as opposed to the swing your leg over design of most motorcycles. Motorcyclists usually refer to three wheeled motorcycles as trikes. Both scooters and motorcycles may have a range of engine displacements (engine size), the average scooter engine is much smaller than the average motorcycle engine. Massachusetts law classifies scooters as motorcycle or moped depending on speed and engine size.

Massachusetts defines a moped as a motorbike with an engine that is 50 cc or less, with a top speed of up to 30 miles per hour. Mopeds may look like a bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle. Mopeds must adhere to a state moped speed limit of 25 mph. Legal operation of a moped only requires an automobile learner's permit or driver's license and a registration sticker. There is no state inspection program for mopeds. Insurance is not required or even available for mopeds in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mopeds are not covered under any home owner's policy (this is a common misconception). Moped riders must wear a DOT approved, motorcycle helmet the same as any motorcycle rider.

The lack of insurance for mopeds in Massachusetts can be an advantage or disadvantage for riders. People who have no savings, cannot afford insurance, have no fear of lawsuit due to lack of income or savings will benefit from the cost savings of a moped. Those who feel the need to protect themselves and their assets from liability should not own a moped in Massachusetts.

Arguably the greatest advantage of moped ownership is that many jurisdictions around the state allow mopeds and moped registered scooters to park where a bicycle may park. All around Boston, scooters stand on sidewalks, chained to telephone poles and parking meters. Parking a motorcycle on the sidewalk on Washington street is a quick ticket to ... ah ... getting a ticket.

Motorcycles include any motorbike with 2 or 3 wheels, including scooters, that move faster than 30 mph. Interestingly, there are some small, three wheels cars or vans that require a motorcycle license such as the Indian Bajaj Autorickshaw. Motorcycle riders must have a motorcycle license or learner's permit. Permits are easy to obtain. Go to any registry, and ask to take the exam. Most people who drive in Massachusetts will pass this test on the first try.

The motorcycle riding test is not given at most Registry locations. Call the RMV phone center at (617) 351-4500 (for 617,781,339, and 857 exchanges) or 1-(800) 858-3926 for other exchanges to schedule the road test and find a convenient location. The road test for the motorcycle license is easy for a scooterist, a bit more difficult on a large motorcycle. The examiner must approve the bike. Some examiners may not allow riders to take the test on a smaller scooter. The examiner will observe the rider complete a well controlled figure eight on the bike. Steadying the ride with a foot results in failure. Then the examiner will ask the rider to ride out about 100 yards, stop, turn around and return while signaling left and right and canceling the signal.

Many motorcyclists recommend taking the basic motorcycle safety course. This is a great way to obtain a license. Pass the two day course and the license is in the mail. The major advantage of the course, is that riders learn to control their bikes in a wide range of conditions. Basic course graduates are safer riders, less likely to be involved in an accident (Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures,Volume 1: Technical Report, Hurt, H.H, AKA The Hurt Study, 1981), and win a generous discount on their insurance. Massachusetts course instructors are invited to add their contact information in the comments section of this article. Motorcycles and motorcycle registered scooters require a DOT approved helmet, license plate, inspection sticker, registration and insurance.

Riding a motorcycle is fun, economical and convenient. Motorcycles can fit into tiny parking spaces. Federal law allows motorcycles into High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes such as the HOV lanes of I-93 north and south of Boston.

There is a fellowship of motorcyclists that includes scooterists and moped riders. When approaching another biker, remember to wave. When parting, repeat the admonition, "Ride Safe!"