Moped and Scooter Insurance

Almost all insurance companies cover mopeds and scooters under their motorcycle policies. While most states require scooter riders to have some form of insurance — about half require the same for mopeds — these laws don't always align with the state's motorcycle laws. You should always make sure you have the right amount of coverage before getting on the road.

Since mopeds and scooters are defined by the state you live in, you'll first need to determine the category of the vehicle before figuring out the insurance requirements.

Moped and scooter insurance cost

This is primarily because mopeds and scooters have smaller engines and can't travel as fast, limiting the amount of damage they can do.

To give an idea of how cheap (or expensive) insuring these vehicles can be, two scooter insurance policies from Progressive were compared for a rider living in New York City who owns a Vespa GTS 300 scooter.

You can see the impact of added coverages: A bare-bones scooter policy is six times cheaper than full coverage. The cheap policy, with only basic coverage, costs $312 per year, while a policy with lots of protection can cost nearly $2,000.

The cost of coverage for the scooter was also compared to insurance quotes for a Harley-Davidson. The motorcycle''s premium is much higher. A policy for the Harley-Davidson Street Glide for the exact same rider was quoted at $3,881 by Geico and $3,662 by Progressive.

What moped and scooter insurance covers

Most of the time, companies use the same insurance type for mopeds, scooters and regular motorcycles. Policies specifically designed for mopeds or scooters are fairly rare.

Almost every motorcycle insurance policy (which typically covers mopeds and scooters) includes bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. These apply to any bodily injury to others or property damage a rider causes while operating their vehicle — but not to the rider of the moped, scooter or motorcycle.

Scooter and moped insurance coverages

Optional coverages include medical payments, which pays for the hospital bills of a driver or passenger, as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist. This covers injuries to you as a rider and damage to your vehicle caused by someone who is inadequately insured.

Other options include: collision and comprehensive, which pay to repair or replace your motorcycle, minus your deductible ( attractive to many drivers with smaller vehicles); roadside assistance, which covers the contents inside or carried by a moped or scooter; total loss coverage; and trip interruption coverage.

Do you need insurance for a moped or scooter?

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In general, moped and scooter owners are required to have bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, just like motorcycle owners. But the amount of coverage required is not the same in every state and may differ for mopeds and scooters. Some states require coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists. And a handful of states mandate personal injury protection (PIP), too.

The State of New York is a good example of how complicated the designation and insurance requirements can be for mopeds and scooters. Not every moped or scooter in New York is required to have insurance. The state has three separate classes of mopeds and scooters, each with its own requirements, including licensing and insurance.

Example: Scooter and moped requirements in New York

*Except when making a left turn

Coverage limits of moped and scooter insurance

Moped and scooter riders are typically offered the same insurance limits as motorcycle owners. For example, a basic Geico policy for scooters includes bodily injury limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident and a property damage limit of $10,000. But Geico also offers online quotes for mopeds and scooters, such as Vespas, and allows shoppers to choose from a variety of limits: up to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident of bodily injury protection and $100,000 for property damage.

Like most companies that cover mopeds and scooters under their motorcycle policies, Geico also offers optional coverage for residual medical payments, up to $10,000. Comprehensive and collision are also optional, but come with a deductible rather than a payout limit . Geico has deductibles of $50 to $1,000 for each coverage type.

Classic moped and scooter insurance

If your moped or scooter qualifies as classic or vintage, you may need a specialty insurance company to insure it fully. Classic mopeds and scooters need the same forms of coverage as newer ones to be ridden on the road. So the policy should include liability insurance and anything else required by the state.

If you want higher limits for your classic vehicle, because it may be expensive to repair or replace, you'll need to ask your insurance company if that's possible. You might also want to compare quotes from companies that specialize in policies for classic motorcycles, mopeds and scooters.

Getting moped and scooter insurance quotes

Gathering insurance quotes for a moped or scooter is not difficult. If you want to know how much insurance might cost before you buy a moped or scooter, first check out some manufacturers, including Vespa, Piaggio, Genuine, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. Each sells at least one scooter, and some have more than a dozen models.

Once you've narrowed down your choice, you'll plug in the appropriate information for that moped or scooter on the insurance company's website. If that specific moped or scooter manufacturer isn't listed, you can usually choose "other" for the manufacturer and then type it in. If that isn't an option, you might have to call the motorcycle insurance company and get a quote over the phone.

The basic bodily injury and property damage liability coverage required by law in most states is relatively inexpensive. But adding coverages such as comprehensive and collision can significantly increase the cost. Other factors, such as your riding experience and the cost of your moped or scooter, can also affect your rates.

Defining mopeds and scooters

Every state has its own definition of what constitutes a legal scooter or moped, but here are a few general guidelines. Check with your state's DMV for exact requirements.

Generally, a moped is defined as any two-wheeled vehicle with a 50 cubic centimeter (cc) engine or smaller and a top speed of about 30 mph. Vehicles commonly referred to as motorbikes or motorized bicycles also might fall under the category of moped in your state, so it's good to confirm the definition and regulations before riding.

A scooter is typically more powerful than a moped but not as powerful as a motorcycle, with engines that range from 50 to 250 cc. Scooters don't ordinarily have pedals, and riders can usually place both feet flat in front of themselves. Often, any moped that can exceed the top speed defined by local laws qualifies as a scooter.

While a scooter engine is generally 50 to 250 cc, a motorcycle engine might be 250 cc or well above 2,000 cc. Keep in mind that these are only typical definitions. In some states, a scooter may have a lower maximum speed than a moped, or a vehicle may be defined as a motorcycle if it has an engine of 50 cc or greater.

Renting a moped or scooter

Anyone planning on renting a moped or scooter needs to research local laws to determine if the rental company meets all requirements. It might be tempting while on a trip, but you shouldn't rent a moped or scooter from a business that doesn't require you to be properly licensed. Remember that no matter what forms you sign, an insurance company will not cover you or the rented vehicle if you are breaking the law by riding it.

It's important in the US to research state laws when traveling. Moped owners in New York don't need insurance. But anyone renting a Class C vehicle in the state must insure it (through the rental company like you can when renting a car).

Most rental companies will offer temporary moped or scooter rental insurance if it's required in the state. You should also ask your existing insurance company — if you already have motorcycle or moped insurance — if your policy covers a rental.