Ohio Laws for Mopeds, Scooters and Motorized Bikes
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In Ohio, scooters, mopeds and motorized bicycles are not all treated the same in terms of the licensing, operation and insurance laws or regulations they must follow. Motor scooters are subject to the same requirements as motorcycles and require a motorcycle license or endorsement as well as a motorcycle insurance policy. Mopeds and motorized bikes, on the other hand, generally can be ridden without insurance or a special license — though they do have to be registered with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Ohio electric and motorized scooter laws
In Ohio, to legally operate a motorized scooter you must have a motorcycle/motor scooter endorsement or license. Additionally, just as with motorcycles, your scooter must be insured and registered with the state. The annual registration fee for a motor scooter is $25.
Motor scooters are defined by Ohio law as vehicles that have the following characteristics:
- Designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground
- A seat for the driver and floorboard for the driver's feet
- A motor with a piston displacement between 50cc and 100cc that produces no more than 5 horsepower
- Is capable of going faster than 20 mph on flat ground
Electric sit-down scooters — such as electric-powered Vespas — that are designed to travel at speeds greater than 20 mph on a level surface are subject to the same laws as motor scooters.
Ohio laws for electric kick scooters
Electric kick scooters — such as those associated with pay-per-minute rental services such as Bird and Lime — are classified differently than motorized scooters in Ohio. To ride these electric scooters, you don't need a motorcycle or motor scooter license. These electric scooters are generally legal to ride on streets or in bike lanes, though regulations about where you can ride may vary based on city ordinances. Ohio helmet laws do not require that electric scooter riders wear helmets.
Ohio moped and motorized bike laws
The Ohio BMV does not distinguish between mopeds and motorized orelectric bikes. There, a motorized bicycle or moped is defined as a vehicle with either two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the rear that may be pedaled, but is also equipped with a motor. Mopeds are defined as having the following characteristics:
- Motors no larger than 50cc
- Total power output of at most 1 horsepower
- Not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 mph on flat ground
Ohio moped and motorized scooter license requirements
Individuals who have a valid driver's license do not need to have any sort of extra endorsement or license to operate a moped or motorized bike. However, owners are required to register their moped or motorized bike with the BMV and display a rear license plate. The annual vehicle renewal registration fee for a moped is $21
Ohio residents who don't have a valid driver's license must obtain a moped license before riding their mopeds and motorized bikes on the road. Getting a moped license involves passing a vision, knowledge and road test and paying a fee of $21.Younger individuals who are 14 and 15 years old are also allowed to operate a moped in Ohio, though they have to first obtain a probationary moped or motorized bicycle license. To obtain one, they must pass vision, knowledge and road tests, and pay a fee of $22.50.
Individuals who are at least 15 and half years old are also able to ride a motor scooter or motorcycle provided they obtain a motorcycle or motor scooter Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC). To get a TIPIC, you have to pass a vision screening andknowledge test and pay a fee of $22.50.
Both probationary moped/motorized bicycle license and TIPIC holders are restricted from the following:
- Riding at night
- Riding with passengers
- Riding on interstates or congested roads
- Riding without a helmet and protective eyewear
After six months, motorcycle/motor scooter riders under age 18 can then apply for a probationary license, though certain requirements must also be met:
- They must complete a driver education class at a licensed driver training school, which includes 24 hours of classroom or online instruction and 8 hours of driving time.
- They must complete 50 hours of driving, with at least 10 hours of night driving.
- They must pass a road test at the DMV
Ohio moped and motorized bike operating laws
When operating your moped or motorized bike on public roadways in Ohio, the following rules apply:
- If you are under the age of 18, your moped must be equipped with a rearview mirror and you must wear a helmet with the chin strap fastened.
- When practical, your moped must be ridden within three feet of the right edge of the road.
- You cannot carry passengers.
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You must obey the same traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles and bicycles, which include obeying signs, traveling in the same direction of traffic and signaling before turns.
Ohio motor scooter insurance laws
Ohio motor scooter owners are required to maintain the same minimum level of liability insurance as motorcycle owners. If you ride an electric kick scooter, moped or motorized bicycle, you do not have to have insurance. Below, we've included a breakdown of Ohio's minimum insurance requirements for motor scooter and motorcycle owners.
Coverage type | Coverage limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
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