Moped license & registration cost by state
Moped rules swing harder than almost any other vehicle class. Eight states don't register mopeds at all; Illinois charges $41 a year plus a $165 title. Two states need no driver's license; others demand a full motorcycle endorsement. And the same 49cc scooter is a moped in one state and a motorcycle in the next.
First question: is your scooter even a moped?
Every state sets a cutoff — engine size, top speed, and sometimes whether the machine has working pedals. Cross it and your scooter is legally a motorcycle, which usually means a higher fee, a title, insurance, and a motorcycle license. Ohio's cap is 20 mph and Pennsylvania's is 25 mph, so a common 50cc scooter that tops out around 35 mph fails the moped test in both. Each state page below leads with that test.
Pick your state
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to drive a moped?
It depends entirely on the state. North Carolina and Virginia require no driver's license at all (though you must carry photo ID). Most states accept any valid driver's license with no motorcycle endorsement. A handful — California, Texas, Vermont, Alabama, and Mississippi among them — require a full motorcycle license or endorsement. Several others issue a cheaper moped-only license or permit.
How much does it cost to register a moped?
From nothing to over $100 a year. Georgia, Connecticut, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Tennessee don't register mopeds at all. Colorado charges $5.88 for three years and Delaware $5 for three years. At the other end, Illinois charges $41 a year plus a $165 title, and Oregon stacks $88 every two years on top of a $101 title.
Is a 50cc scooter legally a moped?
Not always — and this is where most people get caught. Ohio caps mopeds at 20 mph and Pennsylvania at 25 mph, so a typical 50cc scooter that does 30–35 mph is legally a motorcycle in those states, with higher fees, a title, and a motorcycle license. Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska also require operable pedals, so a pedal-less scooter fails the moped test there regardless of engine size.
Do you need insurance for a moped?
In roughly half the states, yes. New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, and North Dakota all require liability coverage. South Carolina, Washington, Virginia, California, and Florida specifically exempt mopeds from mandatory insurance.