The Laws are simple:

   1. Register your bike through the mail for $18 or we can do it for you. You will get a lifetime Plate,

      and Registration card.    

    2. Study the Motorcycle Handbook      Handbook Link                Sample Test

    3. Visit the DMV with $25.00 for your M2 or M1 Permit.  You do not need a C license.

         Also, under current State Law, you are not required to carry insurance or re-register the bike again.

 Governmental Links

   DMV-Definition           Registration $18          M1-M2 $25         California Motorcycle Handbook

   CHP  Laws                  Federal: E-Bike Amendment         Wikipedia E-bike Laws

 Personal Insurance

Insurance is not required for Mopeds, but wise, inexpensive & easy to get!

Please contact Terry Connor below who is sensitive to the EV market needs.

Terry Connor, License #0F00151

Insurance and Financial Services Agent

Your Environmentally Friendly Farmers Agent

(310) 365-6073 Cell

(310) 370-6965 Office

(310) 626-9636 Fax to Computer

tconnor.farmersagent@gmail.com

New EBIKE laws for California

California Electric Bicycle Law Summary:

• A driver's license is not required to drive an electric bicycle.

• No insurance, registration or license plates are required.

• Driver shall not operate a motorized bicycle if under 16 years of age.

• Driver must wear a bicycle helmet.

• Bicycle must have fully operative pedals.

• Power output must not be more than 1000 Watt.

• On level ground must not travel faster than 20mph on motors power only.

• Electric motor must disengage when brakes are applied or when throttle is released.

California Moped Law Summary:

• An M1/ M2 driver's license or learners permit is required to drive a moped.

• No insurance or yearly registration are required. 

• Driver must wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet.

• An electric moped is not required to have pedals.

• On level ground must not travel faster than 30mph on motors power only.

In California operating a moped on public roads requires a drivers license or learning permit, license plate, and registration card. A moped license plate and registration card costs $18.00 and never expires or needs to be re-registered.

New 2005 California Scooter Laws: 
A California driver's license or learner's permit is now required to operate motorized scooters on public roads. Formerly no driver's license or learner's permit was required to operate on public roads. Also gas scooter modifications that increase the decibel level or exhaust emissions of the scooter's motor are banned by the new scooter law. This law change does not address pocket bikes which are regulated under current motorcycle laws.

California Scooter (MINI) Law Summary:

• A driver's license or learners permit is required to drive an electric scooter.

• No insurance, registration or license plates are required. 

• Driver must wear a bicycle helmet.

• Drive shall not operate motorized scooter in excesses of 15 mph.

• Driver shall not operate on public road with a speed limit of 25 mph or more, unless it is operated in a bike lane.

• Driver to operate on right side of the roadway and next to the curb when feasible. When intending to move left at an intersection, they must walk their scooter in a crosswalk when crossing roadway.

• Driver must operate in a designated bike lane when one is available.

• Driver must not ride on any sidewalk except to leave or enter adjacent property.

• Driver shall not leave scooter on path or sidewalk.

• Driver shall not hitch scooter onto another vehicle in motion.

• Driver shall not have passengers.

• Driver can be on bike path or trail unless prohibited by local ordinance.

• Driver must have at least one hand on handlebars.

• Equipment requirements during hours of darkness:

1. White headlight to the front visible from 300 feet both to the front and sides.

2. A red reflector on the rear of the device, visible from 500 feet.

3. White or yellow reflector on each side visible from the front and rear of the device from 200 feet.

4. A white lamp or white lamp combination, attached to the operator and visible from 300 feet in front and from the sides of the motorized scooter.

• Handlebars must not exceed shoulders of the rider.

• Scooter must have an engine/motor kill switch that activates when released or when the brakes are applied.

• Scooter must have a working brake.

Many customers ask us the difference between a moped and a scooter. We hope this page will help explain some of the differences and similarities of the two.

Mopeds are a class of low powered motorized vehicles normally defined by limits on engine displacement, speed, power output, or the requirement of pedals. Moped classification is designed to allow the use of small-motorized vehicles on streets, without some of the restrictions and licensing requirements of larger displacement motorcycles. Motorized bicycles, small scooters and small motorcycles generally fit the definition of a moped.

Typically, mopeds are restricted to 30–35 mph. Some localities require pedals, thus making them hybrid transport, using both human power and machine power. Many jurisdictions consider them as "limited speed motorcycles."  

Motorized bicycle/moped, tricycle, quadricycle and skateboard laws in California.

Federal Register/ Volume 70, No. 114/Wednesday, June 15^th, 2005

Re: Consumer Product Safety Act 

Low Speed Bikes:    Public Law 107-319          107th Congress

Congress concluded that because low speed electric bikes ‘‘are designed not to exceed the maximum speed of a human powered bicycle, and they are typically used in the same manner as human powered bicycles, electric bikes should be regulated in the same manner and under the same agency (the [Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)]) as human-powered bicycles (id.).’’

Consistent with the Congressional definition of low speed electric bike, we have tentatively concluded that if a two- or three-wheeled vehicle were to have a maximum speed capability of less than 20 mph (32 km/h), regardless of on-road capabilities, it would not be a ‘‘motor vehicle,’’ except in very limited circumstances, as explained below. As with electric bikes, motorized vehicles with a maximum speed capability of less than 20 mph and an electric motor of less than 750watts  (1 horsepower) are designed not to exceed the maximum speed of human-powered bicycles.

Therefore, we have tentatively concluded that vehicles with this low speed capability should not be regulated as ‘‘motor vehicles.’’ This maximum speed capability approach is also consistent with the agency’s traditional consideration of a maximum speed capability of 20 mph as one factor to use in distinguishing between motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles.

A speed capability of 20 mph or greater makes it much more likely that a vehicle could be operated in normal moving traffic and would be used on the public roadways. The lowest posted maximum speeds for public roads are typically 20 mph or 25 mph. Vehicles with a lower speed capability would have difficulty operating in normal moving traffic and thus would be less likely to be used on public roadways. In fact, States can regulate the operation of these vehicles and prohibit their operation on some or all public roads, as appropriate.

Additionally, this 20 mph dividing line would provide a clear, single parameter for determining whether many vehicles are subject to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (49 CFR Part 571) and the regulations governing notification and remedy for safety-related defects and noncompliance (49 CFR Part 573 and 577). This section shall supersede any State law or requirement with respect to low-speed electric bikes to the extent that such State law or requirement is more stringent than the Federal law or requirements referred to in subsection (a).

SEC. 2. MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS. <<NOTE: 49 USC 30102 note.>>

State Min age Notes Alabama     Arizona     Arkansas   Updated 21 Aug 2006 California     Colorado   Updated 22 Aug 2006 Connecticut     Delaware       Georgia 15 Updated 17 Sep 2006 Florida     Hawaii 15 Regular driver's license, no insurance Idaho       Illinois         Indiana 15 Small scooter (for example, Honda Elite) qualifies as moped. Updated 23 Aug 2006. Iowa   Updated 23 Aug 2006 Louisiana     Kansas   Updated 17 Sep 2006 Kentucky 16   Maine     Maryland 16 Updated 17 Sep 2006   Massachusetts   Pedals are not required - 50cc scooter qualifies as moped   Michigan   15 I think pedals are not required. Updated 17 Sep 2006   Minnesota 15     Missouri 16 Pick up a copy of Missouri Driver's Guide - its moped section lists everything you need to know.   Montana     Nebraska 15   Nevada     New Hampshire     New Jersey 15 New Jersey Moped Manual (scanned by Citrus) Info on new release of manual New Mexico     New York       North Carolina       North Dakota       Ohio Detailed Ohio info   14 Moped info from Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles   Oklahoma   Updated 2 Oct 2006 Oregon   16   Pennsylvania   Pedals+insurance+title required Puerto Rico     Rhode Island       South Dakota   Updated 2 Oct 2006   South Carolina       Tennessee     Texas 15 Updated 2 Oct 2006 Utah     Vermont     Virginia   Complete Virginia moped statutes New Virginia moped house bills (restrictive - if you are in Virginia, you might want to voice your opposition.)   16   Washington     West Virginia       Wisconsin 16 Normal driver's license required     Country Min age Norway   Alberta, Canada   British Columbia, Canada   Ontario, Canada   Quebec, Canada   United Kingdom Sweden 15   Need more information? Check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles or try Cornell's "Statutes by state" site Info on moped plates Motorcycle Laws

 Skeuter  12120 Washington Blvd, Los  Angeles, CA 90066    310-425-4051  email: ZANE@SKEUTER.COM