Do you need to register your moped?
Whether or not you need to register your moped depends entirely on what state you are in. What it takes to register your moped, the registration fee, and how long it takes to register your moped also depends on what state you are in. Once you have the moped registered, whether you need a license and what type of license you will need, again, depends on what state you are in. This is because the DMV is not at all under the control of the federal government. Each local government has the right to control its own department of transportation and motor vehicles. The result might be good for the state government and local authorities, but it is very confusing for new moped owners who only want to follow the laws and stay out of trouble. The absolute easiest thing to do is contact your local DMV or obtain a DMV handbook, often available online now, and look up the answer yourself before purchasing a moped or riding a moped out on the streets.
However, chances are very good that you do have to register your moped. You should assume that registration and a proper license are the default requirement and count on obtaining both once you have a new moped. Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Indiana are just a few states that explicitly require registration, titles, license plates, and current driver licenses. Arizona, on the other hand, defines all scooters with a helper engine of 50cc or smaller as a moped, and they do not require mopeds to be registered or licensed. Each state as their own working definition of what a moped is and their own expectations. That is why doing the research before purchasing the vehicle is key.
In order to stay on the right side of the law, follow some simple steps as soon as you purchase your moped. First, find out precisely how your state defines a moped versus a motor scooter. Second, once you have that definition, find out if a current, valid license is required to drive a moped. Third, learn if a registration is required. Fourth, find out if any additional safety gear is required by law, including helmets and eye gear. Fifth, make sure you understand that you obey the rules of traffic and you know what those are. If you do all these things, then your new ownership of your moped should go smoothly.
