Scooting Around? Know Your State's License and Permit Rules!

In most states, riders must have a driver’s license or an endorsement to operate their motorcycle legally. This definition often applies to all two-wheeled vehicles, including mopeds and scooters.

You could face fines or other legal consequences if you don’t follow the rules or laws regarding licenses and endorsements while operating a scooter or moped.

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When you have a 50cc engine on your scooter, the laws that govern how you can operate the equipment vary by location. Most states require the vehicle to be registered and you to have a motorcycle license or endorsement, but some exceptions apply to a low-speed engine.

What Are the Requirements to Legally Operate a 50cc Scooter Where I Live?

The following chart shows what is required to ride a 50cc scooter where you currently live as of March 2023. Please note that these rules are subject to change at any time by the state government, so always perform your due diligence by checking with your DMV or an equivalent office.

It should be noted that highways are not the same as freeways or interstates. Mopeds and scooters with a 50cc engine are typically banned from high-speed roads with speed limits that exceed the vehicle’s maximum capacity by 25 mph or more.

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State	License Requirements	Allowed on Highway	Title and registration are necessary if the scooter meets the state’s definition of a motorcycle. Those under the age 18 must wear a helmet.
Alabama	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Insurance needed to operate vehicle. Helmet and other protective gear required.
Alaska	Class M1 License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must register and insure the vehicle. Protective eyewear required.
Arizona	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Registration and insurance required. Must wear a helmet under age 18.
Arkansas	Class M or MD License	Allowed	Liability insurance required. No passengers allowed.
California	M1 or M2 License	Allowed	Liability insurance and helmets are required.
Colorado	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Registration, liability insurance, and eye protection mandatory.
Connecticut	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Must wear a helmet and operate in the right lane.
Delaware	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Banned	Must be 16.
Florida	Class E Driver’s License or Motorcycle License	Banned	Must be 16.
Georgia	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must wear a helmet at all times.
Hawaii	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Must achieve speed of 35 mph or faster	Helmet with a chin strap required to operate (under 18). Safety goggles or a windshield required. Registration and liability insurance is mandatory.
Idaho	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Liability insurance required if vehicle meets FMVSS for motorcycles.
Illinois	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Must be titled and registered. Liability insurance is mandatory. Eye protection is required.
Indiana	Driver’s License of Class B MDC Endorsement	Only if Highway Is 35 mph or Less	Must be registered. Helmet required under age 18. Eye protection mandatory for all.
Iowa	Driver’s License or Permit	Must achieve speed of 40 mph	Must be registered and insured.
Kansas	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Minors must wear a helmet.
Kentucky	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must wear a helmet if under age 21.
Louisiana	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Those with a permit must stay within three miles of home. Liability insurance and a helmet are required.
Maine	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Registration required. Must stay on the farthest right-hand side of the road. Liability insurance is mandatory. Helmets required for those under 18.
Maryland	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Requires title and insurance to operate. Helmet and eye protection are mandatory.
Massachusetts	Driver’s License or Permit	Banned	Registration and wearing a helmet are required.
Michigan	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Banned	Registration is required and renews every 36 months. Helmets required for anyone under age 19.
Minnesota	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Banned	Must be titled and registered. Liability insurance is necessary. Minors must wear a helmet.
Mississippi	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Liability insurance is required. Helmets are mandatory.
Missouri	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	No insurance or safety equipment required for mopeds.
Montana	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must operate on the far right. Helmets required for minors.
Nebraska	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Must achieve speed of 31 mph or faster	Any vehicle without pedals is considered a motorcycle.
Nevada	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Riders must wear a helmet. Registration is required for public use.
New Hampshire	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must be registered.
New Jersey	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Registration and liability insurance are mandatory. Must wear a helmet.
New Mexico	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Title and registration are necessary if the scooter meets the state’s definition of a motorcycle. Those under age 18 must wear a helmet.
New York	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Must register and insure a scooter or moped. Helmet and eye protection are mandatory.
North Carolina	No License Required	Allowed	Must be registered. Operators must be at least 16 and follow all traffic laws. Helmets are required.
North Dakota	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Permits allowed at age 14. Must be registered, titled, and insured. Helmets are required for minors.
Ohio	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must be registered, titled, and tagged. Helmets are required, and the vehicle must have one rearview mirror. Vehicles must operate in the far right lane.
Oklahoma	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Banned	Must wear a helmet if under age 18.
Oregon	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Registration required. All riders must wear helmets, and passengers are not permitted.
Pennsylvania	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Anything without pedals could be classifed as a motorcycle.
Rhode Island	Driver’s License or Permit	Banned	Scooter must be registered. Insurance is mandatory. Must wear a helmet if under age 21.
South Carolina	Driver’s License or Moped License	Not Permitted	Must register vehicle and obtain license plates.
South Dakota	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Needs to be registered and insured. Helmets required for minors. Eye protection or a windscreen is mandatory.
Tennessee	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must wear a helmet, register the scooter, and obtain a title.
Texas	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Required to be registered, insured, and tagged. Must pass a safety course to not wear a helmet and provide proof of health insurance.
Utah	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Must be registered, titled, and insured. Helmets required for those under age 21.
Vermont	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Registration and insurance is required, and helmets are mandatory.
Virginia	Driver’s License or Permit	Banned	Must carry valid ID while operating. Scooter needs to be titled and registered. Helmets required for everyone.
Washington	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Banned	Must be tagged and registered. Helmets are required.
Washington DC	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Banned	Follows motorcycle laws. Liability insurance is required.
West Virginia	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Helmets are required. The scooter needs to be titled, insured, and registered.
Wisconsin	Driver’s License or Permit	Allowed	Liability insurance is required.
Wyoming	Motorcycle License or Endorsement	Allowed	Needs to be registered and insured. Highly recommended to speak with an attorney because of the state’s complex laws.

How to Get a Motorcycle License or Endorsement?

If you want to get an endorsement for an existing driver’s license, you’ll typically need to pass a safety course or a knowledge exam. Once you have these certificates, you can legally apply for what you need to operate a motorcycle in your state.

Minimum age requirements apply in all states. You can get a permit at 14 or 15, but it can be 17 or 18 in some areas. This requirement often changes, so check to see the current rules where you live.

Some states require written permission from a legal guardian or parent for someone under 17 to apply for a motorcycle permit or license.

You’ll need to complete the same steps as you would for a standard driver’s license to obtain a motorcycle license. That includes taking a vision screening, passing a skills test, and offering proof of identity.

Once you’re licensed or endorsed and have your 50cc scooter, you’ll want to apply for motorcycle insurance (or a moped/scooter policy, if available) that meets the requirements for your state.