Joining the Moped Craze? Check Texas Moped Laws

So,
you’ve just watched Roman Holiday, and you want to see if there’s a way
to live the dream of scooting around a fantastic European city on a chic
1960s-style moped right here in Texas. Well, you’re not alone.

Over
the past decade, mopeds have become increasingly popular in Texas, particular
in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. More urban Texans than ever are
discovering that Vespas offer just the right amount of extra mobility to
navigate city streets efficiently and stylishly — not to mention low gas costs.
But just because Europeans make scooting around look so easy doesn’t mean there
aren’t important things to take into consideration before hitting the streets.

Here
are the Texas moped laws you should know.

What
Is a Moped?

People
call them mopeds, scooters, Vespas, and other names, but according to Texan
law, they are all “mopeds.” In Texas, mopeds are a special category of vehicle.
In order to qualify as a moped, the vehicle must not go over 30 miles per hour,
must not require gear shifting, and must not have piston displacement of more
than 50 cubic centimeters (ccs). This is a pretty low bar. Most of the vehicles
on the street that look like scooters and mopeds exceed these speed and power
criteria, which means, as far as the state of Texas is concerned, they are
actually motorcycles.

How
to Make Your Moped Street-Legal

If
your vehicle does qualify as a moped, it will be a little easier to hit the
streets. It needs to be registered with the state as a “certified moped.” Once
that is completed, you still need to get a qualified M Class (motorcycle) license
in order to drive and to obtain motorcycle insurance. You must be 15 years or
older and pass a written test in order to get a M Class license, but you will
not need to take the motorcycle-skills test required for motorcycle drivers.
Mopeds must also be registered, have a clear title, and pass annual safety
inspections.

How to Stay
Street-Safe

There
are some other basic rules. Helmets are required for riders under age 21.
Mopeds must have a working headlight and breaks, and when driving, you should
stay to the right of the road to allow faster traffic to pass. If the vehicle
is not a certified moped — meaning it goes over 30 mph or has an engine power
of 51 cc or more — then you will have to have a M Class license, motorcycle
insurance, and follow all of the rules of the road that motorcycles must
follow.

Find more rules of the road for different vehicles here.

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