Why Don't Scooters Need a License?

Scooters with smaller motors or lower speed capacity require no license in many states.

Some states have no license requirements for scooters, while others classify scooters as motorcycles and require them to be registered in the same manner. Some states make the determination based on the power of the scooter.

Classification

The laws in some states place scooters in the same category as bicycles, therefore exempting it from license requirements. In Maryland, scooters must follow the same rules of the road as bicycles do.

Speed

In the state of New York, speed is used to determine whether a scooter driver needs a license and of what type. If the scooter isn't built to go beyond 30 mph, the driver doesn't need a motorcycle license. In Florida, the threshold is lower. If a scooter can exceed 20 mph, the driver is required to obtain a license.

Engine Size

In some states, regardless of how fast a scooter goes, the measurement for licensing is the size of the engine. In Maryland, scooters with engines smaller than 50 cubic centimeters are not required to be registered, nor are owners/drivers required to obtain a license.

References

• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration: Motor Scooter
• Mother Nature Network: Drivers With DUI Charges Skirt License Rules