Do you need a pit bike license in 2021 or not?

Pit bike (pit-bike) is a small motorcycle, more like a children's one. When buying a pit bike, many owners have a question: is it possible to ride a pit bike around the city and whether you need a license for it or not.

Initially, this is sports equipment that is used for motorcycle racing and, according to the law, riding a pit bike on public roads in its original configuration is impossible, since:

Initially, technical passports are not made for them, which are necessary for registration with the traffic police.
There is no necessary electronic equipment: speedometer, side lights, turn signals, etc.

Therefore, riding a pit bike around the city, even on the side of the road or sidewalk, is initially illegal, and if you ride it only in fields and mountains, you can do without a license. Provided that you will deliver it to the countryside in the back of a truck or trailer.

However, if you decide to try to register your motorcycle for driving around the city (which is a rather complex and expensive task, we will look below at how this can be done), you will still need a license. Moreover, the receipt is similar to ordinary motorcycles.

What licenses do you need for a pit bike?

The answer to this question depends on the engine size:

If the engine capacity does not exceed 50 cc. cm, and the maximum speed is up to 50 km/h, then a car license or category M license is suitable.
If the engine capacity of a pit bike is 125 cubic meters or more, then a category A motorcycle license is required.

But remember that even if you have a license, your motorcycle can still be taken to the impound lot if you don’t have a technical passport and lighting equipment. In summer, motorcycles similar to pit bikes are stopped by traffic cops especially actively.

In the summer, traffic cops stop motorcycles similar to pit bikes especially actively.

About the rights to a pit bike

The popularity of pit bikes in 2021 has exceeded all expected levels; motorcycles of this type have become incredibly popular not only among teenagers, but also among adults. However, more and more people are asking the question: “Do you need a license for a pit bike?” Let's take a closer look at the whole situation with this type of motorcycle.

Let's start with what decides in this case the engine size. It is well known that if its volume does not exceed 49 cm3 and the speed according to documents does not exceed 50 km/h, then a license to drive such a vehicle is not required. There are a lot of pit bikes with an engine capacity of 50 cm3, but mostly these are children's models. These are motorcycles with an automatic clutch and small dimensions, which is not suitable for a teenager and therefore we immediately dismiss this type.

The most common models of pit bikes are with engine cubic capacity from 110 to 160. You can buy them in our store. To operate this bike you need:

Category A license (can only be obtained upon reaching 18 years of age)
Registering a vehicle with the traffic police

Studying at a driving school and getting a motorcycle license is not so difficult, but you still have to wait until you reach adulthood. But if you are still studying at school and it’s a long time until you turn 18, then the first problem is already here, but it’s not so scary.

The main problem is that a pit bike cannot be registered with the traffic police, because this type of equipment is not equipped with a technical equipment passport like other road or sports motorcycles. A pit bike belongs to the category of sports equipment and is not allowed to travel on public roads. Even if you want to register it, you will not be able to do this, because from the documents you will only have a purchase and sale agreement, which will confirm that you actually bought this pit bike and did not steal it, you also need to save the sales receipt.

Based on the above, we can conclude that pit bike licenses are still not needed in 2021 until the government has developed a new law regarding them. However, it is worth taking into account that if you are stopped by traffic police inspectors, at best you will get off with a warning, and at worst, the pit bike will be taken to the impound lot, and you will be given a fine of up to 5,000 rubles. Therefore, we advise all owners of pit bikes to still ride them on special motocross sites, forests, fields and off-road conditions.

At what age can you ride a pit bike?

Due to its small size and lightness, the pit bike is very popular among teenagers. Often it is generally called children's and, with appropriate equipment, even 5-year-old children are allowed to ride.

Where you can ride a pit bike:

Children of any age can ride a pitbike on country roads, the main thing is that parents do not forget to monitor the child’s safety. The only thing is that motorcycles larger than 125 cc are more suitable for teenagers over 14 years old.

Only children over 16 years old can ride around the city on a pit bike up to 50cc (if they have the appropriate documents), if they have a license allowing them to drive a moped. On a larger capacity bike they can go on public roads only after 18 years of age and with an open motorcycle category in their license.

To obtain a license to drive a mini-motorcycle, you must attend a driving school according to the general rules and pass exams at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.

How to officially get a title for a pit bike?

Any vehicle with an engine capacity of over 50 cubic meters must have a title when traveling on public roads. Initially, a pitbike is sports equipment and there is no technical passport for it; upon purchase, you are issued a receipt and an agreement, which states that the motorcycle is not intended for riding on public roads.

You can go through government certification, which will check your purchase documents, technical specifications, and whether the bike meets safety standards (i.e., whether it has all the necessary electronics, lights, and sounds).

The examination procedure is paid, plus you will have to invest heavily in installing all the equipment. However, after this you have absolutely no fear of problems with the law and meetings with traffic cops.

Do you always need a pit bike license?

A pit bike is a two-wheeled technical device intended for racing, that is, for use in specially designated areas.

It is also suitable for driving on roads, but it is unclear whether the law will allow this and whether the driver needs documents. There is no specific information about this in the traffic rules, where the very name of the device would be used.

But the lack of clear regulations does not stop its owners from driving on the roads, which means they may face problems.

Read the article about whether you need a license for a pit bike.

Light-engine two-wheeled vehicles can be more or less powerful. Some types of technical equipment under consideration are closer to motorcycles, others to mopeds. But regardless of this, the owners are trying to solve the problem of whether a license is needed to drive a pit bike.

If 50 cubes

The low-power vehicle of the type being studied has an engine capacity of 50 cm3. To understand whether you need a license for a 50cc pit bike, you need to look at the traffic rules and the Code of Administrative Offenses, as well as the law “On Road Safety”.

The “Rules...” contain a requirement that the driver of a mechanical vehicle must have and present to a police officer the right to drive the vehicle. And the fact that even a low-power pit bike can be classified in this category is confirmed by the definition of the term in the Basic Provisions of Traffic Regulations:

“Mechanical vehicle” is a vehicle driven by an engine. The term also applies to any tractors and self-propelled machines.

There is also this definition:

“Moped” is a two- or three-wheeled mechanical vehicle, the maximum design speed of which does not exceed 50 km/h, having an internal combustion engine with a displacement not exceeding 50 cubic meters. cm, or an electric motor with a rated maximum power in continuous load mode of more than 0.25 kW and less than 4 kW. Quadricycles with similar technical characteristics are considered equal to mopeds.

That is, in terms of technical parameters, sports equipment with a 50 cm3 engine can be equated to a moped. But the fact is that it is an equipment, such as a ball, fitball, exercise machine, stick, etc. This is stated in the document that the buyer receives in the store. And the law has the following explanation of the term “vehicle”:

...a device intended for the transport on roads of people, goods or equipment installed on it.

This is not what a pit bike is made for. That is, it cannot and does not need to be registered as a vehicle, it is not one. They don’t even issue PTS for sports equipment. And theoretically, all this allows you not to worry about obtaining a driver’s license to use it.

On the other hand, you cannot drive sports equipment on public roads or even on the side of the road, which is an integral part of them. This can be dangerous, because the equipment does not have, for example, headlights or emergency lights. Taking all the circumstances into account, the owner of this vehicle with a 50 cm3 engine has three options:

drive only at a stadium or other sports ground without a license, but not on public roads;
drive it without a driver’s license along with other road users, but be prepared to talk to the traffic police inspector and challenge the fine or towing of the car;
have a category M license with you so that the inspector does not draw up a report during the inspection and seize the equipment (although the policeman’s right to do this is questionable).

But in the latter case, other documents are needed to drive on public roads. And they are much more difficult to arrange.

We recommend reading about how to obtain a snowmobile license. From the article you will learn what licenses are needed for an ATV and a snowmobile, and whether it is possible to do without training and obtaining a license.

Find out more about fines for riding a motorcycle here.

If 125 cubes

Sports bikes can also be quite fast, with an engine power of 125 cm3. All previously discussed terms from the traffic rules and the law apply to it. The owner needs:

Consider equipment as sports equipment, but then do not go on public roads, do not participate in traffic. At the same time, you won’t need a license, because the person driving it is not a driver. And only he needs the document.
Treat technology like a vehicle. Then it’s clear whether you need a license for a 125cc pit bike. Without them there is no point in participating in the general movement. But such a device is more similar to a motorcycle. Therefore, you need a driver's license of category A.

In addition to this mandatory document, you will also need a PTS, and most importantly, a STS. But the first one is not issued for sports moving equipment, even with a capacity of 125 cm3. And registration without a PTS is impossible.

If 250 cubes

Considering everything said above, you shouldn’t think long about whether you need a license for a 250 cc pit bike. This technique is comparable in speed to a motorcycle. If you use it on the road, you have the same risk of getting into an accident as other road users. And the consequences will be no less serious than if you ride a motorcycle.

Therefore, to drive a sports bike with an engine capacity of 250 cm3, it is worth getting a category A license, at least in order to be able to drive it. Unless, of course, the owner intends to do this on public roads along with other road users.

Watch this video about whether you need a license for a pit bike:

How to legalize a pit bike for trouble-free riding

To use sports equipment as a regular vehicle, you need not only a license, but also:

PTS . It’s just that, at the owner’s request, the traffic police will not issue the document. Moving equipment must meet the conditions of safe operation, that is, undergo an examination and receive a certificate. To do this, it will first have to be redone, adjusting it to the regulations “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” (install headlights, signal lights, etc.). Only after this can you try to obtain a vehicle safety certificate and passport.
OSAGO policy . The insurance company will conclude a contract if the equipment is recognized as a vehicle and not sports equipment. That is, if it has a PTS.
STS . This document is also drawn up on the basis of the vehicle’s passport and the owner’s application. If there is a PTS, then the STS is obtained as usual from the traffic police.

Is it possible to drive a children's pit bike without a license?

Two-wheeled vehicles can have a capacity of less than 50 cm3. This can also be entrusted to a teenager. Whether a license for a children's pit bike is needed is also determined by traffic rules.

Only drivers of mechanical vehicles or self-propelled vehicles should have the document if the vehicles correspond to one of the categories established by law. Children's pit bikes do not fall under any of them.

That is, to drive such a vehicle you do not need a license, just as they are not required, for example, for a cyclist.

Can they be punished for driving sports equipment without a driver's license?

The lack of a driver's license may lead to the application of Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses against him, the fine for which is 5,000-15,000 rubles. But if we are talking about a pit bike, it should not work. After all, sports equipment is not a vehicle. However, traffic police officers have more than once fined drivers of vehicles for not having a license.

But the Supreme Court already overturned one such ruling in 2015. This means that other drivers of sports equipment with an engine can count on the same solution. If they were punished with a fine under Article 12.7, they need to go to court.

But, once on the road, the person driving the sports car becomes a participant in the traffic. And he can be punished under Part 2 of Article 12.29 of the Administrative Code:

Violation of the Traffic Rules by a person driving a bicycle, or by a driver or other person directly involved in the process of road traffic (except for the persons specified in Part 1 of this article, as well as the driver of the vehicle), entails an administrative fine in the amount of eight hundred rubles.

Therefore, the owner of such a car should at least have a license and a helmet, not to mention the need to comply with traffic rules.

Whether a license for a pit bike is needed is still up to the driver to decide. It’s better to get them anyway to avoid lengthy proceedings in a conflict with the traffic police. After all, the currently vague rules of the law can quickly change not in favor of the owner of sports equipment.

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Source: https://avto-urist.online/nuzhny-li-prava-na-pitbajk/

What else can you do?

Getting around the ban on driving around the city is not entirely legal, but some have been driving this way for several years. Your pit bike could easily pass for a Chinese moped. Its small dimensions and engine dimensions are quite consistent with the dimensions of a moped. To do this you need:

Find on the engine where the volume is knocked out and rub it in with a drill. It is necessary to completely smooth the surface so that not even traces of the inscription remain. Just in case, you can also erase the markings on the motor.
Find a service book from any Chinese moped, in which the fields will not be filled in and there will be a stamp from the seller’s company. There must also be a receipt with the stated purchase amount.
Make the pitbike look like a moped: install road tires, hang lights on the handlebars and place a brake light under the tail. Don't forget to always turn them on.

Do you need a license for a pit bike?

Code of Administrative Offenses Article 12.7. Driving a vehicle by a driver who does not have the right to drive a vehicle

1. Driving a vehicle by a driver who does not have the right to drive a vehicle (except for instructional driving) shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of two thousand five hundred rubles.

Driving a vehicle without state registration plates, as well as driving a vehicle without state registration plates installed in designated places, or driving a vehicle with state registration plates equipped with the use of materials that prevent or complicate their identification, shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five thousand rubles or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of one to three months.

In this case, if the cop manages to prove on the spot that you are not driving a moped and do not have a category “A” license, then the driver will be subject to a fine of 2,500 rubles, with possible detention of the vehicle (imprisonment).

This option should be avoided by any means, since having taken the motorcycle from you, you most likely will not be able to get it back , since it does not have a title and it will be almost impossible to prove that you are its owner!

The main focus of the dialogue with the traffic police officer is that the pit bike is a 50 cc moped . Prove it on the spot - everything will be fine! I have not seen instruments for measuring cubic capacity on site.

In order to classify a pit bike as a vehicle, you must pass the state registration. commission with the issuance of PTS

A motor vehicle is a mechanical vehicle designed to transport goods, passengers or equipment installed on it.

Freight vehicles, depending on the structure of the body and other design features, are divided into motor vehicles: general purpose - cars, trailers and semi-trailers with a non-tipping flatbed body, equipped in some cases with arches with an awning. They are used for transporting various types of cargo; specialized - cars, trailers and semi-trailers with various types of bodies designed for transporting certain types of cargo (for example, dump trucks, tanks, cars with special platforms, etc.);

special - car shops, cars with compressor units, car cranes, cleaning cars.

In short, a “Vehicle” is a device designed to transport people, goods or equipment installed on it on roads.

To summarize: not every vehicle is a vehicle ; in order to become one, it is necessary to undergo certification and obtain the appropriate decree from the state. commissions.

That this vehicle is safe and meets the requirements of the necessary GOSTs.

Based on this procedure, a PTS is issued - a passport of a technical device, which determines whether this cart with a motor is a vehicle or not.

Otherwise, everything falls under the definition of a vehicle: bicycle, roller skates, skateboards, etc.

At the time of the stop, the traffic police officer does not fully know whether it is a vehicle or not (and will refer to you as driving a motorcycle), if you have a document certifying that you, by definition, do not have a PTS, and therefore it is not a vehicle , then fines will apply to you as for a pedestrian or driver of a moped or bicycle .

12.29 part 2 Violation of traffic rules by a person driving a moped, bicycle, or a driver or other person directly involved in the process of road traffic (except for the persons specified in part 1 of this article, as well as the driver of a mechanical vehicle) warning or fine of 200 rubles.

12.29 part 3 Violation of traffic rules by persons specified in part 2 of this article, committed in a state of intoxication, a fine of 300 to 500 rubles.

Total. Either you proceed according to the following plan and prove on the spot that you are driving a moped , or if you have a full-size crossbike, register the motorcycle with the motorcycle federation and receive a sports equipment passport .

But in the latter case, you should not be on the road.

However, as practice shows, there are a couple of tricks here: drive not on the road, but on the side of the road; turn off and get off the motorcycle when approaching traffic police officers; refer to the low funding for young athletes and the lack of a van to transport the motorcycle to the track.

You may be interested in: Car rental with option to buy in Moscow

So what should we do?

There is a way out of any situation. I myself have been riding a pit bike around the city for the second season now. During all this time, I was stopped only once, and then in a column with bikers who were moving in the direction from the site of the bike fest to the city. The purpose of the stop is to check documents, and at the same time determine sobriety. Since everything was in order, I moved on.

And now let’s move on to the most interesting thing - what was written in the documents, and what is the secret of calmly moving around the city on a pit bike without a license.

Immediately after purchasing a pit bike, find where it is knocked out engine capacity. As a rule, this is one of the cylinder cooling fins.
If the numbers are convex, it will be easier; if they are embossed, it will be a little more difficult. We take a drill with an emery attachment and very carefully grind the cubic capacity flush with the edge so that it becomes smooth and it is completely unclear that anything was ever stuffed there.
Having smoothed the inscription completely, we look at the texture of the edge; if it is rough, and in the place of rubbing it is too smooth - it may arouse suspicion, we take a larger piece of sandpaper, and achieve the same texture by processing the entire edge.
If the cylinder is painted, for example, black, we buy a can of cheap black heat-resistant paint in the store and carefully tint the crime scene to achieve the desired texture on the paint, you can sprinkle a pinch of sand on the paint that has not yet dried. If you want to drive calmly, don’t be lazy, don’t think that the cops are stupider than you.
If you do everything carefully, in case of a conflict situation it will be easier to prove that you are right. For the particularly paranoid, you can also knock off the engine markings, which are stamped on the crankcase above the VIN number, but this is not necessary.
Try to find a person who can sell you a service book from any Chinese moped, where on the last page there will be empty fields, but there will be a payment receipt and a stamp from the company that sold the device. 2 years ago a similar book cost about 350 rubles. If it doesn’t work, we take it sample purchase and sale agreement, we call a friend over and draw up an agreement that your friend sold you a scooter (moped) for, say, 30 thousand rubles. three years ago. We fill everything out honestly according to the example:
- Ident No. VIN – dash
Year of manufacture – current minus 2-3 years
Engine No. - 4 tk. 49 cu. see No. [engine-number-on-crankcase]
Body number - dash
Chassis (frame) No. - the frame number is indicated on the traverse
Vehicle passport – dash
Date of issue – dash
Color – main color of plastic
Cost - how do you evaluate the device yourself, try to stay within the limits of Chinese mopeds

It is better to fill it out with a pen according to the printed layout. After painting both sides, in theory the document should be sealed by a notary, but I did not do this. Then we make a photocopy of the document or take the original, put it in a cellophane file and always take it with us along with the passport.

It is mandatory to have a helmet and a set of equipment, firstly, you will be safer, and secondly, there will be fewer reasons for the guys to stop.
Do everything to make your pit bike look like a civilian vehicle. Buy road tires. Hang bicycle lights on the handlebars, place a brake light under the tail, and let them always be on. If there are windings for light on the generator, you can install a full-fledged streetfighter muzzle.
Do not violate traffic rules, try to stay to the right of the right lane and keep a distance of one meter from the sidewalk. Remember, you are a participant in the movement like everyone else. Don’t drive drunk, don’t cross double lines, don’t drive under red lights, don’t break signs. When you see the cops, you shouldn’t show them how your new pit is driving, reduce the speed and shift up, this way you will go no faster and no louder than an ordinary Chinese moped, which again will protect you from unnecessary communication with the police and close examination of the moped.
It wouldn't hurt to have at least 500 rubles in your wallet. well, just in case of an emergency.

The most important thing is to believe for yourself that this is another Chinese-made miracle, equipped with a clone of the engine from the legendary Honda Cub or Honda Monkey with a volume of no more than 49 cc. cm.

Why do I consider it not dangerous for property and well-being to ride a pit bike around the city without a license, in compliance with the rules described above:

In a small pit, no one will think that a cubic engine is installed there. There are full-size motorcycles, scooters and mopeds with the same engine capacity (49 cc) and manual transmission, which also do not require a license.
Engine from Honda Monkey. Externally, it is practically indistinguishable with cubic capacity of 50 - 150 cubic cm.

How to behave on the road in the city?

If this is how you legalized your ride around the city on a pit bike, then remember that representatives of the law can still stop you and doubt your vehicle. Stand on the fact that this moped is so wonderful, what the Chinese don’t do.

Be sure to wear a helmet, so the traffic police will have fewer reasons to stop you.
Follow the traffic rules: stay in the far right lane, don’t drive drunk, don’t run red lights, etc.
Try not to drive too hard, especially when passing traffic cops, drive at a speed of about 50 km/h.