At what age is a child allowed to ride a moped and scooter?
Today's teenagers are very lucky. Russian legislation allows them to operate such a facility from the age of 14. But the increasing concentration of cars on the roads from year to year, constantly changing traffic rules - all this leads to the fact that the guys cannot control the moped and create emergency situations. After all, a highway is not a home apartment, where parents simply won’t buy their child sweets as punishment for an offense he has committed.
The road is a place of increased danger for all participants in the traffic process without exception. Violating the rules threatens them not only with physical injury, but also with death, not only for themselves, but also for strangers.
Therefore, deputies are considering a law granting the right to drive a moped from the age of sixteen. According to the people's representatives, this age allows a person to more responsibly understand his actions, getting rid of the illusion that everything is allowed to him.
The scooter appears to be a type of motor scooter, equipped with a convenient platform for landing and placing your feet.
The developed feathering of the scooter protects the rider and the mechanisms of the vehicle from dirt. Traveling on such transport is considered quite safe. His rider is not guaranteed complete preservation of health, and even life, if he gets into an accident. The road legislation being discussed by the public stipulates the age at which one can ride a scooter. Car enthusiasts need to prepare for the fact that they are also planning to increase it by two years. Therefore, children should know at what age they can ride a scooter. The current rules currently allow this to be done from the age of 14, but after the adoption of innovations, this age will be updated to 16 years.
At what age can you ride a scooter or moped if you don’t need a license?
First you need to decide what “no rights needed” means. Rights will not be required in two cases:
- if you already have rights of another category;
- if the scooter is electric and its power is less than 250 W.
ConsultantPlus has many ready-made solutions, including those on traffic requirements for cyclists and moped drivers. If you don't have access to the system yet, sign up for a free trial online. You can also get the current K+ price list.
Do you need a license for a moped and scooter?
Yes, they are needed, but if you have a license of any other category, then you can ride a moped with such a license. You can only ride a motorcycle if you have category “A” open.
According to clause 1.2 of the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations, the “moped” category includes vehicles with an internal combustion engine with the following characteristics:
- number of wheels - two or three;
- maximum speed - up to 50 km/h;
- engine volume - up to 50 cm3.
A motorcycle is considered a more powerful vehicle that has two or three wheels, whose engine capacity is more than 50 cm3 or whose maximum speed exceeds 50 km/h.
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An analysis of the two definitions above shows that to drive a two-wheeled vehicle such as a moped or scooter equipped with an internal combustion engine, you will need a driver’s license of category “M” or “A1” (if the engine volume exceeds 50 cm3, but not more than 125 cm3). And if we are talking about a motorcycle, then the license is category “A”.
Let us remind you that if you have a license of another category, then you do not need a moped license, but such a license can only be obtained from 18 years of age.
Moped license
Mopeds were very popular in the Soviet Union. Their low price, almost free gasoline, led to the massive use of this vehicle. Many teenagers ignore the mandatory requirements while driving this way. Many people still don’t know for sure whether they need a license for a modern moped, which they could previously do without.
The Traffic Regulations, which have been in force for several years, require moped owners to have a driver’s license. It is stipulated by obtaining category M, which allows you to drive this vehicle without fear of meeting with a representative of the traffic police. Of course, this requirement only applies to those who do not have any other open category. A rider stopped by an inspector will be subject to an administrative fine of 5 thousand to 15 thousand rubles for operating without the appropriate certificate.
Considering a scooter and a moped, we can say that they have different engine power. This is expressed in the need to obtain different categories of rights. For example, an electric scooter also includes a driver category M. Therefore, all engines with a power from 0.25 to 4 kilowatts are included here. It does not play any role - the product was purchased in a store, or the craftsman designed it himself, installing an electric motor on it.
Category C causes a lot of controversy among its owners.
Some argue that it allows you to drive a moped, while others have the opposite opinion. Such positions are due to some differences in the types of old and new rights. The first ones were not intended to be awarded to the owners of mopeds, whose engines were determined to have a volume of no more than 50 cm3. Therefore, it was possible to ride such a vehicle without passing exams. Any higher category that was open made it possible to manage the funds of the lower category without any difficulties. New laws have tightened the rules for using two-wheeled mechanical vehicles. Now the owner who has the corresponding category open has the right to use a moped. Having permission to drive even all types of trucks, a person still does not have the right to drive a moped if he does not have category M.
The new road legislation provides for obtaining a driver's license to operate a moped and scooter no earlier than 16 years of age. Driving without a license threatens to result in penalties for the driver. Any open higher category is also not a permit to drive a moped or scooter.
Do scooter owners need licenses?
This question is asked by almost all owners of mechanical vehicles, since in the past, licenses for mopeds and scooters were not needed. But nowadays, due to the adoption of a new law, a fine is imposed for driving a scooter without a license. What has changed in the legislation?
New instructions for engines up to 50cc
The reform came into force in 2013. A category “M” appeared, which included:
- mopeds;
- scooters;
- light ATVs.
What licenses are needed for a scooter are described in detail in this video:
There are clarifications in the law - category “M” includes mechanical means of movement with the following characteristics:
- motor up to 50cc;
- electric motor 0.25-4 kW power;
- speed up to 50 km/h.
Important: even bicycles with an engine began to fall into this category. With clarification, if the power characteristics are comparable to those of the scooter. Owners of scooters, ATVs and mopeds are required to take courses at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and obtain a driving license.
It will not be possible to prepare for exams on your own - this item has been abolished. To drive low-power mechanical vehicles, you must have a license or a temporary permit to drive scooters up to 50cc.
Interesting: the law contains an explanation that if you have a driving license with categories “A” and “B”, then you do not need to take exams for category “M”; you are allowed to drive a scooter in any open category of a higher class.
What are the nuances?
The law stipulates that a license to operate a scooter is mandatory. But when registering a mechanical vehicle at the Department of Internal Affairs, they will not be required from you. It is also not necessary to undergo technical inspection and technical inspection. passport.
Driving category "M".
It is not necessary to take out insurance for a scooter; obtaining a compulsory motor liability insurance policy is only your decision. The traffic police inspector has no right to demand it from you.
As for the fine, if the moped driver damaged the car while driving on the road, then it can be collected in court or by agreement of the parties; the inspector cannot issue a fine.
Who can get an M license?
Buying a moped is half the battle. But does a person who has the right to drive a heavy truck, bus or trolleybus have the right to operate it? The answer is that he has, when he has a mark on the opening of category M on his certificate. If there is no such record, then it will not be possible to roll out on two wheels equipped with a motor.
Any citizen of Russia who has no contraindications for driving a moped has the right to receive a driver’s license with the open form mentioned above. The latter is confirmed by the presence of a medical certificate. It should be recalled that permission is issued to citizens only when they reach the age of 14, and upon entry into force of legislative innovations - from the age of 16. This rule applies to driving all categories of light motorcycles.
Heavier two-wheeled vehicles with an engine capacity of over 125 cm 3 will require the owner to reach the age of majority - 18 years. From this age you can get permission to drive cars. Increasing the class of equipment requires increasing the category and age at the same time.
You can go to a driving school much earlier, starting at age 14. True, the teenager will be allowed to take the traffic police exams only after two years. Documents issued by the driving school will serve as confirmation of completion of this training course.
Now there are many driving schools providing services to the public. But this does not mean that you need to rush into the first one you come across. Having decided to apply for training, the future student needs to study the offers of several schools and compare them.
They may differ due to the following factors:
- Opportunity for training. Not all schools offer the opportunity to obtain a license to drive a scooter.
- Tuition costs can vary significantly, although obtaining an M form itself is not particularly difficult.
- Reviews from graduates posted on the Internet will greatly benefit the listener.
The cost of training for a moped driver is, on average, 10-15 thousand rubles. Perhaps, for obtaining a professional license, this difference is not so significant, but not for riding a two-wheeled motor bicycle. If the driver has a higher open category, this may be a slight advantage, since the rules of the road for all types of vehicles are based on the same basis. You can simply take private lessons and then take the exams.
Scooter license
The legal framework regarding riding scooters and mopeds is very variable. The federal law on the need to register category M licenses was introduced in November 2013. To obtain a license, you need to undergo training at a driving school and pass the appropriate exam at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.
In connection with this law, appropriate changes were made to the traffic rules. However, when the new rule was introduced, they did not take into account that driving schools needed new traffic rules and new specialists in order to train for the new category. Therefore, the law theoretically existed for almost a year, but was not in effect. Due to this, people who wanted to drive scooters needed to get a higher driving category.
By law, a moped is considered to be a mechanical vehicle that has the following characteristics:
- The maximum driving speed should not exceed 50 km/h.
- The volume of the internal combustion engine should not be more than 50 cubic meters. cm or electric motor from 0.25 kW to 4 kW.
A moped can have two or three wheels, and ATVs are also considered mopeds. Even a bicycle that has an engine that matches the characteristics of a scooter can be considered a moped. Since April 2014, everyone who drives a scooter is required to have the appropriate documents. At the request of traffic police officers, the driver is required to present his license.
The scooter driver is also required to wear a helmet. If the moped driver is under 16 years of age, driving a scooter is prohibited.
There is one more point: if you were deprived of the rights of another category, and you decided to receive category M rights in return, then this option is provided for by law, and you do not have the right to receive rights until the period of deprivation of other rights ends. And when it ends, you won’t even need a category M license.
Scooters up to 50cc
Previously, any teenager without any special licenses could drive a scooter up to 50cc. However, legislation has now tightened the requirements for driving such mopeds. And to manage them you must have a certificate with category M, or with any other category. Also, only those persons who have reached 16 years of age can operate a scooter.
There is no need to register a scooter with a capacity of up to 50 cubic meters yet; accordingly, it is also not necessary to take out a compulsory motor liability insurance policy, but you can if you wish, because statistics show that the accident rate of this vehicle is very high. If you get into an accident on a scooter without compulsory motor liability insurance, you will have to pay compensation for damages due to your fault out of your own pocket.
You can ride without a license while driving a motocross moped. The latter are quite powerful vehicles. However, you can only ride them on special sports grounds or in a field where there is no road, since they are classified as sports equipment. It is prohibited to drive such mopeds on the public road surface.
50cc scooters
There are scooters with more powerful engines such as 50cc or more. In this case, the driver needs to receive another category A1 if the power does not exceed 150 cubic meters. The age limit is also set at 16 years. Wearing a helmet when driving is mandatory.
Scooters 150cc
Driving scooters that have a 150cc engine requires a more difficult category. Here you will need to obtain a category A driver's license. Such scooters are equivalent to motorcycles. Driving such motor vehicles is only possible for those who have reached 18 years of age.
Category A allows you to drive all possible types of two-, three-, or four-wheeled vehicles with a weight not exceeding 400 kg. However, it excludes the right to drive a car.
In addition to obtaining category A for driving a moped or scooter with a capacity of 150 cubic meters, the driver must:
- Pass a technical inspection.
- Take out an MTPL insurance policy.
It is also mandatory to wear a helmet when driving such a vehicle.
Category restrictions
Obtaining the right to drive a moped is limited by the presence of certain diseases that are identified during a medical examination. There are a number of contraindications.
These include:
- pathological mental disorder;
- psychological disorder caused by the use of psychotropic medications;
- absence of an upper or lower limb, fingers;
- dysfunction of the vestibular analyzer.
Lack of vision concludes the list.
Despite this, there are some acceptable indicators that you can count on to obtain rights. The best eye should see at least 0.6, the worst - 0.2:
- Lack of vision in one eye, 0.8 units in the sighted eye.
- More than 30 days after ophthalmic surgery.
Vision may improve as a result of operations or exercises, so if the dynamics are positive, you can visit the ophthalmologist again. The data recorded by him will become one of the legal grounds for obtaining the desired access.
How and where to get a moped license
To obtain a driving license, a newly qualified driver will have to take a “young fighter” course and pass exams at the traffic police department.
Of course, an educational institution must have not only qualified teachers, but also an appropriate license.
The training lasts no more than two months and is divided into theory and practice. The latter takes place at a specialized site, where students demonstrate their mastery of technology.
Do you need a license for a moped in 2021 in Russia?
As noted above, a driver who is 16 years of age or older needs a license. However, before receiving them, you will have to undergo training at a licensed driving school. The training lasts approximately 1-2 months. During this period, future drivers receive theoretical training and practice their driving skills many times.
After receiving documents confirming training at a driving school, drivers 16 years of age and older can take an exam at the traffic police department. To do this, they need to provide the following documents:
- certificate of completion of a driving school;
- application (it can be written directly at the traffic police department);
- medical certificate of the established form;
- receipt for payment of state duty.
If you successfully pass the exam, you achieve what you want - you are issued a license to drive a moped or scooter.
Is it possible to ride a moped without a license in 2021 up to 50cc?
Young people are interested: are licenses for a moped up to 50cc needed in 2021 or not? The answer is clearly yes. Regardless of engine size, you must have a driver's license to operate a scooter. Another thing is that Russian legislation allows you to ride a moped if you have a license with any open category. In other words, if you already have some kind of license, then you don’t have to go to a driving school again to drive a scooter.