The traffic police clarified the question of whether a driver with a “B” license can drive a moped if the “M” category is not open

Are moped and scooter licenses required in 2021?

A moped is a type of vehicle that is so popular among teenagers and active youth. Its main difference from motorcycles is the engine capacity. A moped's internal combustion engine volume does not exceed 50 cm³. As a rule, its speed is limited to 50 km/h.

Are moped and scooter licenses required in 2021?

A scooter is a type of city motorcycle. They are designed for movement on high-quality road surfaces. Among the technical features, the outboard engine is located directly under the rider’s seat.

Both types of transport have found their target audience. Basically, these are young people who want to quickly move around the city, but cannot afford a car, and teenagers. The latter, when scooters and Japanese mopeds appeared on the market, were immediately noted in the summary of accidents and accidents.

Lack of driving experience, courage and poor knowledge of traffic rules have led to the fact that the statistics of accidents involving minors has risen sharply. Often these road accidents result in serious injury and death, which is why a number of changes were made to the law in 2013.

Back in 2013, mopeds and scooters were included in the list of vehicles that require a driver's license to drive. Moreover, the engine displacement did not matter. This requirement even applied to owners of vehicles with an internal combustion engine volume of less than 50 cubic meters, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h or equipped with an electric motor with a power of up to 4 kW.

This requirement was enshrined in law on November 5, 2013. But it was implemented in practice only a year later (November 5, 2014). The fact is that during this year new rules for issuing driver’s licenses were developed and adopted. Therefore, it was in 2014 that riders were able to begin undergoing training and passing an exam, after which they received the long-awaited license to drive a moped.

Changes were also made to the traffic rules. Firstly, the very concept of a moped as a mechanical vehicle was enshrined in the set of rules. Secondly, quadricycles were equated to the same category, the drivers of which were also required to have a category “M” driver’s license.

When riding a moped or scooter, it is important to remember safety

Now, according to the new rules, the driver of a moped or scooter, when stopped by a traffic police inspector, was required to present his scooter license or a temporary permit to drive a mechanical vehicle. That is, having a license for a moped in 2021 is a clear requirement, failure to comply with which may result in fines.

Moreover, the traffic rules clearly state that even if the bicycle is equipped with an internal combustion engine, its owner will have to obtain a license, like for an electric scooter.

Sports small-capacity boats

Often the owner of a 125 cc motorcycle wants his bike to look like a sports bike (in plastic, with a “recumbent” seat). Of course, it won’t drive like an R1, Hayabusa or even an ER-6, but it will definitely attract attention with its appearance. Here are the most popular models of small-capacity sports:

• Honda CBR 125 R is an attractive motorcycle with very good speed and power. Despite its small volume, we can safely participate in races. Maneuverability, lightness, and a specific riding position allow the bike to accelerate to 140 km/h!

• Yamaha YZF-R125 is a direct competitor to the CBI. It is slightly slower, reaching a speed of only 130 km/h. At the same time, its character is more flexible, and fuel consumption is significantly less;

• The Aprilia RS 125 has a power of 33 hp, which is twice as much as both previous variants, and it can accelerate to 175 km/h. Such performance was made possible thanks to the two-stroke engine.

Now that you have decided exactly what tasks are required from a motorcycle (reliability, explosiveness, off-road, sporty look) - you can safely study advertisements for sale.

Do you need a license for a 50cc moped?

It would seem that vehicles with an internal combustion engine displacement of less than 50 cm³ are characterized by low power, so there is no need to register them, and even more so to obtain a driving license for them. However, in practice it turned out that even with such modest indicators, drivers successfully create emergency situations, the reasons for which are often simple ignorance of traffic rules.

Obtaining a license for a scooter and moped is always accompanied by passing an exam on the theoretical part, which includes not only traffic rules, but also the provision of first aid. That's why legislators included scooters and mopeds with an engine capacity of up to 50 cubic meters in the list of vehicles that require a driver's license of a certain category to drive. In this case, this is the license for a scooter or moped of category “M”.

Training for category “M”: duration and cost

A number of driving schools have already included training in moped riding in their program. By analyzing the prices for education at various schools, you can create an average cost characteristic for this type of service. So, on average, it is suggested to get the basics of driving a moped:

• from 7 to 12 thousand for a theoretical course of study, consisting of 16 lessons, spread over 1–2 months;
• from 16 to 26 thousand rubles for theory, which smoothly turns into the practical part - driving. The classes consist of 16 theoretical hours and 10–18 hours of training. The training period in this case will last 1.5–2.5 months. But this price does not include the cost of gasoline and various lubricants;
• from 20 to 34 thousand will have to be paid for an all-inclusive course. The package of services includes a theory course, practice, an internal preparatory exam, passing a medical examination and paying the necessary state fees. The maximum duration of training will be 2.5 months. The student will have to attend 16 standard theoretical classes and complete up to 18 hours of practical training on a moped. Driving equipment and helmet are provided by the school.

Having your own scooter or moped, as well as the necessary equipment, can significantly reduce the cost of payment for practical classes. You can also save money when taking the traffic police exam. The “student” will not have to rent a driving school vehicle to demonstrate his skills to traffic police officers.

There are a couple more important aspects of the learning conditions that should be taken into account. Firstly, most driving schools conduct classes only in the spring-summer-autumn period, when it is warm and dry. Secondly, the cost of the educational process may be influenced by the time and days of visits. Driving schools with classes on weekends will cost a little more.

What category of license allows you to drive a moped (scooter)?

As mentioned earlier, to drive a moped or scooter you need an M category license. However, they are not the only ones suitable. According to the law, drivers with licenses of any open category can drive these types of vehicles. That is, if the owner of a moped has a category “B” driver’s license, then the “M” category in his license opens automatically. This means there is no need to take additional exams for category “M”.

What category of license allows you to drive a moped (scooter)?

It is worth mentioning separately. In some cases, it appears on the driver’s license directly opposite the “M” category. This is not a special permit, but quite the opposite, a ban on driving a moped and scooter for medical reasons.

Thus, drivers who have received a driver’s license of category “M” or any other category: A, B, C, D and even Tm and Tb (tram and trolleybus) have the right to drive mopeds and scooters.

What are the categories?

Art. 25 Federal Law No. 196 “On Road Safety” (hereinafter referred to as the Law) regulates the list of categories of vehicles:

Fine for driving a moped without a license

Riding a moped or scooter without a driver's license is a violation and is punishable by a fine of 5 to 15 thousand rubles. Also, a driver who does not have proof of vehicle registration with him may be removed from driving and the moped taken to the impound lot.

The only “vehicle” with an internal combustion engine that can be driven without a license is a pit bike. However, it belongs to the category of sports equipment and is therefore not allowed for use on public roads.

How to get a license for a moped?

In order to obtain a license for a moped or scooter, you must submit an application, undergo a medical and psychiatric examination, pay a fee and pass an exam.

The first thing you need to do is choose a driving school that has a driving training program. As a rule, it consists of 72 hours of theory and 30 hours of practice, with 18 hours allocated directly to driving.

Training takes place on a paid basis. When choosing a driving school, you should pay attention to whether it has a state license and reviews online.

A person who meets the following requirements can obtain a license for a scooter or moped:

• age over 16 years;
• availability of Russian citizenship or residence permit in the Russian Federation;
• absence of medical contraindications;
• successful completion of the final exam.

A medical examination is necessary to identify possible contraindications and restrictions on driving a moped. A license for a scooter will not be issued subject to a number of restrictions. These include:

• diseases of the endocrine system;
• epilepsy;
• motor dysfunctions;
• mental disorders;
• serious hearing and vision impairment;
• alcoholism and drug addiction.

At the initial stage of obtaining a license for a moped with an internal combustion engine volume of no more than 50 cubic meters, the candidate must collect the following documents:

1. Application on a special traffic police form (filled out according to the sample).
2. Identity card (passport).
3. Certificate from a psychiatric and drug treatment clinic.
4. Medical examination with a positive conclusion.
5. Two 3x4 photos.
6. Receipt for payment of state duty.

The exam itself is taken at the traffic police department. The first part is a test of theoretical material (traffic rules, assistance, design features of the vehicle, conflicts on the road). The verification is carried out in the form of testing.

Exam

The second is an assessment of driving skills. It includes two stages: a training ground and a populated area. Failure at any stage generally leads to failure to pass the license. As for retaking the test, this right can be exercised 7 days after the first failure. After passing all stages, the candidate can receive a license for a moped in paper or plastic form.