Riding A Moped At 16

One of the first types of vehicles you're legally able to ride as a teenager in the UK is a moped. Unlike cars, which you must be at 17 years old to drive, you can legally ride a moped at 16, provided you have the right training and licence. You must also have moped insurance in place to make your moped road legal. Below we'll be looking at the main requirements for riding a moped at 16 in the UK.

Susan Difford

Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars

Updated 25 April 2025 1 Min Read

Only if the scooter’s engine size does not exceed 50cc, in which case it’s categorized as a moped. For any scooters that exceed 50cc, you won’t be able to ride them at 16.

Even though mopeds are not particularly powerful compared to cars and motorbikes, they’re still considered a vehicle and therefore subject to the same laws as other vehicles on the road, which means insurance is a requirement.

In Summary

To ride at moped at 16, you must have a provisional driving licence, have completed CBT and have tax and insurance.
If a moped has an engine size larger than 50cc, it is no longer classified as a moped and you won't be able to ride it legally at 16.
You'll need to wear an approved crash helmet while riding a moped.