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.
Key points
What Are The Requirements For Riding A Moped At 16?
To legally ride a moped at 16 in the UK, you must:
- Hold the correct licence: You can ride a moped with a provisional driving licence, so you don’t have to pass your driving lessons first but you will still need this.
- Have completed CBT: You must have completed Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) in order to ride your moped on public roads.
- Have a moped with a 50cc engine: Your moped’s engine must not exceed 50cc or a speed of 28mph, otherwise it will no longer be classified as a moped and you won’t be legally allowed to ride it at 16.
- Adhere to restrictions: The main restrictions for riding a moped at 16 is that you cannot carry passengers, you must display L plates and you cannot ride on the motorway.
- Have tax and insurance: You will need insurance and also to tax your moped, although the cost of tax is very low compared to taxing other vehicles such as cars.
- Wear an approved crash helmet: Lastly you will need to wear a helmet that adheres to British safety standards when riding your moped.
You can find more information here.
Can I also ride a scooter at 16?
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.
Why do I need insurance for a moped?
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.
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