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Do you ride an electric scooter without license?
Deep inside, most people are just dying to zip around the city on an electric scooter. You might even have a picture in your mind of how cool it would be zooming around on two or three wheels. You can see electric scooters everywhere on the streets of the city, and everyone who rides an electric scooter looks very excited. Accordingly, why haven’t you picked up your own folding electric scooter? Maybe you are worried about whether the electric scooter without license can be on the road, or a professional license like a electric motorcycle? Maybe you don’t have a driver’s license. Can you still ride an electric scooter, shared or other ways?
As with most such questions, the answer is “it depends”, but in many cases, the answer is “yes!” This is actually one of the special benefits of micro transportation as a mode of transportation, especially for Cities that seek to provide fair transportation for all and optimize it to effectively move people, not cars, in our world.
People riding electric scooter
Whether you need a driver’s license depends mainly on where you will ride the scooter. Every state in the United States and many countries and regions in the world have found their own way to define the legal parameters of electric scooters. This type of transportation did not exist as a viable option just a few years ago. Although electric scooter laws across the United States have become more standardized to some extent, there are still many differences between states.
First, we need to define the meaning of electric scooters. The term can refer to many things, from folding scooters like Shuangye’s S1 to two-wheeled scooters that are more like mopeds and have more powerful motors and larger batteries. In terms of California law, an “electric scooter” is defined as “any two-wheel device with handlebars, a floor designed to stand on while riding, and driven by an electric motor.” Other small motor vehicles are classified as motorcycles, mopeds or motor bicycles based on their structure, weight and motor size.
U.S. law
Currently, in California, riders of electric scooters are required by law to have a valid driver’s license and the speed of the scooters must not exceed 15 mph. California is close to the electric scooter law, and the level of detail is not included in most state legislation. The question of whether you need to obtain a driver’s license elsewhere usually depends on how your state classifies electric scooters, which can vary greatly.
In general, the answer is no. You don’t need a license to ride a scooter in the United States.
Many states classify electric scooters as electric bicycles, which can be operated without a driver’s license. Some places classify scooters as mopeds and other legal vehicles on the street that require a valid driver’s license to operate. In order to cover their base, stock companies like Bird and Lime usually require their riders to be at least 18 years old and hold a valid license, but these are company policies, not state or federal laws.
In New York State, if the top speed does not exceed 20 mph, you can ride an electric scooter on roads and bicycle lanes. The scooter is classified as a category C vehicle and the rider does not need to have a driver’s license to operate it. The law makes electric scooters a particularly convenient option for New Yorkers, many of whom do not drive and have no reason to obtain a driver’s license.
Outside of California, U.S. states generally do not require a driver’s license to operate electric scooters, but as with all such legal issues, it is best to check local state and city laws before buying or renting your own scooters.
International Scooter Law
In other parts of the world, laws can also vary widely.
The UK has just started trialing electric scooters on city streets. Riders can rent shared scooters, but they cannot yet ride private scooters on public roads. Electric scooters are classified as motor vehicles, so all riders must have a valid driver’s license and be at least 16 years old to ride.
Australian laws vary by state and territory. In Queensland and Victoria, you need to obtain a driver’s license to ride an electric scooter.
Japan’s scooter laws are strict: in addition to license plates, insurance and registration, scooter riders must also have a valid motorcycle driver’s license.
Canadian scooter laws vary by province, state, and city. In most provinces, you can ride an electric scooter without a license. Although there is a minimum age requirement, some places do require a driver’s license.
Do you ride a bike in public?
If you don’t plan to take the scooter on public roads, you don’t have to worry about registering your adult electric scooter or worry about any state restrictions. It’s that simple. But you must also ensure that the scooter is always restricted to your own property. However, the glory of riding on your property is that you can ride as much as you want without worrying about the trees and the occasional chipmunks.
If you do plan to ride in public places—especially crowded public areas—you need to check the requirements of your state and make sure that you have complied with all the regulations of your state before you ride an adult electric scooter. If you have a license, some states allow you to ride anywhere, while others restrict you from using the road, but each state has rules on this subject. If you violate the rules, you may have to pay a fine.
Do you need to register?
Once you decide that you want to ride in public, consider whether your adult electric scooter requires a simple license, license, and permit, or not at all. Some states, such as Maryland and Kentucky, do not require you to register your vehicle at all. They think that electric scooter is a different category from mopeds because electric scooter does not have an automatic transmission. Unfortunately, as in the case of Lexington, Kentucky, this distinction also prevents electric scooters from being used on public streets.
As mentioned earlier, Iowa technically considers eScooter to be similar to bicycles and expects riders to abide by all bicycle road rules.
Do you need special equipment?
Just as a car requires a seat belt and a motorcycle requires a helmet, there are similar regulations for electric scooters. For example, Michigan wants all riders to wear helmets before they are 19 years old, while in Minnesota, they are 18 years old. Before you ride a scooter on the road, please check if you need any additional equipment. If you want to buy a helmet, why not go all out to use the Bluetooth function and LED lights to ensure safety.
What is the age limit?
It seems strange to talk about the age limit of electric scooters. Nevertheless, electric scooters are still considered vehicles, and may be limited to 18 years and older, without special permission. In many cases, if you have a driver’s license, your state will think you can ride an electric scooter. However, sometimes you may need some additional documentation.
For example, if you are under the age of 18, you may need to obtain a specific permit stating that you can operate an electric scooter in public. As in all cases, you need to check your state to see if you have any other requirements.
Electric scooters are an excellent way to travel in fashion, especially in the best weather. Because of its popularity, state and local governments continue to develop new regulations to help ensure the safety of riders. As EScooter laws are constantly changing, please check before riding. In this way, you can enjoy all the fun without a headache.
In conclusion
The laws surrounding electric scooter riding are constantly evolving. At least in the United States (except California), “Do I need a driver’s license to ride an electric scooter?” The answer to this question is yes. Yes, “No, you don’t.” But the answer may depend on how each state and place defines an electric scooter, and it can change from one legislative session to the next. To be safe, please be sure to check your local laws.
The good news for potential and existing riders is that in the first three years of the rapid rise of folding electric scooters in the world, regulators seem to have turned to supervising small and micro vehicles (such as scooters) rather than Large vehicles are like mopeds and motorcycles. The government likes how they can help achieve fair traffic goals (because many people cannot afford cars, gasoline, parking, and auto insurance), and drastically reduce their carbon footprint through humanized and electric vehicles. And they are easier to operate and fun.
If you are interested in electric scooters, you can follow our online battle or tell us in the comments below, we will continue to update the knowledge about electric scooters.