What is a Moped?

The term “Moped” means many things depending on what state you live in.

The word came into use in the early 50s when “motorized pedal bikes” became available. The acronym “moped” was adopted by state legislatures to describe small displacement motorized scooters and bikes that would not be subject to the states motorcycle license laws, due to their lower speeds and simple operation.

Because the descriptions of “mopeds” varied widely by states, no national standard exists today. The federal laws are written to cover EPA and DOT regulations which the states are free to adopt or ignore in writing their laws.

The federal description of a moped type of vehicle is “Motor Driven Cycle.” This definition is important for manufacturers because it governs the specific safety and anti-pollution equipment that is required on the vehicle.

Generally today in most states, a “moped” is defined as a motorized vehicle that has less than 5 h.p., an engine displacement of 49cc or less, and a maximum speed of less than 30 mph.

Some states still require the vehicle category of “moped” to have pedals, harkening back to the early days when the moped was actually a bicycle with a small motor to assist the rider to climb hills.

Mopeds dominate the scooter market today with over 50% market share. Obviously the buyers do not want to take the time to pass their state’s motorcycle license tests in order to get that endorsement on their drivers license to operate a larger displacement scooter. To see some typical examples of modern day mopeds, click here.