I would like to point out the current moped laws in Idaho as there are a few misinformed people at the dmv and police department. There are very few pamphlets that refer to mopeds. The one located at this link is nicely formatted, but has so much wrong information on it.
I have personally contacted 2 dmv employees, 1 police officer and sent emails to 2 other police departments. The first dmv rep argued with me and kept pointing out irrelevant information, then got frustrated and told me to contact her supervisor. The second dmv rep was informed, asked a few simple questions and told me mopeds are legal, do not require to be titled, registered, insured, or have a valid drivers license.
The first cop I spoke to listened to my whole explanation then told me to call back and get a hold of a traffic cop. I have not received a response from 1 email yet and the second was very helpful and promised to review the pamphlet that I linked above and to get the information on it corrected.
Here is the current Idaho statutes relevant to mopeds.
statute 49-114 moped definition:
(9) "Moped" means a limited-speed motor-driven cycle having:
(a) Both motorized and pedal propulsion that is not capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed in excess of thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground, whether two (2) or three (3) wheels are in contact with the ground during operation. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement shall not exceed fifty (50) cubic centimeters and the moped shall have a power drive system that functions directly or automatically without clutching or shifting by the operator after the drive system is engaged; or
(b) Two (2) wheels or three (3) wheels with no pedals, which is powered solely by electrical energy, has an automatic transmission, a motor which produces less than two (2) gross brake horsepower, is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground and as originally manufactured, meets federal motor vehicle safety standards for motor-driven cycles. A moped is not required to be titled and no motorcycle endorsement is required for its operator.
Statute 49-123 definition of a motor vehicle.
(g) Motor vehicle. Every vehicle which is self-propelled, and for the purpose of titling and registration meets federal motor vehicle safety standards as defined in section 49-107, Idaho Code. Motor vehicle does not include vehicles moved solely by human power, electric personal assistive mobility devices and motorized wheelchairs or other such vehicles that are specifically exempt from titling or registration requirements under title 49, Idaho Code.
Statute 49-301 Who needs a Drivers License
Drivers to be licensed. (1) No person, except those expressly exempted by the provisions of this chapter, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway unless the person has a current and valid Idaho driver’s license. Provided however, that those persons holding a restricted school attendance driving permit may drive upon a highway pursuant to the restrictions set forth in section 49-307A, Idaho Code.
There are alot of other statutes that people say regard mopeds but if you read the wording, they all refer to motor vehicle.
The first 2 statutes are the ones relevant to mopeds and how they are regarded as not being a motor vehicle, the third is the requirements for needing a valid drivers license.
So, a moped is not a "Motor Vehicle" and is not required to be titled, registered, insured, or have a valid drivers license.
Anything with an engine larger than 50cc, or is electric with greater than 2 gross brake horsepower, and can go faster that 30 MPH is not considered a moped and falls outside this definition.
I hope that if you live in Idaho, you are more willing to take your case to your local dmv/pd and point out the fact that there is a difference between mopeds and scooters. Feel free to inform them of the laws regarding our bikes.
These are the current laws and may change at anytime. They also don't include any city ordinances that you may run across.
Feel free to look up city codes here
or Idaho statutes here
I have personally contacted 2 dmv employees, 1 police officer and sent emails to 2 other police departments. The first dmv rep argued with me and kept pointing out irrelevant information, then got frustrated and told me to contact her supervisor. The second dmv rep was informed, asked a few simple questions and told me mopeds are legal, do not require to be titled, registered, insured, or have a valid drivers license.
The first cop I spoke to listened to my whole explanation then told me to call back and get a hold of a traffic cop. I have not received a response from 1 email yet and the second was very helpful and promised to review the pamphlet that I linked above and to get the information on it corrected.
Here is the current Idaho statutes relevant to mopeds.
statute 49-114 moped definition:
(9) "Moped" means a limited-speed motor-driven cycle having:
(a) Both motorized and pedal propulsion that is not capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed in excess of thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground, whether two (2) or three (3) wheels are in contact with the ground during operation. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement shall not exceed fifty (50) cubic centimeters and the moped shall have a power drive system that functions directly or automatically without clutching or shifting by the operator after the drive system is engaged; or
(b) Two (2) wheels or three (3) wheels with no pedals, which is powered solely by electrical energy, has an automatic transmission, a motor which produces less than two (2) gross brake horsepower, is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground and as originally manufactured, meets federal motor vehicle safety standards for motor-driven cycles. A moped is not required to be titled and no motorcycle endorsement is required for its operator.
Statute 49-123 definition of a motor vehicle.
(g) Motor vehicle. Every vehicle which is self-propelled, and for the purpose of titling and registration meets federal motor vehicle safety standards as defined in section 49-107, Idaho Code. Motor vehicle does not include vehicles moved solely by human power, electric personal assistive mobility devices and motorized wheelchairs or other such vehicles that are specifically exempt from titling or registration requirements under title 49, Idaho Code.
Statute 49-301 Who needs a Drivers License
Drivers to be licensed. (1) No person, except those expressly exempted by the provisions of this chapter, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway unless the person has a current and valid Idaho driver’s license. Provided however, that those persons holding a restricted school attendance driving permit may drive upon a highway pursuant to the restrictions set forth in section 49-307A, Idaho Code.
There are alot of other statutes that people say regard mopeds but if you read the wording, they all refer to motor vehicle.
The first 2 statutes are the ones relevant to mopeds and how they are regarded as not being a motor vehicle, the third is the requirements for needing a valid drivers license.
So, a moped is not a "Motor Vehicle" and is not required to be titled, registered, insured, or have a valid drivers license.
Anything with an engine larger than 50cc, or is electric with greater than 2 gross brake horsepower, and can go faster that 30 MPH is not considered a moped and falls outside this definition.
I hope that if you live in Idaho, you are more willing to take your case to your local dmv/pd and point out the fact that there is a difference between mopeds and scooters. Feel free to inform them of the laws regarding our bikes.
These are the current laws and may change at anytime. They also don't include any city ordinances that you may run across.
Feel free to look up city codes here
or Idaho statutes here