Scooting in OH
USEFUL INFORMATION
In Ohio, motor scooters cannot be legally operated on public roadways unless they are:
- titled
- registered
- properly insured
- operated by a properly licensed rider at least 16 years old
In order for an individual to legally operate a motor scooter or mini-motorcycle he or she must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver license with a motorcycle endorsement or a motorcycle license. It is important to know Ohio’s road laws and signs before attempting to operate a vehicle of any kind on Ohio’s roadways.
After you purchase the title, you will need to obtain insurance and register your vehicle at any deputy registrar’s office.
When you purchase the registration, a motorcycle plate will be issued and it must be securely fastened to the rear of the vehicle.
Please visit the Ohio BMV website for more information and laws specific to your vehicle.
To get started you need to get a temporary permit to ride a motorcycle. You do this by picking up an info packet at any license bureau, or read the downloadable PDFs here:
Then go to a testing station, where you will take the temp test on a computer. It will stop asking questions once you’ve got the minimum number of answers correct. You’ll also take a vision test.
With your temps- you can ride solo, with a helmet. This is how you practice to be able to pass the riding test, which includes a maneuverability test (which is easy on most scooters).
However, we strongly recommend that the moment you have your temps- you register for the Ohio Motorcycle Safety Foundation course which consists of 3 hours of classroom and 2 days of riding practice in a controlled area. They provide motorcycles and helmets and at the completion of the course, you will have passed your license exam. The course is excellent, and only costs $25.
The facility in Troy at the Honda plant is excellent- and they usually have really nice bikes. There are statistics that show that riders who’ve completed this course are significantly less likely to cause motorcycle accidents or injuries.
Unfortunately, Ohio does not allow 50cc and under scooters to be ridden with just a standard drivers license like most States. The only exception is for mopeds- which must have pedals.
{ 1 trackback }