For a lot of young drivers, once they reach 16 years old, they are eager to start driving. Thus, for a lot of young drivers, a scooter is the first taste of freedom they can get. It can be exciting to try to drive anywhere on these vehicles. But wait, can scooters go on the highway?
To answer, there are a few restrictions on where you can ride particular types of scooters.
Hence, there is a little confusion on whether you can ride your scooter on the highway. If you are facing this query, then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will answer the question can scooters go on the highway. So, keep reading.
Scooters and State Laws
To have a petrol scooter in America, you must be 16 years old to legally ride the scooter and possess a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate.
In addition to this, your scooter (see also: How Much Is A Scooter?)needs a tax disc and up-to-date insurance. You are allowed to ride petrol scooters in any state in America, as they are seen as a road legal vehicle.
There is a bit of debate when it comes to electric scooters, as not every state classified them as a road legal vehicle.
It is important to speak with your local law enforcement service to discover whether riding electric scooters is legal in that state.
Rules for Riding a Scooter on the Highway
There are a number of variables that will determine whether a scooter can travel on a highway or not. The scooter’s engine’s capacity and power are the main factors.
The 50cc and 125 cc scooters (see also: How Fast Does A 50cc Scooter Go?)are the two broad groups that need to be considered. Technically, a scooter is legal to use on busy highways. To do that, though, you may need a full license.
Those who wish to ride a scooter on a highway must follow the same regulations that are in place for cars. As the legal driving age is set at 16, thus riding a scooter before the age of 16 is prohibited in every state.
Nonetheless, some motorcyclists continue to utilize their CBT after it expires in two years. To utilize CBT, riders must have L-plates visible on their vehicle.
However, once expired, using a scooter on the highway is prohibited unless you have a complete license.
Can You Ride a 50cc Scooter on the Highway?
It is dangerous to ride 50cc scooters on highways because of their top speed of 30 mph. This is far too slow for the fast roads of the highway, which means the riders could be seen as a danger on the road.
125cc scooters are completely different to 50cc scooters, and they give you a better chance at riding on the highway.
The same regulations on maintaining a full motorcycle license apply and having the correct tax and insurance for your scooter.
The fact that 125cc scooters have a substantially higher top speed than 50cc scooters is another factor to take into account.
Most 125cc scooters can go at a top speed of about 68 mph, making them much safer to use on a highway.
As a result, if you are desperate to ride a scooter (see also: How To Ride A Scooter)on the highway, you need to ensure you are riding a 125cc scooter at a minimum.
We would advise that you look into 250cc scooters or higher as well. This will ensure that your scooter will be able to get up to the legal speeds to keep you safe.
Are You Ready to Ride Your Scooter on the Highway?
Keep in mind that driving on highways requires more experience than driving on local public roads because they require distinct skills.
Hence, it is important that you feel comfortable and confident before you try to ride on the highway.
Try venturing out on weekends early in the morning to get some confidence on these roads.
This provides you the chance to gradually become accustomed to the kind of riding you will experience with fewer cars on the highway.
Be aware that no scooter provides the same level of safety as a car does. Thus, it is advised to use greater caution in order to reduce avoidable hazards.
You need to be aware of your lane position and where you are in regard to the cars in the lane directly next to you.
This is in order to avoid riding in one of your neighbors’ blind spots when you ride at a faster speed through an area with traffic, such as those entering and departing the highway.
What is the Speed Limit on the Highway?
The issue with a lot of scooters is that they don’t go fast (see also: How Fast Does A 150cc Scooter Go?)enough. The highway is a fast traveling road, which means you need to be able to meet these speeds.
On rural highways there is a speed limit of 55 miles per hour and on interstate highways the speed limit is 70 miles per hour.
This is why it is advised to ride a 125cc or above scooter on any highway, as you can reach these speeds easily.
Final Thoughts
It is possible for you to ride a scooter on the highway, but there are a few factors to keep in mind. You need to ride a 125cc scooter or above and hold a full license.
In addition to this, you need the correct tax and insurance on your scooter as well.
We hope this article has been helpful and made it clearer on the rules when it comes to scooters and the highway.
If you don’t meet all of the above requirements, then you are not considered safe and legal to ride a scooter on the highway.
Hi! My name is Johnathan, and I am the creator of ScooterAdvice360.com. Having been riding motor scooters and bikes for over 20 years, I have picked up a few things! I ran my own scooter store in Florida, selling all manner of motor scooters, mobility scooters, hoverboards, e-scooters and accessories, from Forzas to Vipers, Hellcats to Vespas.
Here, at ScooterAdvice360.com, I want to ensure everyone has access to the information that they need to enjoy their bikes and scooters for longer.
