Arizona Laws for Scooters, Mopeds and Other Motorized Bikes

Mopeds, scooters and electric bicycles (also called e-bikes), are all treated differently under Arizona law. If you own or ride one of these in Arizona, make sure you know how your vehicle is classified and which laws you need to follow.

Arizona moped laws

In Arizona, a vehicle is considered a moped if it meets all of the following criteria:

In Arizona, a moped is considered a type of motorcycle. However, moped riders don't need a motorcycle-specific license to ride one; a regular driver's license will suffice. You'll need to get moped insurance and register your moped, but you don't need a title proving you own the vehicle.

Moped regulations

Arizona electric and motorized bicycle laws

Electric and motorized bicycles are typically considered regular bicycles in Arizona, so long as they are under a certain power threshold. You don't need a license to operate one, and they don't need to be registered, titled or insured.

Motorized and electric bicycle regulations

Electric bicycles

Arizona uses a three-class system to categorize electric bicycles:

Class 1 and 2 electric bikes can be used on bike paths, while Class 3 bikes may not. Every electric bike is required to have a manufacturer-installed label indicating its class, top speed and wattage. The maximum wattage for all electric bikes in Arizona is 750 watts.

Gasoline-powered motorized bicycles

A bicycle with a gasoline-powered motor is also generally considered a bicycle, so long as it meets both of the following requirements:

Just like with electric bikes, you don't need insurance or a license to ride a gasoline-powered motorized bicycle, and it doesn't need to be registered. However, if your bike goes over the maximum limits listed above, it may be considered a moped or motorcycle instead.

Arizona scooter and motor-driven cycle laws

In Arizona, scooters are categorized as either motor-driven cycles or regular motorcycles. If your scooter has an engine under 5 horsepower, it's a motor-driven cycle; otherwise, it's a regular motorcycle.

You still need a motorcycle license to drive a motor scooter on Arizona roads, regardless of how powerful its engine is, and you must register your vehicle with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). However, if you take your motorcycle license test using a vehicle that has an engine under 5 horsepower, you'll be limited to driving these smaller vehicles.

Additionally, motor-driven cycles may not be permitted on some Arizona highways due to their lower speeds.

Regardless of whether your scooter is considered a motor-driven cycle or a motorcycle, you must wear eye protection unless your vehicle has a windshield. However, only minors are required to wear helmets.

Motor-driven cycle/scooter regulations

Laws for e-scooters

An electric scooter that weighs less than 75 pounds, has handlebars and an electric motor, and can go no faster than 25 miles per hour is considered an "electric standup scooter." It's considered an "electric miniature scooter" if it weighs less than 30 pounds with a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour.

Both of these devices are subject to the same regulations as bicycles and e-bikes: You don't need a license or registration to ride one, and insurance isn't required either. This category includes standing scooters by companies like Lime and Bird.

E-scooter regulations

Laws for other motorized vehicles

In addition to scooters, mopeds and motorized bicycles, there are many similar types of vehicles that are also regulated by Arizona law.

Do you need insurance for a moped or scooter in Arizona?

Officially, you need liability insurance for every "motor vehicle" in Arizona. However, just because a vehicle has a motor doesn't automatically make it a motor vehicle. As a general rule, if you need a license to drive it or the vehicle must be registered with the MVD, it needs insurance, just like insuring a motorcycle; otherwise, insurance may not be required.

See below for which vehicles do and do not need liability insurance coverage in order to be driven on a public road.

For vehicles that require liability protection, you must have at least the following amount of coverage: