North Carolina Moped and Scooter Laws

Your scooter, moped or motorized bicycle in North Carolina may be considered one of several different vehicle types under North Carolina law. It depends on the type of motor your vehicle has, how fast it can go and whether it has pedals.

How a scooter, moped or e-bike is categorized under North Carolina law can impact whether you need insurance, a license or a license plate to ride one.

North Carolina moped laws

In North Carolina, a vehicle is legally considered a moped if it meets all of the following characteristics:

Moped owners must register these vehicles with the department of motor vehicles (DMV), and you'll need a license plate and liability insurance to drive on North Carolina roads. However, you don't need a motorcycle license or driver's license to ride one; you only need to be 16 years old.

Helmets are required for all moped riders in North Carolina.

North Carolina moped regulations

North Carolina scooter laws

For the most part, motorized scooters are considered motorcycles under North Carolina law, the only exception is a scooter with an engine under 50cc.

If your scooter's engine is more than 50cc, the vehicle is considered a motorcycle. You'll need a motorcycle license to ride it, and you must carry insurance and register your scooter with the DMV to take it on public roads.

Helmets are also required for scooter drivers in North Carolina.

North Carolina scooter and motorcycle regulations

North Carolina electric bicycle laws

In North Carolina, a bicycle is considered an "electric assisted bicycle", or e-bike, as long as it meets all of the following criteria:

Electric bicycles that meet these criteria are regulated the same way as bicycles in North Carolina. That means you don't need to register or insure it to ride, and only riders younger than 16 years old are required to wear helmets. You can ride electric bikes on roads, bike paths and on most sidewalks, but some cities have restrictions about riding bicycles on sidewalks, especially in downtown areas.

North Carolina electric bicycle regulations

North Carolina hoverboard and Segway laws

In North Carolina, a vehicle is considered an "electric personal assistive mobility device" if it meets all of the following criteria:

This category includes hoverboards and Segways. Devices that meet these criteria can be ridden on sidewalks, bike paths and roads, as long as those roads have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less. You don't need a helmet or license to ride one, and you're considered a pedestrian while doing so. There's also no age requirement.

North Carolina hoverboard and Segway regulations

North Carolina electric kick scooter laws

North Carolina doesn't currently have laws that pertain specifically to electric kick scooters, so they are technically considered mopeds under North Carolina law. However, it is difficult to follow the letter of the law because you can't buy moped insurance for a kick scooter, and these scooters generally can't be registered with the DMV. If you choose to ride these vehicles in North Carolina, be aware they fall in a legal gray area.

Additionally, cities including Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte have enacted local laws pertaining to e-scooters, especially ones rented from companies like Bird and Lime. Some have banned the scooters entirely, while others have allowed them. Additionally, the minimum age to ride may vary, and some places allow sidewalk riding while others do not. Check your local laws for details.

North Carolina scooter and moped insurance requirements

In North Carolina, mopeds and scooter drivers are required to have liability insurance to drive on North Carolina roads.

If you're required to carry insurance for your scooter or moped, you'll have to meet the following minimums before you can drive on North Carolina roads:

North Carolina liability insurance minimum requirements