tags/insurance for a 50 cc?

drekati · Post by **drekati** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:46 pm

I recently bought a Roughhouse 50 and had it de-restricted.

I live in Richmond Virginia, and I do take it over speeds of 35 on occasion.

I have a couple of questions about the legality, as I don't want to get pulled over by the police if I can help it.

Should I get a motorcycle license?
Should I get tags?
Should I get insurance?

If I didnt have insurance, and lets say I caused a wreck on it, would I be screwed?

Any suggestions?

Ray Knobs · Post by **Ray Knobs** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:08 pm

drekati wrote: would I be screwed?

hell yeah

since you live in Richmond make sure your covered for theft also

pdxbuddy · Post by **pdxbuddy** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:06 pm

my dealer in OR filed my DMV work for a moped, but did not mention insurance.

I just got a cheap insurance policy from "Foremost" for $75/year.

my thought is that a scooter will not cause much damage and I am more likely to get hit than hit someone.

Ray Knobs · Post by **Ray Knobs** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:20 pm

What if you hit a person or the car that hits you takes off because they have no insurance?

drekati · Post by **drekati** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:35 am

I def wanna insure it to be safe and cover my a$$.

Being an un-restricted 50 cc do I need to get plates and a license as well if I am traveling over 35?

robby · Post by **robby** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 2:44 pm

Technically, yes.

Alex P · Post by **Alex P** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:13 pm

I'd definitely get insurance, either way. With the rash of theft lately, and Richmond drivers, insurance is a really good bet. The problem in Richmond with registering a derestricted 50cc is that if you inform the DMV it's derestricted (from what I understand) you have to take it to specified mechanics to have the entire thing gone over with a fine tooth comb. It's not like a regular inspection. It has something to do with them considering it a completely different machine once it goes over 35 mph. It's basically considered a motorcycle at that point. Again, this is second hand info, so you might want to actually check with DMV. Let us know what you find out.

brimstone · Post by **brimstone** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 4:42 pm

that law is weird, if it goes over 35 it's a motorcycle. here, you only need a motorcycle license if it's 50cc and over. they don't go by the speed limit. what if you have a fat guy and a skinny guy on the same type of bike, of course they're gonna go different speeds. seems like it doesn't make sense, and didn't put a whole lot of thought into it. do you own the bike outright, or are you making payments on it? i know up here at least, if you got it thru a loan, they require you to have insurance on it.

Alex P · Post by **Alex P** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:44 pm

I think it actually has more to do with the dealers than it does with the scoots. Scooter dealers in VA more or less only have to have a business license, where as motorcycle dealers have to be able to do state inspections and all of that. Once you're above 35 mph, you are considered a motorcycle, but it's never been checked out by a state licensed individual to make sure it meets the requirements to be used on VA roads, as a motorcycle. In VA, you seriously can strap a lawnmower engine on a frame, and as long as it has the appropriate lights, height, cubic inches, and two wheels, you can ride it down the road. VA is a Commonwealth, it's a little weird here. You have to realize, that with the exception of the northern most part of the Commonwealth (nearest DC, where it's most congested), you don't even have to meet any kind of exhaust specifications.

Latch · Post by **Latch** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:30 pm

I suggest insurance whether you decide to get tags or not, theft is a big problem, and NEVER leave it not chained to somthing EVER, Progressive seems to be the easiest to deal with when it comes to scooters, as they have all the genuine models in their system, when any other company doesnt know what your talking about. as far as whether to treat it as a motorcycle or moped, technically if its de-restricted it's legally a motorcycle that requires a liscence and tags and insurance. but cops dont know the difference unless you are actually clocked going over 35-40, which is unlikely unless you drive outside the city limits, county cops are a whole different animal. you wont have any problems going fast in the city, no cop will question you not having tags especially since you ARE on a 50. If you think you will drive into Henrico or other counties often I would go ahead and register it as a motorcycle, the cops in the counties really SUCK! My roughhouse has been de-restricted since day1, I dont have tags or any kind of drivers liscence, but I do have full insurance.

Modern Buddy

tags/insurance for a 50 cc?

tags/insurance for a 50 cc?

Re: tags/insurance for a 50 cc?