Not every vehicle on the road is a car or truck. Many people get around using motorized scooters or mopeds. While insurance is required for most vehicles on the road, this is not necessarily the case for motorized scooters. If you are in an accident while riding your scooter or moped, you should call an attorney to help you with insurance claims.
In South Carolina, motorized scooters and mopeds do not necessarily have to be covered by insurance. Insurance for these vehicles may be optional, but it is recommended if the scooter is street legal. You may obtain insurance through your existing auto insurance provider if you have one. Depending on the type of scooter you have and how powerful its motor is, your scooter might be classified as a motorcycle, which must be insured. If you are injured on a motorized scooter without insurance, you may be considered a pedestrian for insurance purposes.
Speak to our South Carolina car accident attorneys by calling Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000 and get a free, private case review.
Are Motorized Scooter Accidents Covered by Insurance?
While you may buy insurance for your motorized scooter, you might not be required to do so by law. According to S.C. Code Ann. § 56-2-3010(C), insurance is not required for motorized scooters or mopeds in South Carolina, but that does not mean you cannot have insurance. In fact, you should consider purchasing insurance for a scooter or moped if it is street-legal and you plan to operate it on the road or highway.
If you are involved in an accident and have insurance for your scooter, you may be covered, depending on the terms of your policy. Our Rock Hill, SC car accident lawyers will review your policy terms with you to determine if your claims should be covered.
If you do not have insurance, you may still file a claim with the other driver’s liability insurance if you are struck by a car or other vehicle. Accidents involving only you and your scooter (e.g., striking stationary objects) might be more difficult to cover if you do not have your own insurance.
Am I Required to Have Insurance for My Motorized Scooter in South Carolina?
As mentioned before, you might not be required by law to have insurance for a motorized scooter or moped. These vehicles are often far less powerful than standard vehicles, and some of them might not even be street-legal. Even so, you have the option of insuring your scooter, which you should consider if you use it frequently.
Mopeds do not have to be insured or titled. This can make owning a moped simpler than owning a car, as there is no need to establish or transfer title. However, mopeds are required to be registered and have a license plate. If you are unsure whether your motorized scooter is considered a moped or another type of vehicle, you can contact the manufacturer or retailer from whom you purchased it for assistance. If the scooter or moped is more powerful, it might be classified as a motorcycle, and insurance and title are required.
What Insurance is Available for Motorized Scooters?
Since insurance is not legally required for motorized scooters and mopeds, it can be challenging to determine which type of insurance is most beneficial. There are no legally required insurance minimums, and policy terms might vary significantly.
Talk to your auto insurance provider. Depending on the type of scooter or moped you have, your insurance provider may want to insure it under your motor vehicle policy, a motorcycle policy, or a separate policy. You may also be able to bundle multiple policies together for a more favorable insurance rate.
Since insurance is not legally required for many mopeds and motorized scooters in South Carolina, there are no legal minimum requirements for what kind of insurance you should have. Even so, it is a good idea to have insurance for your scooter or moped that at least meets the minimum standards for auto insurance.
Insurance Requirements for Different Motorized Scooters in South Carolina
It is important to understand the capabilities of your scooter. Not all scooters and mopeds are built the same, and some are quite powerful. If your scooter has a more powerful motor, it might not be classified as a scooter or moped, and you might have to get insurance.
Is your scooter a moped or a motorcycle? This is an important distinction, as motorcycles must be insured. Even though your scooter might not be manufactured by a typical motorcycle manufacturer or company, it could still be legally classified as a motorcycle if it has a powerful enough motor. This is important to remember if you plan on making alterations or customizations to the scooter and its motor.
If you have a motorized scooter that is more powerful than the average scooter or moped, it might be considered a motorcycle. A motorcycle is defined under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-10(8) and may be a vehicle with no more than two permanent functioning wheels in contact with the ground and a saddle for the rider. The law specifically excludes mopeds from this definition.
What Happens After a Motorized Scooter Accident if I Have No Insurance?
If you are involved in an accident on your scooter or moped and do not have insurance, you may be in trouble. The other driver might accuse you of causing the accident and seek financial compensation. If they succeed, you might have to pay for everything out of pocket.
If the other driver is at fault and their liability insurance covers some, but not all, of your damages, you might be out of luck. You might have no insurance of your own to fall back on, like uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. If that is the case, you might have very limited options for recovering further compensation.
Even without insurance, you may still sue the other driver for your damages. However, this can be expensive, time-consuming, and the outcome is not guaranteed.
What You Need to Get Insurance for a Motorized Scooter in South Carolina
If you want to get insurance for your motorized scooter, you likely need some important documents. You should have the bill of sale, including details about the make and model of the scooter. When insuring a vehicle, an insurance company may require the title to verify ownership. Since you are not required to title certain scooters and mopeds, you will need an alternative form of proof.
You may also need to present registration information. If the scooter or moped is street-legal, it must be registered and have a license plate. If you have any trouble obtaining insurance, you should contact an attorney for help.
Call Our South Carolina Car Accident Lawyers to Discuss Your Claims
Speak to our Orangeburg, SC car accident attorneys by calling Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000 and get a free, private case review.
