Mopeds are a great way to get around since they are relatively cheap to buy and fuel. However, South Carolina has very specific laws for using a moped, which you will want to know in case another driver injures you.
First, you must make sure the vehicle you are riding is a “moped,” as the law defines it. If the engine is too powerful or has a manual transmission, you might be riding a motorcycle, which has different laws applied. You also do not need a Class D driver’s license to ride one. You can get a moped “Class G” license with less strict standards. You must also register your moped with the state, but you do not need to provide proof of insurance when registering. You also do not need to wear a helmet if you are over 21, but you should since it can impact the compensation you recover in a lawsuit, no matter if you were ticketed for the offense or not.
Call Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000 for a free case review with our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers.
Everything You Need to Know About South Carolina’s Moped Laws
Mopeds are considered motor vehicles in South Carolina, and riders are subject to the same laws as every other driver. You must have a valid license and register your moped before taking it on the road. You must also follow the same laws as motorcycle riders on your moped, like refraining from cutting through traffic. Our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers can help you understand what is legally required to ride your moped and what to do if someone injures you on it. Following our guide will not only help you ride safer but will also protect you from a legal claim from accusations that you partially caused the accident or contributed to your injury’s severity.
Defining a Moped
The first step is to ensure that your vehicle is a moped as defined by S.C. Code Ann. § 56‐1‐10(26). The presence of pedals or a gas or electric engine in a two-wheeled vehicle does not make it a moped. To be considered a moped, it must be equipped with a 50 cubic centimeter motor, designed to have an input between 750 and 1500 watts, and a power drive system that automatically or directly functions without having to shift or clutch after the system is engaged if the vehicle has an internal combustion engine (an automatic transmission). Further, mopeds can have two or three wheels, but no more than three.
If your motorbike does not fit that description, it will likely be classified as a motorcycle, which places different legal requirements on riders that our team can also explain to you.
Getting a Moped License
Under § 56-1-1720(A), you can operate a moped on public roads if you have a valid driver’s license or a moped operator’s license, the Class G license. Riders as young as 15 years old can apply for a moped operator’s license. If the rider is 15 years old, they can only ride during daylight hours unless they are with someone with a valid driver’s license over the age of 21, according to § 56-1-1720(B). Riders 16 or older can ride alone at any time of the day, as per § 56-1-1720(C).
You will need to take a knowledge and vision test before getting a moped license, but you are not required to pass a skills test. The cost of the license is $25 and will remain valid for eight years.
Registering a Moped
You must also register your moped with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) to get your permanent moped license plates and tags. However, you do not need to provide proof of insurance or pay county property taxes before registering it. However, you will be required to pay the $10 registration fee and the infrastructure maintenance fee, which is equal to 5% of the moped’s purchase price but cannot exceed $500.
Moped registrations are valid for two years, at which time you must renew it with the SCDMV.
Riding a Moped
South Carolina also has specific laws on operating a moped that can seriously impact your ability to get damages in a lawsuit if you violate them. To start, you must ride on the seat as intended and cannot have more people on your moped than it was designed to carry, according to § 56-2-3070(A). If your moped is a one-seater and you are carrying a passenger, and an accident occurs, it can be used to argue you were negligent.
You are also barred from going more than 35 m.p.h. on your moped under § 56-2-3070(D). Further, mopeds are not permitted on highways with speed limits over 55 m.p.h. unless they are crossing over one at an intersection, as per § 56-2-3070(E).
If you are operating your moped on a multilane road traveling in the same direction, § 56-2-3070(B) requires you to stay in the lane farthest to the right unless it is unsafe to do so or you are turning left. Your headlights and operational lights must also be in operation and turned on at all times while you are riding, no matter what time of day it is, according to § 56-2-3070(F).
Perhaps most important are South Carolina’s helmet laws regarding mopeds. Riders under 21 are the only people legally required by § 56-2-3070(C) to wear a helmet. While you are not obligated to wear a helmet if you are 21 or older, we still highly recommend that you do. Suffering head injuries on your moped at even slow speeds can cause catastrophic, long-term injuries. If your failure to wear a helmet leads to damages you might not have suffered otherwise, the defendant will seize upon it to escape paying compensation. You can avoid this trouble and devastating injuries by wearing a helmet every time you ride.
Reach Out to Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Throughout South Carolina if You Need Help Recovering Compensation After Getting Hit on Your Moped
For a free case evaluation with our Columbia, SC motorcycle accident attorneys, contact Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers by calling (803) 451-4000.
