Instead of using a traditional walker or crutches, a knee walker scooter has two or four wheels for mobility, support, and balance, as well as a platform. One of our recent articles contains a lot of information about this product category, and if you want to find out more about this topic, you can check it out here.
Usually, you might require such a product if your leg is injured and need additional support for walking. And speaking of injuries, a lot of accidents can happen in everyday life. While motor scooters may seem like toys to some people, that is certainly not the case. Let us see if scooters require any type of insurance.
Terminology
If you ask 15 people what a scooter is, you will most certainly get 15 different answers. While most people may not have a precise definition of a scooter, there certainly is one in the eyes of the law. This definition also represents the difference between having or not having to purchase insurance coverage.
If you have a scooter with two wheels, an engine that is up to 50cc, and that cannot travel more than 30 miles per hour, it is considered a moped. Some of these vehicles can even have pedals which are helped along by the power of the motor.
In Nebraska and New Jersey, this is a defining characteristic of a moped. There are other states that also include slow vehicles with small engines that also have a platform for your feet and are powered by a motor. You should know that for insurance purposes, a moped and a scooter are one and the same.
Moving on, any vehicle that has an engine larger than 50cc and that can reach speeds of over 30 miles per hour is considered a motorcycle. Again, this is in the eyes of the law and the insurance companies, whether you agree with this classification or not.
Do Motorcycles Require Insurance?
It is important to know that in almost every state, having motorcycle insurance is mandatory in order to operate it on public roads. The only states that do not require this are Florida, Washington, New Hampshire, and Montana.
What about a fast motor scooter? Even if you consider your fast little vehicle a scooter, if it can go over 30 miles per hour and has an engine larger than 50cc, in the eyes of the law, it is a motorcycle and not a scooter.
There is one exception to this rule, namely in Nebraska, where a scooter must have pedals, but anything without them is considered a motorcycle.
Do Scooters Require Insurance?
If you own a scooter in one of the following states listed below, you will need to acquire liability coverage: Arizona, Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington DC, and West Virginia.
You will also be obliged to get liability coverage if you own a motor scooter in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, Massachusetts, Montana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington.
In case your scooter has pedals, you will not have to buy coverage in Nebraska, but if it does not, you will have to.
I Live in a Different State
In case you do not live in any of the above-mentioned states, you should know that there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you take a loan in order to pay for your scooter, you might be required to guarantee that you will purchase insurance. Since you are actually spending someone else’s money, they will want to make sure that their asset is protected.
However, even if you are done paying for your scooter, insurance is a good thing to take into consideration. For instance, in case your scooter is totaled, you will not be able to get repaid for the damage unless you have an insurance policy.
And even more importantly, in the unfortunate event that you cause harm to someone else’s property or person, you will have to pay the entire amount if you are not covered by insurance.
Where Can I Purchase Insurance?
If you do not fancy the idea of inquiring your insurance agent about scooter coverage, you might like to know that scooters are regularly insured under a motorcycle insurance policy.
Most nationwide insurance providers offer motorcycle coverage, and you will probably be able to combine your scooter as well as car insurance policies for a discount.
What Type of Scooter Coverage is Available?
Besides property damage liability protection, most of the insurance companies offer standard options that also come with bodily injury protection. They are known as BI that is half of Bodily injury and property damage, in short, BI/PD.
You also have the option to obtain comprehensive and collision coverage. This will cover the costs of replacing or repairing a stolen or damaged vehicle once you have paid for your deductible.
Another alternative is coverage for your carried belongings and contents, in case they are stolen or damaged while you are riding your scooter around town.
Recommendations
Motor scooters are fun to ride, they get up to 100 miles per gallon, and also squeeze into small parking slots. Still, you should not let the adorable factor make you believe that you are riding a toy. If you are a motorcyclist, you need to act like one from all points of view.
It is very important to take riding courses, wear the appropriate gear, obtain the required license, and also purchase motorcycle insurance to cover your liability as well as any damage that may occur to the scooter.
While scooter riders are only legally obliged to carry liability coverage, it is recommended to opt for full coverage. You never know what can happen, and it is better to be safe than sorry.
It is also recommended to buy a scooter that is powerful enough to allow you to keep up with the traffic. There are many models that have small engines that cannot reach speeds over 35 or 40 miles per hour. These are rather inappropriate for major busy roads.
You should also check the requirements in your state. Usually, the state requires you to register your vehicle, purchase liability insurance, and also get a motorcycle license. It is also true that there are regions in which a motorcycle endorsement is not mandatory, nor any types of insurance for engines that are smaller than 50cc.
You should not forget about safety either! We suggest that you take motorcycle riding and safety lessons. The proper gear is just as important and it can often make a difference between life and death.
As previously mentioned, you may be legally required to purchase liability coverage, depending on the scooter’s size, as well as state insurance requirements. However, liability insurance covers only the damage caused to others in case you produced an accident, but it does not provide any kind of protection for your own property. That is why full coverage is a better option.
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