Is a Course or Motorcycle Endorsement Required to Operate a Motor Scooter in the State of Florida?

Florida law designates a motor scooter as a motor vehicle. Under some parts of the Florida Statutes, a motor scooter appears to be classified as a motorcycle; however, if the motor scooter has an engine / motor that is under 50 cubic centimeters - then the motor scooters are essentially exempt from many of the motorcycle requirements under the Florida Statutes including the requirement for a Basic Rider Course and the requirement for a special motorcycle driver's license endorsement issued by the State of Florida. A cubic centimeter (cc) refers to the measure of volume or displacement of the engine of the motor scooter. Most motor scooters that are sold and operated in the United States are lower output models in which the engine / motor is under 50 cubic centimeters. As such, even if a mode of transportation looks like a motor scooter, it may actually be classified as a full motorcycle under the Florida Statutes if the engine / motor has a displacement over 50 cubic centimeters.

This article focuses on motor scooters with an engine / motor under 50 cubic centimeters. For these motor scooters, there is no course required. There is no training whatsoever required under Florida law to own and operate a motor scooter of this type. If you have a driver's license, you can purchase a motor scooter today and be on the road right after purchase without any training or know-how as to the operation of safety of the motor scooter. Most reputable motor scooter dealers / shops will show you some of the basic operation features of a motor scooter. For safety purposes, it would be helpful to get some training on the motor scooter. It would be helpful to take the Basic Rider Course for motorcycles but this may involve more powerful that you can handle or should handle during the training course. Certainly, the operation of a motor scooter is different than that of the typical motor vehicle / automobile. For instance, there are some inherent dangers in operating the motor scooters in heavy traffic or when it is raining. While there are also dangers for other motorists, it is a bit different when a person is riding on a motor scooter which provides little to no protection when there is a crash. This is especially true when the operator or rider of the motor scooter is ejected after a crash or accident.

Even the most trained or experienced motor scooter operator can fall victim to the poor, dangerous or distracted driving of others. If a person suffers personal injuries as a result of a motor scooter accident, it is helpful to get advice, guidance, and when appropriate legal representation from an experienced attorney. David Wolf handles motor scooter, motorcycle, and related accidents and has done so for over 30 years. He is the author of 12 books and over 4,000 articles on injury and safety issues in the aftermath of an accident or incident leading to personal injuries. He offers a free consultation on personal injury matters.