Motorized Bicycle Laws in South Carolina

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Motorized Bicycles in South Carolina

Generic Court GavelThere are many benefits to be had by using a motorized bicycle as your primary (or secondary) method of transportation. With rising gas prices, environmental concerns and a suffering economy, it’s no wonder more and more people are choosing them over other options.

Motorized bikes are a great way to save money, get some sunlight and have some fun while you travel. However, there are still laws and requirements that you need to follow while riding.

Electric Bicycles

The State of South Carolina doesn’t seem to have any laws in place for e-bikes, so we’ll refer to the federal laws.

According to federal law, an electric bicycle is defined as a bike that has a motor that is no bigger than 750 watts, and has a top speed of 20 MPH or less on level ground.

Mopeds

The state of South Carolina defines mopeds as bikes that meet the following requirements:

  • It may or may not have pedals, and has a motor that can propel the vehicle.
  • The motor is no bigger than 50 CC (cubic centimeters), and produces 2 brake horsepower or less.
  • It has a maximum speed of 30 MPH on a flat surface.
  • It has an automatic transmission.

If your motorbike exceeds the above requirements, then it is considered to be a motorcycle and you must follow all of the motorcycle laws and regulations.

Scooters

As far as the laws are concerned, South Carolina considers mopeds and scooters to be one and the same. Follow the same requirements outlined above for mopeds when determining if your scooter is considered a motorcycle or not.

Moped and Scooter Laws

In order to drive a moped or scooter on public roads, you need to be at least 14 years old, and you’ll need a valid driver’s license or moped license.

We recommend that you check with your local DMV office for more information regarding the laws and requirements for driving a moped or scooter.

Want a Motorized Bicycle?

We have a great selection of motorized bicycles for sale! While we recommend getting an e-bike, we also have motorized bicycle kits for sale and bicycle accessories for sale. All of our listings are highly reviewed, as you will see for yourself!