Moped and scooter licensing

By the end of this topic you can

• You can tell a moped or limited-speed motorcycle apart from an e-bike.
• You can name the licence that covers mopeds in your province.
• You can explain the age and passenger rules that apply in Quebec and Ontario.
• You can list the paperwork a moped needs before it goes on the road.
• You can explain why a limited-speed licence does not cover full-size motorcycles.

What you need to know and understand

• A moped or scooter needs a licence, plates, registration and insurance; an e-bike that meets provincial rules does not.
• Ontario covers mopeds and motorized scooters with an M licence carrying an L condition.
• Ontario M2-L riders may only ride vehicles that reach no more than 70 km/h, on roads with limits of 80 km/h or less.
• In Ontario, limited-speed motorcycles built after 1988 carry an LSM/MVL label; older ones are identified by speed, automatic transmission, an engine of 50 cc or less and a step-through frame.
• Alberta's Class 6 motorcycle licence also covers mopeds.
• Quebec has a separate Class 6D licence for mopeds and scooters with an automatic transmission and an engine of no more than 50 cc.
• In Quebec, riders can get a 6D from age 14 with parental consent, after a required course and knowledge test, and riders under 16 may not carry a passenger.
• In Quebec, a Class 5 car licence holder may ride a moped without a separate 6D.

Moped, scooter or e-bike?

The words are used loosely, so look at the vehicle, not the advert. If it has a gas engine, or an electric motor with no working pedals, it is a motor vehicle and needs a licence. If it has working pedals and meets your province's e-bike limits on power, speed and weight, it is treated more like a bicycle. Removing the pedals from an e-bike turns it into a motor vehicle in Ontario.

How three provinces handle it

• Ontario: a limited-speed route (M1-L, M2-L, M-L) follows the same graduated steps as a full motorcycle licence, from age 16. An L condition does not allow full-speed motorcycles.
• Alberta: mopeds are covered by the Class 6 motorcycle licence, so riders follow the Class 6 route.
• Quebec: the dedicated 6D licence opens moped riding to younger teens, with a course and knowledge test first.
• Other provinces and territories use their own classes and ages; check your licensing body before buying.

Before your first ride

1. Confirm the vehicle's classification from its label or manufacturer documents.
2. Get the right licence class for your age and province.
3. Register the moped, fit the plate and buy insurance.
4. Wear an approved motorcycle helmet; helmet rules for limited-speed motorcycles match those for motorcycles in Ontario and BC.
5. Learn the learner restrictions for your stage before you set off.

Common mistakes

• Buying a scooter believing it needs no licence because it is small or electric.
• Riding a full-speed motorcycle on a licence with an L condition.
• Taking a scooter on roads with limits above those allowed for your licence.
• Carrying a passenger when your licence or age does not allow it.
• Skipping insurance and registration, which can lead to large fines.

Test yourself: Moped and scooter licensing

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.