Reviewed and updated October 12, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every fact on this page was read from the California DMV's own pages that day, and the DMV page each fact came from is linked where it appears.
What the California DMV requires to register a motorcycle, a motor-driven cycle, a moped or a scooter, and which of them register at all: the definitions by engine size, the title, insurance, license and fees a motorcycle registration needs, why no smog check is needed, the moped's plates, ID card and one-time fee, the scooters that never register, the pocket bikes that cannot, the electric dirt bikes that go through off-highway identification, and the motorcycle lines on the fee schedule. The license to ride is on the motorcycle license guide; a motorcycle ridden only off road is on the off-highway vehicle guide.
In this guide: Motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, moped, scooter: the DMV's definitions, Registering a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, Mopeds: plates, an ID card and a one-time fee, Motorized scooters and pocket bikes, Electric dirt bikes and other off-road use, The motorcycle lines on the fee schedule, Storing the motorcycle, Questions about registering a motorcycle in California
Motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, moped, scooter: the DMV's definitions
The DMV's motorcycles, mopeds and scooters page separates the machines by engine size and design, and the registration and license rules follow the definition:
| Machine | The DMV's definition | Registration | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | Two or three wheels and an engine larger than 150 cc; the definitions page adds a seat or saddle for the rider, not more than three wheels on the ground and a weight under 1,500 pounds, Vehicle Code section 400 | Registered | Motorcycle license; three wheels or a sidecar needs only Class C, section 12804.9 |
| Motor-driven cycle | Two or three wheels and an engine smaller than 149 cc, section 405 | Registered | M1 motorcycle license |
| Moped, also called a motorized bicycle | Two or three wheels and an electric motor with an automatic transmission producing less than 4 gross brake horsepower; some have pedals for riding with the motor off, section 406 | Special plates and an ID card with a one-time fee; no insurance required | M1 or M2 license, rider at least 16, helmet required |
| Motorized scooter | Two wheels, a motor, handlebars and a floorboard to stand on, section 407.5 | Not registered | Any class of driver license or permit, rider at least 16, helmet required |
The DMV points riders to the California Motorcycle Handbook for the road rules, which differ among motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and e-bikes.
Registering a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle
Anyone who has bought or been given a motorcycle, moped, scooter or other motor-driven cycle registers it with the DMV, per the DMV's motorcycle registration page. For a motorcycle the DMV lists the California Certificate of Title, or the name and address of the lienholder when there is a loan; proof of insurance, which can be a vehicle liability insurance policy, a DMV-issued self-insurance certificate or a $35,000 surety bond from a company licensed in California; a valid California motorcycle license; and the fees. Unlike cars and trucks, the DMV says, a motorcycle needs no smog check before registration. The purchase itself, from a dealer or a private party, follows the steps on the vehicle registration guide, and the insurance rules are on the insurance guide.
Mopeds: plates, an ID card and a one-time fee
A moped does not need insurance to register, per the DMV, but it does need special license plates and an identification card, with a one-time registration fee, and the DMV says moped registration is not renewed the way other vehicles are. The DMV's mopeds page puts the one-time fee at $23; its registration fees page lists the original moped fee at $28 under Vehicle Code section 5036, with $28 each for a replacement ID card, a replacement plate and a transfer. Both DMV figures are given here because the DMV gives both. Riding a moped takes an M1 or M2 license, an age of at least 16 and a helmet.
Motorized scooters and pocket bikes
A motorized scooter is not registered. The DMV says it can be ridden on public streets by a rider at least 16 years old who holds a valid driver license or permit of any class and wears a helmet, and its page on the categories adds the limits: on a bicycle path, trail or bikeway rather than a sidewalk, and never faster than 15 mph. Miniature motorcycles, the mini choppers and pocket bikes, cannot be registered or operated on public streets at all, because the DMV says they do not meet federal safety standards.
Electric dirt bikes and other off-road use
An eMoto, the DMV's name for an off-highway electric motorcycle, is designed for off-highway use, powered by an electric motor, steered with handlebars, has a straddle seat, two wheels and no pedals, and is subject to off-highway vehicle registration, which means an OHV permit or plate rather than road registration. Any motorcycle that will be used off public roads and highways is registered as an off-highway vehicle; the plates, the two-year cycle and the June 30 deadline are on the off-highway vehicle guide.
The motorcycle lines on the fee schedule
The DMV's fee schedule does not set a separate registration fee for motorcycles. Its general lines apply: the registration fee of $76 for an original registration or renewal, which includes the $3 alternative fuel and technology fee, the $34 CHP fee, the vehicle license fee, the transportation improvement fee by vehicle value and the county fee. The lines written for motorcycles are the motorcycle cross index fee of $1 on an original registration, under Vehicle Code section 9268, and the motorcycle safety fee of $2 on an original and each renewal, under section 2935. The whole schedule, including the late penalties, is on the California DMV fees page.
Storing the motorcycle
A motorcycle that will be stored and not operated during the next renewal year goes on planned nonoperation with a REG 102, per the DMV's motorcycle registration page, rather than paying the renewal; the windows, the $28 fee and the rules for moving a stored vehicle are on the planned nonoperation guide. Mopeds and motorized bicycles are among the vehicles the DMV says cannot be placed on PNO.
Questions about registering a motorcycle in California
Does a motorcycle need a smog check to register?
No. The DMV says motorcycles, unlike cars and trucks, do not require a smog check before registration.
What is the difference between a motorcycle and a motor-driven cycle?
Engine size. The DMV defines a motorcycle as two or three wheels with an engine larger than 150 cc, and a motor-driven cycle as two or three wheels with an engine smaller than 149 cc, under Vehicle Code section 405. Both register, and both need a motorcycle license.
Does a moped need insurance to register?
No, per the DMV. A moped needs special license plates and an identification card and pays a one-time registration fee; the DMV's mopeds page gives it as $23 and its fee schedule as $28, and both figures are stated here because the DMV gives both.
Do I register a motorized scooter?
No. The DMV says a motorized scooter, two wheels with a motor, handlebars and a floorboard, is not registered; it can be ridden with any class of driver license by a rider at least 16 wearing a helmet, on a bicycle path, trail or bikeway rather than a sidewalk, at no more than 15 mph.
Can I register a pocket bike?
No. The DMV says miniature motorcycles, mini choppers and pocket bikes cannot be registered or operated on public streets because they do not meet federal safety standards.
What if I ride only off road?
Then the motorcycle is identified as an off-highway vehicle instead, with an ID plate, on the off-highway vehicle guide.
Do I need a special license for a three-wheeler?
No. The DMV says a motorcycle with three wheels or a sidecar requires only a Class C driver license, under Vehicle Code section 12804.9.
Written by SearchSystems.net from the California DMV's motorcycle registration page, its motorcycles, mopeds and scooters page, vehicle definitions page, registration fees page and planned nonoperation page, read on October 12, 2026. Where two DMV pages give different moped fees, both are stated.