• Scooters, Mopeds, Etc... in Hawaii

    Compare Motorcycle Insurance Rates in 3 EASY STEPS

    Enter Your Zip Code:

    Mopeds and Scooters

    If you had never been to the islands, you might think that the environment is ideal for two-wheeled travel on the likes of a moped or scooter. After all, gas prices in Hawaii sometimes feel more like filling up the tank in Europe rather than the U.S.

    However, like many other states on the mainland, Hawaii is pretty car crazy, which means mopeds and scooters are not an everyday sight.

    Hipster scooters are, however, making a comeback and many commuters elsewhere are finding them ultra handy. But regardless of whether you opt for a motor scooter or moped, you will need to register the vehicle with the county.

    Mopeds

    Mopeds have a two-stroke engine that propels the vehicle to speeds of 30 mph, but they're not considered motor vehicles in Hawaii.

    Furthermore, Hawaii does require all owners to register their moped and display the decal prominently on the fenders. There is one catch, however―you must register the moped as a bicycle.

    Although this may sound strange it can be an advantage for you because (1) the registration fee is cheaper ($15), (2) a helmet is not required, and (3) you do not have to purchase insurance to operate the moped on public roads.

    Motor Scooters

    Hawaii defines a motor scooter as a two-wheel vehicle with an engine under five horsepower. Thus, if it has a four-stroke engine it automatically falls into the scooter class. Of course, some scooters have more horsepower and still carry many scooter features. Hawaii puts these vehicles in the motorcycle category.

    Thus, if you mod your Vespa too much, you might end up in a different category of vehicle. Not that this matters much. In Hawaii a motor scooter must go through the same registration process as a motorcycle.

    Also, the laws for scooters and motorcycles are essentially the same. This means to ride a scooter in Hawaii you must obtain a motorcycle-class license, wear a helmet, and have the proper insurance.

    Office Locations

    Registering Other Vehicles

    Your Opinion Matters To Us!

    Send Feedback
    DMV.org BBB Business Review

We put a lot of effort into making our content helpful & accurate. Please let us know if you see something that isn't clear or correct; we are here to ease any frustrations you may have while navigating DMV topics. We are not a government agency, please reach out to your local DMV, insurance agent, or respective professional for further assistance on specific situations.

No one person could have built the company that DMV.org is today. Our success has been the product of strong teams, quality partners and continuous user feedback. Passionate about making the Web a better space? Jump on in.

  • Help Us With Our Mission
  • Got a Product/Service?

    We are committed to delivering high quality product and services to our users

    Tell Us More »
  • Got Talent?

    We need talented individuals and teams to help us on our mission.

    Join Our Team »
  • Got an Idea?

    We take feedback personally. Let us know how we can do better.

    Share Your Idea »

Looking for Scooters, Mopeds, Etc... in Another State?