How old do you have to be to ride a scooter?

How old do you have to be to ride a scooter?

Scooters are a great choice of vehicle for those that don't have the money or the room to run a car. They're more cost-effective, and ideal if you need something small for commuting to work. Also, one of the main benefits of scooters is that you can start riding them earlier than you can drive a car. This article gives you all the information you need about how old you need to be.

What age can you start riding a scooter?

The main thing that's affected by your age is the engine size you're legally allowed to ride. So how old do you have to be to ride a scooter? When you're 16, you can only ride a scooter with a 50cc engine; whereas once you turn 17 you can ride scooters and motorbikes with a 125cc engine. This is quite a jump in terms of power, and it might be helpful to gain some experience on a 50cc before jumping onto a 125cc.

The engine size also has an affect on other areas, which are:

• Use. 50cc scooters aren't legally allowed on motorways and A-roads, whereas 125cc scooters are, providing you hold a full motorbike licence.
• Cost. 50cc scooters are cheaper to run because their engines simply don't use as much petrol. However, the difference is quite negligible when it comes to filling up. You'll notice a bigger difference with insurance prices.
• Power. This might seem like an obvious one, but 50cc scooters have a lower top speed than 125s. A 125cc motorbike can reach up to 60mph, whereas a 50cc is restricted to 28mph.

Regardless of whether you start riding at 16 or 17, you'll need to take a CBT. There are different CBT tests for 50cc and 125cc scooters, although they both follow the same structure. There's just more to practice on a 125cc motorbike. The CBT test is valid for two years from the date of completion, after which you'll either need to take another CBT or take your full motorbike test. Taking your full test is possibly the most logical option because then you never have to sit it again.

At Direct Bikes, we have an impressive range of 50cc scooters, and 125cc scooters and motorbikes. They're easy and cheap to run, and we even help you sort out the insurance. All we need from you is your information, and then we'll help to find you the best prices. This can be really useful as a young rider because policies can end up getting quite expensive when you're new to the road.

The most important thing to remember when choosing which scooter or motorbike is right for you is if you can legally ride it. Remember that different ages have access to different engine sizes, and so it's sensible to start at a 50cc and work your way up. This will help you to gain experience on a less powerful vehicle, which will improve your confidence on the road.