Do you need a license for a moped and if so, at what age and how to get it?

Do I need to get a license to drive a moped?

Do you need a license for a moped? Yes, you do.

Until recently, in order to ride a moped, you did not have to take courses or obtain a driver’s license (VL). This led to an increase in accident rates due to the inattention of drivers of such vehicles by almost 50%. The law did not stand aside and prohibited those who have not undergone special training and do not have a license to drive a moped from driving.

How to get a license for a moped?

The Federal Law “On Road Traffic Safety,” which was issued on November 5, 2013, introduced category M for drivers of mopeds and light quadricycles. A year later, this requirement was included in the Rules for issuing driver’s licenses dated October 24, 2014. Thus, now to drive a moped or low-power scooter, you need:

• complete courses in driving a mechanical vehicle (moped, quadricycle) . Passing exams is possible only after completing professional training; preparing on your own is prohibited;
• pass theoretical and practical exams at the traffic police. In order to drive small-capacity vehicles, you need to pass tests and perform several exercises on the race track, demonstrating your knowledge, skills and dexterity;
• obtain a driving license of category M - the right to drive mopeds and light quadricycles. Clause 2.1.1 of the traffic rules stipulates that the driver of a motor vehicle must have a license of the appropriate category. Since on April 8, 2014, changes were made to paragraph 1.2 of the traffic rules: a moped with an engine with a capacity of up to 50 cubic meters was classified as a mechanical vehicle, and now it is prohibited to travel on it without a license.

Previously, you could see a mopedist who had just turned 14 years old. However, according to the new rules, you cannot drive such a vehicle if you are under 16 years old - category M can only be covered from this age.

Rights with category M

Riding a simple moped without a license is the same violation as driving a car without a license. If you do not present your ID to the inspector, be prepared to pay a fine of 5,000 to 15,000 rubles in accordance with Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

Why did legislators decide to open category M?

Of course, few people were pleased with such innovations. The moped is nimble and compact, it’s convenient to move around areas loaded with traffic and, moreover, you don’t have to waste time standing idle in traffic jams. The new rules have especially upset residents of the suburbs, where a moped is an indispensable means of transportation.

However, let's try to understand what prompted this decision. The main reasons for opening category M:

• accident rates have increased in recent years . The number of accidents caused by mopedists has increased significantly. Most often, a teenager driving a moped receives serious injuries and injuries: when hitting an obstacle, the driver falls on his back and injures his spine, and in a collision he flies out of the vehicle and hits his head;
• non-compliance and ignorance of traffic rules . Most young (and even adult!) mopedists do not bother studying the theoretical part - they just get behind the wheel and drive without indicating a turn or warning about stopping. Considering that modern small-capacity mopeds are capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h, ignorance of the rules puts all road users at risk;
• lack of insurance . Although the Federal Law “On Compulsory Vehicle Insurance” does not oblige the owner of a moped to take out an insurance policy, this can now be done. Before this, companies had not developed insurance programs for motorcycles and bicycles. Now you, as the driver of a small vehicle, can protect yourself from losses by signing an insurance contract.

Good to know! If you have a driving license that allows you to drive a car or motorcycle, there is no need to complete a moped driving course. You can drive it with an existing driver's license. Most importantly, don’t forget to take it with you!

Modifications and years of production

Riga 24
- It’s also known as
“Delta”,
it’s very common, almost as well as the
“Karpaty”
, but now we’re not talking about them; we’re talking about
“Delta”
, a mass-produced mokik.

The last Deltas were produced in St. Petersburg and were equipped with D-16 engines. The Riga Deltas (early and late) have few differences: the engine is V50 or V501, the headlight is round or rectangular, the front wing is like on Riga-22, or its own, Delta; trunk - painted or chrome plated.

Which moped does not require a license?

As I already mentioned, in order to ride a moped, you need to have a category M license. However, here it is necessary to clarify that this does not apply to all vehicles from this group. The category varies depending on engine power. What license can you have to ride a moped? Let's take a closer look at this.

Do I need a license for a Carpathian moped and a vehicle with an engine capacity of up to 50 cubic meters?

It was mopeds and low-power scooters, whose engine capacity does not exceed 50 cm3, that were discussed in the previous section. Before changes to the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations came into force, any teenager could ride, for example, a Karpaty moped with a capacity of 49 cubic meters: no one required him to present documents, and no one checked his knowledge of traffic regulations. How many cubes do you need permissions for now?

The main difference between a mokick and a moped is the presence of a kick starter.

Nowadays, you can only drive a moped with an engine of up to 50 cc or a mokick, which is a moped close in configuration to a light motorcycle, only from the age of 16. In addition, when driving this type of transport, the driver must be prepared to present the category M driving license to the inspector. However, it is not necessary to register the vehicle with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and issue compulsory motor liability insurance. However, it is worth considering that if you do not insure the vehicle, you will have to cover all repair costs yourself.

Mopeds with an engine capacity of 50-125 cubic meters

If the engine capacity of your moped or scooter exceeds 50 cm3, a category M license will not be suitable. Here we are no longer talking about motorcycles and bicycles, but about more powerful motorbikes and scooters, which differ in design from classic small-capacity vehicles. Some of them are called mopeds, but in terms of technical and power capabilities they can be considered light motorcycles, for example, Alpha-110 or Orion-125.

For such vehicles you need to open subcategory A1. But if you have category A license, then this is quite enough to drive your 125 cc scooter.

Lightweight Orion motorcycle, assembled domestically and positioned on the market as a moped

In the Rules, such vehicles are classified as motorcycles, therefore, in accordance with clause 2.1.2 of the Traffic Regulations, you can only ride a 50 cc moped with a fastened motorcycle helmet, and you can drive it from the age of 16.

Mopeds with an engine capacity above 125cc

When driving a vehicle with an engine capacity above 125 cc, you should know that to do this you need to open category A. Information that category A1 does not apply to motorcycles with an engine capacity over 125 cm3 is contained in RF PP No. 1097 (“Permit to drive a vehicle " – section III, clause 25, paragraph “l”). These mopeds and scooters are considered high-power motorcycles, so category M and subcategory A1 are not suitable in this case.

Having received such a license, you will be able to drive those vehicles whose weight does not exceed 400 kg. But driving a car with category A is prohibited. To drive a 126cc vehicle you will need:

• wait until you reach the age of majority - driving motorcycles is prohibited under 18 years of age;
• obtain a category A license;
• undergo technical inspection by an accredited operator;
• register the vehicle with the traffic police;
• take out a compulsory motor liability insurance policy ;
• Wear a motorcycle helmet before every ride.

Good to know! The Federal Law “On Road Traffic Safety” (Federal Law No. 196) gives the right to drive a vehicle belonging to category M (including a moped) if the driver has any other category or subcategory (paragraph 2, part 7, art. 25). But at the same time, open category B (unlike A) does not give the right to drive light motorcycles and powerful scooters, which belong to category A1 - with an engine capacity from 50 to 125 cm3 and a maximum power not exceeding 11 kW (para. 1 part 7, article 25).

Which vehicles do not require a license?

Now you know whether or not you need a license for a moped. To drive such a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine of any power, you must have a driver's license. The only exception is mopeds for motocross - they can be used as sports equipment for training on racetracks and in fields, but they are prohibited from riding on the roadway.

Among the vehicles that do not require a license are bicycles with an installed engine with a power of up to 250 Watts. If your bicycle is equipped with a more powerful motor, be prepared to get a category M license, since in accordance with clause 1.2 of the Russian Traffic Regulations, such vehicles are equated to mopeds.

Attention! If you are going to drive a moped, bicycle or quadricycle with an electric motor with a power of 250 - 4000W, you will also have to open the M category.

Other parameters

Other characteristics that the Karpaty moped has are as follows:

• Electrical equipment – ​​contactless electronic ignition system with alternator.
• Transmission - multi-disc clutch.
• Fuel capacity – 7 liters.
• The gear ratio of the motor transmission is 4.75.
• The same ratio from the gearbox to the rear wheel is 2.2.
• Carburetor type – K60V.
• The energy supplier is a 6 V AC generator with a power of 45 W.
• The filter element is air type with a paper filter.
• Gas exhaust - a muffler with partitions for throttling the exhaust.
• Fuel mixture - A-76-80 gasoline with oil (ratio - 100:4).

The clutch of the Karpaty moped was an innovative solution at that time. This is a three-block or multi-disc type unit. For low-power two-wheeled vehicles, such a design was a novelty.

If you need a moped license: how long to study and how to pass the exam?

If in the near future you want to buy a moped, then to get a license, you will have to work no less than a car driver. First, you need to choose a driving school. The training will last approximately 1.5 – 2 months.

Upon completion, you will need to pass an internal exam at a driving school, as well as theory and practice at the traffic police. How does this happen:

1. Passing the theoretical part . According to clause II paragraph. 12 Rules for conducting exams and issuing driving licenses; at the traffic police you will need to answer 20 questions. You can only make a mistake twice. The theory is passed in the same way as an exam at a driving school. You can try your hand at home - you can practice passing the test using the special program “Traffic Rules Examination Tickets for Categories A,B,M,C,D,” which is downloaded absolutely free.
2. Passing the practical part . Practice is given at the race track according to the same rules as for motorcyclists. You must show that your maneuverability and reaction are at a sufficient level and that you feel confident behind the wheel of the vehicle. According to clause II paragraph. 13 Rules, for this you will have to perform several exercises:

• 1st lap – clearance corridor and semicircle, acceleration and braking. At the beginning of the distance, you need to drive between the cones, then turn left, accelerate and slow down until you come to a complete stop at the stop sign. The main thing here is not to forget to indicate with your hands the left turn and stop, and switch to neutral gear after completing the exercise;
• 2nd circle – snake, rutted board and movement in a straight line at low speed . The driver maneuvers between the cones before turning, performing a snake. Then he turns and rides on the board, covering the distance so that both wheels remain on it. Next, you need to finish the exercise by driving at low speed to the stop sign. Here, too, it is important to indicate turns and warn about stopping;
• 3rd circle – overall figure eight. The driver enters and exits the course between two circles that form a figure eight. The main thing here is to drive in a circle so as not to hit the cones.

Scheme of exercises for motor vehicles on the race track
The main mistakes for which you can be deducted points are sharp braking with a wheel locked, driving outside the dimensions of the designated path, stopping closer than 0.4 m from the stop sign, if you do not warn about the turn and about stopping if you do not put the gear in neutral before turning off the engine.

After successfully passing the theory and practice, you can receive a license for category M. If you passed the theory, but the practice did not work the first time, then do not despair - you will only have to retake the practical part.

Video instructions on how to pass the practical part of the exam for category M:

Contents – Neutral reviews

At what age do you get a moped license?

As mentioned above, to obtain a license for category M, you must be 16 years old. But in order to drive a vehicle with the power of a motorcycle (above 125 cubic meters), you will have to wait until you turn 18 - before that it is prohibited to drive such a moped. These rules are regulated by Art. 26 of the Federal Law “On Road Safety”.

However, you can train outside city roads even earlier. Especially when you consider that some driving schools offer to take only a theoretical course, and driving, as they say, can be done as you wish. Therefore, if you purchased a small-sized two-wheeled vehicle before your 16th birthday, you can and should learn at least some basics with the help of an experienced driver.

Peculiarities

The early and late Riga Deltas have a few differences: the engine is B50 or B501, the headlight is round or rectangular, the front wing is like on Riga-22, or its own, Delta; trunk - painted or chrome plated. To seal, a gasket made of special cardboard is installed between the crankcase and the cylinder, and an aluminum gasket is installed between the cylinder head and the cylinder.

How much does a moped license cost?

Driving school training for the new M category costs only slightly less than for B category. Driver training centers will offer you several packages of services. Let's look at what driving schools offer:

• 7,000 – 15,000 rubles – the cost of a 16-hour theoretical training course, which lasts no more than 2 months. This program does not provide practical training, so it is best suited for experienced mopedists who want to obtain a license in connection with the entry into force of the new rules. If you are a resident of Moscow, then the cost of the theory for you will be no less than 18,000 rubles;
• 18,000-25,000 rubles – price for theory including driving. This includes 18 hours of driving and 16 hours of theory. The amount varies depending on whether the student is charged a fuel surcharge. In addition, if you study on a personal vehicle, the price decreases;
• 22,000-34,000 rubles – all-inclusive package. In 2.5 months you will master driving and traffic rules, and will also receive full support: obtaining a medical certificate, registering with the traffic police to take the exam, providing a vehicle and a helmet from the driving school.

As you can see, the price for driving courses for category M is practically no different from the cost of training for a car driver. So here it’s up to you to decide what to choose, because with category B you can drive a moped with a power of up to 125 cubic meters.

Neutral reviews

Advantages:

It’s an indescribable feeling when you drive it, even for 40-50 km. You can say with the breeze)

Flaws:

The disadvantages of it are that it heats up quickly, the muffler to the cylinder is poorly attached, I advise you to keep this in mind! Well, the piston itself is rings, but this is the case everywhere, in all mopeds they need to be changed! Thank you for your attention!

Hello everyone, Moped Karpaty is my first moped, I really like everything about it, I’ve ridden a lot of kilometers on it) but I had to sell it, I miss it and wish I sold it! I recommend it to everyone, it’s a good thing, but for teenagers. It’s an indescribable feeling when you drive it, even for 40-50 km. You can say with a breeze) The disadvantages of it are that it heats up quickly, the muffler to the cylinder is poorly attached, I advise you to keep this in mind! Well, the piston itself is rings, but this is the case everywhere, in all mopeds they need to be changed! Thank you for your attention!

Advantages:

Inexpensive Lightweight Excellent driving on Russian roads

Flaws:

Ignition problems Engine overheating problems

I bought this one last summer. I drove it for about 2 months and the engine began to overheat. No matter how much I tinkered with it, I still didn’t understand what the problem was. There were always problems with the ignition, the speedometer did not work. In general, if you buy it in excellent condition, you can travel for 3 months.

What documents are needed to obtain a license for a moped?

If you do not want to pay a driving school to accompany you during the test and are going to take it yourself, to obtain a license you will need the following documents:

• application for obtaining rights of category M. Personal data is entered in it, the reason for the application is indicated and the attached documents are listed;
• civil passport or other document confirming the identity of the future driver;
• medical certificate confirming the absence of contraindications to driving a vehicle;
• certificate of completion of driving courses;
• receipt of payment of state duty.

To get your license, you can register on the government services portal, choose a convenient time to visit the traffic police department and pay the state fee at a discount. According to paragraph I paragraph. 2 of the Rules, documents for obtaining a temporary residence permit can now be submitted at any MFC. In addition, the fee can be paid at the post office, at the cash desk, at the Sberbank terminal or on the Sberbank online resource.

"Riga-11": technical characteristics

The following are the main parameters of the moped in question:

• weight is 45 kilograms with a maximum possible load of 100 kg;
• length/width/height – 1.97/0.75/1.15 meters;
• wheelbase - 1,200 millimeters;
• the design speed limit is forty kilometers per hour;
• front suspension – telescopic fork with spring shock absorbers;
• a similar rear element is of a rigid type;
• brake unit - drum type with individual drive for each wheel;
• type of frame – spinal welded structure.

"Riga-11" is a moped that was produced with tire sizes of 2.25 by 19 inches.

Summing up

Let us dwell on the main points of this article to consolidate what we have read:

• For all mopeds you need to get a license - take a training course at a driving school, and then pass a theoretical and practical exam at the traffic police;
• The category needs to be opened depending on the power of the vehicle . Here are the licenses you can use to ride a moped: up to 50 cubic meters - category M, from 50 to 125 cubic meters - subcategory A1, from 125 cubic meters - category A;
• to register a vehicle with the traffic police and obtain a compulsory motor liability insurance policy if the engine power does not exceed 125 cubic meters;
• Before leaving, you must wear a motorcycle helmet , especially for vehicles with an engine capacity of 50 cubic meters or more;
• the cost of training to become a moped driver varies from 7,000 to 34,000 rubles - it all depends on what package of driving school services you choose;
• You can only drive a moped from the age of 16 .

I recommend watching a video in which a newly minted mopedist describes the procedure for passing the exam at the MREO of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and tells how to obtain a category M license:

In conclusion, I want to say that you should not perceive the innovations that have come into force negatively. Look at it from the other side: your children will behave more carefully and cautiously on the roads, because after the exam they will know the traffic rules and be able to confidently move around on a moped.

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Piston

Unscrew the nuts on the head and remove it from the cylinder. The head and piston for this engine were pristinely clean. Apparently, just before this moped departed for the “other world,” they had already tinkered with it.

The cylinder was removed with great difficulty. Water got into the holes where the pins go and the whole thing became very rusty. A piece fell off from the piston on the exhaust side. This moment is clearly visible in the photo. How did he fly away? Who knows?.. Maybe they broke it off, or maybe it flew off...

The cylinder mirror was in poor condition. The wear and scratches did their job: compression in the combustion chamber dropped significantly.

The total wear of the piston group was more than 0.09 mm, with a norm of 0.05. For those who don’t know: the wear of the piston group is measured as follows: we wash the piston and cylinder from dirt and old oil residues, insert the piston into the cylinder, orient it in the cylinder as it should stand on the engine, align its skirt with the edge of the cylinder and measure the gap with a feeler gauge between the skirt and the cylinder.

This gap will determine the degree of wear of the piston group. For Soviet garbage dumps, when using very good oil, the norm is 0.03 mm, for bad oil 0.05 mm. Anything more means increased wear.

Collective farm gurus naively believe that the situation with piston wear can be solved by installing new rings. You don’t see these fabrications. And this is not fabrication, but an eternal search for freebies - this is where all sorts of stories about rings and “suprotec” are born.

No rings, even the most “duper” ones, will restore the original geometry of the cylinder and will never fit tightly to a cylinder that has wear in the form of a cone and an ellipse. And for internal combustion engine cylinders, cylinder wear only occurs in the form of a cone along the longitudinal axis and in the form of an ellipse in the transverse axis.

Think for yourself: how can an ideal circle in the form of a new piston ring fit tightly onto an ellipse? She won't lie down.