Moped Insurance, Registration Rules OK’d by North Carolina Senate Panel

The state Senate is sticking for now with new moped regulations that would require both North Carolina scooter operators to have insurance as well as those vehicles registered with the state.

The measure approved Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee goes further than the House version of the bill, which requires only moped registration with the Division of Motor Vehicles. Sen. Tom Apodaca of Hendersonville says the insurance mandate is necessary because riders should be held financially accountable for accidents.

Opponents of the insurance requirement say it will hurt working people who use mopeds to go to work because they can’t afford a car or insurance that could cost up to $400 annually.

The DMV estimates 17,000 mopeds operate in North Caroilna.

The bill’s next stop is the full Senate.