50cc Scooters street legal in TN? Need a motorcycle license?

Question

I have already tried checking the TN DMV site and also google and I can't seem to find the answer to this. Does anyone know if, in the state of TN, a 50cc scooter is street legal? I assume a motorcycle license is needed as well? These probably sound like dumb questions but I don't know much about this and I would like to learn. I do know that the 150cc and 250cc are definitely street legal; just not sure about the smaller size, which is probably would I would want to start out on as I have never ridden one before.

Answer 1

I found this info for you.  It looks to me like Tennessee considers a moped to fall under the "motorized bicycle" category, (50cc) they are street legal for non-highway with an operator's license, registration, and insurance.  Sometimes moped coverage can be added to your car policy.  Speaking from experience, given this limitation I would advise starting with a little larger cycle such as a 150cc - they tend to be more stable, safer, easier to balance, easier to learn to ride and last longer.  All depends on where you want to ride it and how long.  

TN MOPED REGS

55-8-101. Chapter definitions.

chapter 10, parts 1-5:

(34) 'Motorized bicycle' means a vehicle with two (2) or three (3) wheels, an automatic transmission, and a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty (50cc) which produces no more than two (2) brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum design speed of no more than thirty miles per hour (30 mph) on level ground. The operator of a motorized bicycle must be in possession of a valid operator's license, and shall be subject to all applicable and practical rules of the road. A motorized bicycle may not be operated on a highway of the interstate and highway system, any similar limited access multilane divided highway, or upon sidewalks.

55-4-101. Registration required before operation -  Issuance of registration and license plates:  (k) The owner of a motorized bicycle may, subject to the approval of the commissioner, apply for registration and registration plates for such motorized bicycle.  Each applicant for registration  shall be charged the same registration taxes imposed on Class (A) motor vehicles.