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Indiana driving guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Indiana Moped Laws: Motor Driven Cycle Rules
What most people call a moped or small scooter may be classed in Indiana as a motor driven cycle (MDC) if it meets the legal criteria. Here is what qualifies, which license or endorsement you need, the rules of the road and how to register one, according to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
50 ccmaximum cylinder capacity
35 mphmaximum operating speed
Age 15+to operate an MDC
No passengersand no interstates
The short answer
Indiana law covers small mopeds and scooters as motor driven cycles (MDCs) when they meet the definition, including no more than three wheels and a cylinder capacity of 50 cc or less (electric bicycles are not included). You can ride one with a valid driver's license or learner's permit, or with an Indiana ID card that carries an MDC endorsement. Riders must be at least 15, stay at or under 35 mph, keep off interstates and sidewalks, carry no passengers, and wear a helmet and eye protection if under 18.
What Indiana calls a moped: the motor driven cycle
Indiana law uses the term motor driven cycle (MDC) for what most people call a moped or small scooter. According to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), a vehicle is an MDC if it:
- has a seat or saddle for the rider,
- is designed to travel on no more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
- meets the applicable state and federal motor vehicle equipment requirements,
- has a cylinder capacity of no more than 50 cubic centimeters (cc), and
- is registered as a motor driven cycle.
The BMV says the term does not include an electric bicycle. You need to know your MDC's cylinder capacity before you visit a branch to register it or get licensed; if you do not know it, the BMV says to contact the manufacturer.
From the BMV's Motor Driven Cycle FAQs and Classifications pages and Chapter 2 of the Indiana Driver's Manual, read November 10, 2026.
Do you need a license to ride a moped in Indiana?
You need one of these, according to the BMV:
| If you have | Can you ride an MDC? |
|---|---|
| A valid Indiana driver's license | Yes, no endorsement required |
| A valid Indiana learner's permit | Yes, no endorsement required |
| An unexpired Indiana identification card with an MDC endorsement | Yes |
| An identification card without an MDC endorsement | No; add the endorsement first |
Getting the MDC endorsement. The endorsement goes on an Indiana identification card and is only needed if you do not hold a valid learner's permit or driver's license. The Driver's Manual says you must be at least 15 years old and pass the MDC knowledge exam; the endorsement is then added to your identification card at its next issuance.
Cost. The BMV says there is no charge to add an MDC endorsement if you qualify for a free voter identification card. Otherwise, you pay a $9 amendment fee to add it to an identification card (BMV FAQ, read November 10, 2026).
From the BMV's Motor Driven Cycle FAQs page and Chapters 1 and 2 of the Indiana Driver's Manual, read November 10, 2026.
Indiana moped rules of the road
The Driver's Manual and the BMV list these restrictions for operating an MDC:
Age 15 or older
You must be at least 15 years old to operate an MDC.
35 mph maximum
Operate at no more than 35 miles per hour.
Helmet and eye protection under 18
Riders under 18 must wear a helmet and protective glasses, goggles or a transparent face shield.
No passengers
An MDC may not carry passengers.
No interstates or sidewalks
Do not operate an MDC on an interstate highway or a sidewalk.
Keep right
Ride near the right-hand edge of the roadway unless you are passing another vehicle or preparing for a left turn.
Headlamps on
Headlamps must be illuminated while operating.
Ride astride, hands free
Operate in a position astride the seat (legs on each side), and do not carry a package in hand.
Red lights that will not change. The manual says motorcycle and MDC operators stuck at a red signal that fails to change may proceed through the steady red light after coming to a complete stop for at least two minutes, using due caution.
From Chapters 2 and 6 of the Indiana Driver's Manual and the BMV's Motorcycle and Motor Driven Cycle Classifications page, read November 10, 2026.
Registering a moped in Indiana
The BMV requires proof of ownership to register an MDC. Its classification page accepts any of these:
- a certificate of title or manufacturer's certificate of origin,
- a bill of sale, or
- the Motor Driven Cycle (MDC) Affidavit - Affirmation of Ownership and/or Cubic Centimeters (CC), State Form 55714.
The BMV says there is no insurance requirement to operate an MDC, and MDCs are issued their own MDC license plate. The registration fee and vehicle excise tax are on the BMV's fee and excise tax charts, plus any county or municipal excise tax.
From the BMV's Motor Driven Cycle FAQs and Classifications pages, read November 10, 2026.
Sharing the road with mopeds
The Driver's Manual says motorcyclists and MDC operators must be given the same considerations as other drivers, including the width of a full lane. Their smaller profile makes speed and distance harder to judge, they can stop much more quickly than other vehicles, and they can hide in a blind spot. Check your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections, and always signal first.
From Chapter 7 of the Indiana Driver's Manual, read November 10, 2026.
Keep your car or truck road-ready at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Good brakes matter when you share the road with mopeds and motorcycles.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Indiana moped laws: FAQ
What is a moped in Indiana?
Indiana law uses the term motor driven cycle (MDC): a vehicle with a seat or saddle, no more than three wheels on the ground, a cylinder capacity of no more than 50 cc, that meets equipment requirements and is registered as an MDC. Electric bicycles are not included.
Do you need a license to drive a moped in Indiana?
You need a valid driver's license or learner's permit (no endorsement required), or an unexpired Indiana identification card with an MDC endorsement.
How old do you have to be to ride a moped in Indiana?
At least 15 years old, according to the Indiana Driver's Manual.
How fast can a moped go in Indiana?
The Driver's Manual says an MDC must be operated at no more than 35 miles per hour.
Do you need insurance for a moped in Indiana?
The BMV says there is no insurance requirement to operate an MDC.
Can you ride a moped on the interstate in Indiana?
No. MDCs may not be operated on an interstate highway or a sidewalk.
Do moped riders have to wear a helmet in Indiana?
Riders under 18 must wear a helmet and protective glasses, goggles or a transparent face shield, according to the Driver's Manual.
More Indiana driving guides
See our guides to sharing the road with motorcycles, Indiana speed limits and Indiana title and registration, or schedule service at Michigan City Ford.
Sources
Motor driven cycle definitions, licensing, fees, operating rules and registration are from the Indiana BMV pages and the Indiana Driver's Manual listed below, read November 10, 2026. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Indiana BMV: Motor Driven Cycle Frequently Asked Questions, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- Indiana BMV: Motorcycle and Motor Driven Cycle Classifications, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- Indiana Driver's Manual (PDF), Chapters 1, 2, 6 and 7, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026