F.A.Q. & Laws
Do I Need a Driver License to Operate a Scooter in Florida?
- In the state of Florida, you may operate a 50cc scooter with a regular car license - no special endorsement required.
- Any scooters or motorcycle above 50cc require a special motorcycle endorsement on your license to legally operate them on public roads.
- There are no Vespa or Piaggio scooters that require absolutely no license or registration, for the state of Florida.
Do I need a special license to purchase a Scooter over 50cc?
No! To purchase and own a scooter over 50cc does not require a Motorcycle Endorsement. Your legal obligation is to have your Motorcycle Endorsement to operate your scooter on the public roads. We have many customers who purchase their desired model and color prior to obtaining their license. Purchasing before you take the class can allow you to make sure you're not waiting to receive your Vespa once you are licensed. In addition, many of our customers use their scooter on private property to practice prior to taking the course.
How do I obtain a Motorcycle Endorsement in Florida?
In Florida, you must take a course through a private school licensed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The schools are typically 2 -3 days long, often on the weekend, and they will provide you a vehicle to practice on. All schools offer motorcycles and some offer automatic scooters. Our recommended schools in the area are:
- Ride Safe USA, LLC : Offers Classes on both Scooter & Motorcycle
Sarasota, FL - 877-585-2453
- Riders Choice Training, LLC : Offers Classes on both Scooter & Motorcycle
Holiday, FL - 727-937-7433
http://www.riderschoicetraining.com
- Bert's Barracuda Harley Davidson : Classes on Motorcycles Only
Clearwater, FL - 727-527-9672
https://www.bertsbarracuda.com
Is insurance required?
No, Florida takes a very interesting approach to insuring motorcycles and scooters: Insurance is completely optional on ALL motorcycles, regardless of engine size, as long as you wear a DOT approved helmet. If you would like to ride your Vespa or Piaggio scooter without a helmet, then motorcycle insurance is required.
At Vespa Clearwater, we encourage all riders to wear a helmet and to carry insurance. One of the wonderful things about making insurance optional is that most of our customers find full coverage policies at very low rates. Florida has some of the highest costs for automobile insurance in the United States, however the cost of our insurance for motorcycles and scooters is among the lowest.
Are helmets required? Eye protection?
Helmets are optional if you choose to carry motorcycle insurance and are over the age of 21. If you do not carry insurance on your scooter or motorcycle (or are under the age of 21) then you must wear a DOT approved helmet while operating your Vespa or Piaggio scooter on public roads.
Eye protection is always required. This means that you must wear quality eye protection while operating your scooter on public roads. Eye protection can be in the form of shatterproof glasses/sunglasses or a helmet with a visor. We recommend clear or amber lenses for riding at night. Prescription glasses also qualify as eye protection.
Do you deliver?
We offer Free Courtesy Delivery within all of Pinellas County and Tampa City Limits. We will also deliver throughout most of Central Florida for a small additional cost. Delivery to anywhere within the United States is available through logistics partners, which we can refer you to.
How fast does a scooter go? What size engine fits my needs?
The speed of scooters (and motorcycles) can vary depending on many conditions, including rider size, whether carrying a passenger, hilly terrain, wind conditions, and more.
- 50cc : The approximate speed of a 50cc scooter, whether it is a Piaggio or Vespa, will be in the range of 38 - 40mph once fully broken in. These scooters do not require a special license and are great for beginners that are unfamiliar to riding on two-wheels. These scooters do best for everyday riding in downtown communities (Downtown St. Pete, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Hyde Park, etc...) or our Beach Communities, where the speed limits are usually around 30 - 35mph.
- Electric : Another great option for those looking to not get a special endorsement. Our all electric options from Vespa and Piaggio both have a top speed of 45mph, but still only require a regular car license. These also do very well in downtowns and beach communities, however they are a little bit zippier and have a slightly higher top end speed than the previously mentioned gas 50cc.
- 150cc : The sweet spot for many. All of our 150 Vespa and Piaggio models are physically the same size as our 50cc models, however they feature larger engines that are capable of top speeds of around 60 - 65mph. These faster models will also accelerate stronger than their smaller brothers and feature increased safety features, such as ABS braking. These models are great for people that still want a very classic scooter size, but want the ability to go more places - they are perfect for taking you anywhere within the city. While 150cc is the legal minimum to operate on highways, we would recommend a larger size scooter if you need to commute on Florida's typical highways.
- 300cc & Above : These truly blur the line between scooter and motorcycle. Our Vespa GTS 300 is still a compact scooter and maintains the classic Vespa silhouette, however it is capable of reaching speeds of up to 75 - 80mph. Larger models from Piaggio can go even faster. These scooters can truly go anywhere, including longer distance rides on the highway. They can also be more comfortable for larger riders or couples that like to travel together often. These models all feature even more enhance safety features, such as front & rear ABS brakes, as well as traction control.
Do you offer test rides?
We have demo units of both the 150 and 300 varieties of Vespa scooters available almost every day for interested buyers.
We require a valid license with a motorcycle endorsement and proper foot attire (No open toed shoes, flip flops, etc…). We recommend bringing your own helmet but we do have loaners if you do not.
We do not offer test drives without a motorcycle endorsement, as it is our only way to validate experience in riding two wheels and we are not a riding school.
A 50cc only requires a car license to operate in Florida, but the cost of the scooters necessitates us to only allow experienced riders to test drive. Customers who are interested in only a 50cc model, or desire a large engine but do not yet have their license, are welcome to come in for a 'fitting'. You will have the opportunity to sit on the Vespa - both on and off the center stand, hold it (to get an idea of the weight/feet touching the ground/balancing it at a stop), and practice taking it on and off the stand with the assistance of one of us, but we will not allow it to be ridden on the road.