The Motorcycle Legal Minute™ was created by Jason Waechter, THE Motorcycle Lawyer, to explain Michigan’s motorcycle law in a short and easy to understand way.

Let’s talk about mopeds and motorcycles under Michigan law. A moped has two or three wheels, is 100cc or under, does not have a gearshift, and does not go over 30 mph. Otherwise, it is a motorcycle. Stated another way, if the vehicle is over 100cc, has a gear shifter, or goes over 30 mph, it is a motorcycle.

The difference is very important because MOTORCYCLES must be insured. If it turns out you were on a motorcycle when you were in a wreck and you did not have insurance, sure, you can get a ticket. But worse, you are not entitled to No-Fault benefits, which means no payment of wages or medical bills.

And that’s how one of my motorcycle clients got stuck with $50,000 worth of medical bills: he thought he was riding a moped, so he did not insure it.