PURPOSE
Provide guidance on registration and titling of small scooters and mini motorcycles.

DETAILS
Questions have arisen due to the increasing quantity of small scooters and mini motorcycles appearing in the marketplace. The vast majority of these small scooters and mini motorcycles are manufactured and sold for off-highway use only and are labeled as such by the manufacturers. These products are a significant safety hazard when operated on roads. Our position is to title and register as few of these as is legal and practical, since most of these vehicles do not fit the purpose of the Certificate of Title Act which is to:

• lessen the theft of motor vehicles
• lessen the importation of and traffic in stolen motor vehicles, and
• prevent the sale of motor vehicles without disclosure of any liens to a purchaser

However, many of these motorized products resemble mopeds, some of which are registered and titled based on statute and guidelines currently administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Only those products on the DPS Certified Moped list may be registered and titled. Also, a security Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) is required on all new imported vehicles. The "New Vehicle Information Statement" issued in Canada or "Factura" issued in Mexico is acceptable in lieu of a security MCO and must be accompanied by a bill of sale or dealer reassignment form to the first retail purchaser.

COUNTY ACTION
Only products of this type that are on the DPS Certified Moped list may be registered and titled and application for title for these certified vehicles must be supported by the proper evidence of ownership as listed above. Otherwise, the product may not be registered or titled.

Please refer to RTB #076-04 dated August 4, 2004, or check with the Certified Moped list on the DPS website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/certmoped.htm.

CONTACT
If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact your local Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Regional Office. Thank you very much.

In some cases the Registration and Title Bulletins (RTB) contain attachments. If you require a copy of the original signed RTB and the attachments, please email your request with the RTB number to VTR Info Request/Open Records. Repeat requests are subject to charges in accordance with Open Record policies. A subscription service is also available for an annual fee of $250. Subscribers will automatically receive all RTB mailings as they are issued.