Moped Registration Information
Act 200 of the Hawaii Session Laws of 2016 eliminated permanent moped registration
and requires annual registration and safety inspection of all mopeds.
Registering a Brand New Moped Purchased From a Dealer
Moped dealers will have you complete an application to register the moped. If the dealers are not certified safety inspection stations, they will provide you with additional instructions. The dealer submits the appropriate documents and fees for registering a new moped to the City and County of Honolulu moped registration office.
At the time of purchase, the dealer will provide you with a copy of the completed application and Certificate of Inspection (safety inspection). You must keep the two documents – the completed application and Certificate of Inspection – with you when operating the moped until you receive the registration, license plate and emblem sticker in the mail.
Annual Moped Registration Renewal
You should receive an annual reminder in the mail to renew the registration approximately 45 days before the expiration date. If you do not receive a renewal notice, you are still required by law to renew your registration prior to the expiration date on your current registration. You must have a current safety inspection on file in order to renew your moped registration.
Moped owners have three options for annual registration renewals:
- Follow instructions on the renewal notice to renew by mail;
- Renew at any DMV Now self-service kiosk on Oahu; or
Annual Moped Safety Inspection
Annual safety inspection is required for all mopeds on Oahu. The Hawaii Department of Transportation website maintains an updated list of motorcycle/motor scooter (moped) inspection stations in Hawaii, sorted by county and zip code. Look for the Honolulu County safety inspection stations.
Transferring Moped Ownership
When selling or giving a moped to someone else, the seller/registered owner signs line 1 on the Certificate of Registration and indicates the date of sale or release. The buyer/recipient completes lines 2, 3, and 4.
If the seller/registered owner does not have the Certificate of Registration, he or she needs to download, complete, sign and provide the following documents to the buyer/recipient:
- Form CS-L(SS)35, Application for Duplicate Bicycle/Moped Certificate of Registration, completed and signed by seller/registered owner; and
- Form CS-L(SS)47, Bicycle/Moped Bill of Sale, completed and signed by the seller/registered owner.
The buyer/recipient must take the completed document(s) noted above to any satellite city hall on Oahu within 30 days of the date of sale/release to transfer ownership, pay the transfer fee, and receive an updated moped registration.
Ownership transfer fee is $5 if completed within 30 days of the date of sale/release.
- After 30 days, a penalty fee of $10 is added to the $5 transfer fee ($15 total fee).
- An AlohaQ appointment is recommended for ownership transfer service.
The seller/registered owner must also submit a completed Form CS-L(SS)215, Bicycle/Moped Notice of Transfer, within 10 days of sale/release; failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $100.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Do I need a driver's license to operate a moped?
Yes, at a minimum, a valid Class 1 driver's license or permit is required to legally operate a moped on the island of Oahu. Drivers with other classes of driver's licenses or permits may legally operate a moped.
2. Am I required to have moped insurance?
Moped insurance is not a requirement for a safety inspection or to get/renew a moped registration for a privately owned moped.
- Anyone who offers a moped for rent or lease (commercially owned) is required to carry no less than $25,000-per-occurrence moped liability insurance to cover bodily injury, and $5,000-per-occurrence moped liability insurance to cover property damage. (§291C-207, //hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2020/09/Info-for-MOPED-Owners-and-Drivers-REV-09.2020.pdf, page 10).
- Please note the distinction between a privately-owned moped, which does not require insurance, and a privately-owned motor scooter, which has insurance requirements.
- Basically, if the moped can go faster than 30 mph, it is no longer a moped, it is considered a motor scooter. (https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2020/09/Info-for-MOPED-Owners-and-Drivers-REV-09.2020.pdf, bottom of page 1).
3. What happens if I fail to register/transfer ownership of my moped or fail to complete the annual registration renewal by the expiration date?
Failure to register a moped on or before the registration expiration day can result in citation or seizure of the moped by law enforecement when the moped is operated on Oahu's public roads.
4. How do I submit a change of address for my registered moped?
Download and complete Form CS-L(SS)214, Bicycle/Moped Change of Address Form. The completed form can be mailed to the address on the form or dropped off at any satellite city hall on Oahu.
5. How do I properly dispose of a moped that no longer works?
Follow a few simple steps and the city will tow away your old moped for free! Do your part to help keep Oahu clean by using the city’s junk vehicle program to dispose of a moped that no longer works — it's easy and free!
6. My moped was stolen and I filed a report with HPD. Why did I receive a registration renewal notice for my moped?
Our moped records reflect what HPD inputs into their computer system. Please check with HPD on the status of your stolen moped in HPD records.
7. If I am not going to use my moped for an extended time, can I put it in "storage" to avoid paying the annual registration fee?
Act 200 (2016) requires the annual safety inspection and registration of all mopeds. The legislation does not allow a moped to be placed in storage to avoid the annual registration requirement. If you do not use your moped for an extended period, you will be required to pay all outstanding and current registration fees.
If you have questions or need additional information, please email the Department of Customer Services at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..