Are there any motor scooters that do not require a driving license in India?
In a lot of countries some (under powered) scooters do not need a driving license. For India a stranger on the internet claimed that you do not need a driving license for gearless scooters under 50cc or electric scooters with a power rating below 750W. First of all, is this even correct/up to date? And if it is correct, is it reasonable to find such scooters in most cities?
(Context: By the time I will be travelling through India my girlfriend definitely won't have a car driving license and I most likely won't have one, but we would both be completely comfortable on a scooter)
Best Answer
The idea that scooters are exempt is quite understandable because it really seems easy to lend scooters even without license or helmet and because traffic laws in India are seemingly ignored by the majority of the population.
As already said in the comments, I absolutely advise against driving any vehicle (scooter, motorcycle, car) in India in the urban cities and the main roads. I searched the stats for deadly vehicle accidents: In 2013 Germany had 52 million vehicles and 3 540 deaths caused by vehicle accidents. Also at 2013 India had 183 million vehicles (Factor 3.5 more than Germany), but 238 000 deaths! (Factor 67 more than Germany), making India approximately 20 times more dangerous than Germany to drive. I admit I simply don't understand the mindset of people who think they could drive the most dangerous parts of the world without any experience at all. It is like a person who barely can stand on skiers who tries to make ski jumps.
Given that, if you are in remote areas, far away from the main roads, I think it is tolerable to discover India with a scooter/motorcycle/car and a valid driving license. Still the roads must be driven carefully (many potholes, cows, chicken and slippery dung on the road), the weather (monsoon!) can be quite impressive or even dangerous and the people seem to be completely oblivious to vehicles, walking or crossing the road like they want.
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Can I ride electric scooter without license in India?
So, the low-speed models which are powered by a 250-watt electric motor and have a top speed of up to 25 kmph do not fall in the category of motor vehicles. Such electric scooters are exempted from registration and do not need a driving license too.Which vehicle does not need license in India?
Electric two-wheelers are eco-friendly, and you can ride a few of them even if you don't have a license. According to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), an electric two-wheeler having a power output less than 250 watts and a top speed no greater than 25kmph is classified as an electric bicycle or Electric-bike.Does electric bike need license in India?
Some battery-powered two-wheelers with a power output less than 250 watts and top speed lower than 25kmph come under the category of electric bicycles or E-bikes, as per the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR). These vehicles can be ridden even without a proper driving license.Can a 17 year old get a scooter license in India?
Eligibility for Driving licence in IndiaThe applicant must be at least 16 years old and must have the consent of parent or guardian if he is less than 18 years old. The applicant should be at least 18 years old. The applicant should have completed 8th standard.Top 5 Electric Scooter in India not Required Registration and driving license | No Challan in 2022
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