Motorcycles and mopeds

Classes of motorcycles and mopeds

There are two classes of mopeds:

• mopeds with two wheels (LA)
• mopeds with three wheels (LB).

There are three classes of motorcycles:

• motorcycle (LC)
• motorcycle and sidecar (LD)
• motor tricycle (LE).

See also: Which is my vehicle class? 

Mopeds (classes LA and LB)

Other moped requirements

• You must register and license your moped – though you don’t need to get a regular warrant of fitness inspection.
• Your moped must be entry certified when first put on the road in New Zealand.

More information for moped riders

Motorcycles (classes LC, LD and LE)

Differences between mopeds and motorcycles

Here's how mopeds and motorcycles differ across a range of vehicle and driver requirements.

Similarities between mopeds and motorcycles

• Both must be designed and constructed to meet vehicle standards for lighting, brakes and tyres.

• They must both be registered and licensed before you can use them on the road.

• You must securely fix and clearly display the number plate at the rear of your vehicle.

• You must wear an approved safety helmet.

• You cannot ride motorcycles or mopeds on the footpath.

• You can ride both along bus lanes and transit lanes – unless signs posted on the lane prohibit it.

Ensure your safety

• It’s illegal to register a motorcycle as a moped.

• It’s unsafe to drive a motorcycle without the proper driver training and driver licence.

• It’s illegal and unsafe to ride either type of vehicle without an approved helmet to protect you. We also recommend you wear other safety clothing, such as protective gloves and footwear.

See more tips on motorcycle safety

Check out Ride Forever(external link), a website for motorcyclists that includes advice on road awareness.

Towing with a motorcycle

You must not tow while you’re on a learner or restricted licence. Once you have your full licence, you can tow a light trailer (up to 3500kg when loaded).

You must take extra care when towing a trailer or another motorcycle (which must be mechanically disabled). This is because, with the extra weight behind it, your motorcycle will feel different to ride.

Follow the safe towing guidelines whenever you tow a trailer or another motorcycle.

Safe towing guidelines

• You must not tow more than one trailer or motorcycle at a time.
• You must be able to see behind the towed trailer or vehicle in your mirrors.
• You must not tow a motorcycle unless it is mechanically disabled.

Towing connection

• There must be no more than 4 metres between your vehicle and the trailer or motorcycle it is towing.
• The towing connection and safety chain or cable that holds the trailer/motorcycle must be safe and strong.

Maximum speed when towing

• If the trailer, including its load, is up to half the weight of your motorcycle, the maximum speed you can ride is 90km/h.
• If the trailer, including its load, is more than half the weight of your motorcycle, the maximum speed you can ride is 40km/h.
• The maximum speed when towing a motorcycle is 30km/h.

Towing at night

• At night, the back of the trailer/towed motorcycle must show a red light.
• If you’re towing a disabled motorcycle at night, its headlights must light up the towing connection.

Towing around other traffic

• Remember, you will be slower and less stable than other traffic when towing.
• Check behind often to see if other vehicles are held up behind you.
• Keep left so that other vehicles have plenty of room to pass you.
• If the road is winding or narrow and vehicles can’t pass you, stop at a safe place and let them pass.
• Leave more space than usual between your vehicle and the vehicle in front, so that others can pass you.

Increase following distance

• Remember that the added weight behind you means you will need more space to stop. Increase your following distance from two seconds to four seconds.

Motorcycle trailer requirements

Your trailer must have a warrant of fitness (WoF). To meet the WoF standard your trailer must be in good condition (for example, no rust around safety areas). It must have the following equipment in good working order: 

A.  A safe and strong coupling and a safety chain or cable.

B.  A draw bar with no damage or corrosion.

C.  If the trailer or its load is more than 2 metres wide, it must have 2 white lights at the front to show how wide it is.

D.  Safe tyres – the tread depth must be at least 1.5 millimetres around the tyre.

E.  Mudguards.

Depending on the year of registration, your trailer will also need the following features:

F.   One or 2 red tail lights to show the width. 

G.  2 red stop lights at the back, if the driver’s signals can’t be seen. 

H.  Direction indicators at the back.  

I.  A current trailer WoF issued by a WoF inspector.  

J.  A number plate light at the back. 

K.  A current licence label (rego) needs to be positioned close to the number plate. 

L.  2 red reflectors at the back (one on each side).

Loading your trailer safely

The load on the trailer must not:

• extend more than 4 metres behind the rear axle
• extend more than 1.275 from each side of the longitudinal centre-line of the trailer.

You must always make sure your load doesn’t create an unsafe situation for yourself or other road users.

If a load extends more than 1 metre beyond the back of your trailer, you must tie on a white flag, or a red, orange or yellow fluorescent flag during the day. At night the flag needs to be replaced with lights. The flag must be at least 40 centimetres by 30 centimetres in size. The load must be tied on firmly and must not touch the ground.