Moke vehicles have been turning heads for decades and now they are making a big comeback in California. These small but mighty open-air electric vehicles are perfect for coastal living, and they can brighten up any vacation. They might even make you the talk of your neighborhood.
The fun is built in naturally, but motorists may wonder if these little vehicles are allowed on local streets. Do you need a driver’s license to drive them?
Moke carts are classified as LSVs (Low-Speed Vehicles) in California, and that means there are restrictions on how fast they go, where they can travel, and what you’ll need to open them up on the road.
What Are Moke Cars and LSVs?
A Low-Speed Vehicle, also known as a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV), is a small, electric transport that may resemble a golf cart. (Definitely not in the case of the Moke!) But unlike golf carts, LSVs are generally bigger, heavier, and can move faster. They are also street-legal on some California roads.
The Moke is an LSV that was born in 1960s Britain. The cool little beach buggy became a favorite mode of transportation among California beach lovers and surfers. The early models were gas-powered. The Moke wasn’t as heavily produced for a while, but over the last decade a British/Chinese joint venture has put more electric-powered Mokes on the road. Moke America supplies customers with carts made in Sarasota, Florida.
Moke Vehicles and California Traffic Laws
Mokes are treated like cars by California transportation officials. California follows federal guidelines for LSVs and NEVs. That means these carts can’t weigh more than 3,000 lbs with passengers and cargo. Moke vehicles weigh somewhere around 2,300 lbs without people on board.
The LSV designation is applied to vehicles that travel faster than 20mph, but not faster than 25mph. The Moke’s top speed is 25 mph with a travel range of up to 40 miles on a charge.
They are street-legal and come with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and a title. According to the California Driver’s Handbook, Low-Speed Vehicles can travel on California roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less. Local transportation officials can restrict Moke use on any road where a safety hazard is thought to exist.
California DOT Requirements for a Moke Vehicle
A Moke vehicle is basically a car with relaxed safety standards due to its size and standard usage. But since they can travel on public roads, drivers and vehicles must meet certain requirements:
- Drivers must have a California Driver’s License or a learner’s permit to drive a Moke on public roads.
- Drivers must have auto insurance to drive a Moke on public roads.
- A Moke will have a California license plate.
Moke vehicles must also be equipped with certain safety devices. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a Moke must have:
- Headlamps
- Front and Rear Turn Signal Lamps
- Taillamps
- Stop lamps
- Red reflex reflectors on each side and on rear
- Driver’s side mirror and passenger side mirror
- Parking Brake
- Windshield
- Seat Belts
It should be noted that many owners will find it easy to modify a Moke to go faster than the 25 mph legal limit. However, owners are advised that any Moke that travels faster than 25 mph enters into the same classification as all other cars and SUVs. It is immediately subject to stricter safety standards, the same as normal cars.
Click on Maison Law’s LSV California Laws page for additional information on safety guidelines.
Moke Safety Comes First in California
Moke vehicles provide safe, easy, and green transportation, but that convenience comes with a cost. Moke motorists venturing out on California roads enjoy far fewer protections than those in cars, SUVs, and trucks. Bigger vehicles come with many more safety features, they weigh more, and in most cases, passengers are surrounded by a lot of protective metal.
Moke drivers can focus on the road and on safe driving, but that doesn’t mean that other, fast-moving motorists are paying attention to other vehicles like they should. LSV drivers should follow every federal and California safety guideline. Drivers in cars, trucks, and SUVs must also do their part and monitor every street for the presence of a smaller vehicle. They should slow down to whatever speed is necessary to avoid even the chance of a collision. This extra caution might prevent a devastating accident.
