Buying a moped
New mopeds start from £1,500, with the average moped costing around £3,000. You should also bear in mind the extra costs involved, such as insurance (from £100 per year), road tax (which is free after the first year) and fuel (from around £15 per month if you drive 50 miles a week).
If you are unable to afford to buy a new moped, then there are two alternatives open to you. You could either:
• Buy a used moped. Prices start from around £600, but with a used moped there is a greater risk that you will have to pay for running repairs.
• Rent a moped. The average rental charge is £10 per day or £50 per week.
Riding a moped
As a 16-year-old moped rider, you will need to pay three different licence charges:
• A provisional CBT licence, which you need to take a compulsory basic training course, will cost between £100 and £200.
• Your CBT certificate is valid for two years. During this time, you will need to obtain a full moped licence, which costs £23.
• You will also need to pay £45 for a theory test, and you may also need to spend £115 for a practical test, depending on what category of licence you are going for.
In total, the minimum amount that a 16-year-old needs to spend on moped riding expenses is around £450. However, you may need to pay up to £750 if you need to take a practical test and repair an old moped.
