Moped drivers in North Carolina need to head to the local license plate agency.

A new law goes into effect on July 1 that means mopeds must be registered if drivers are using them on state roads. The law has redefined a moped as a vehicle — now owners must obtain a valid North Carolina license plate in order to legally operate them.

Like anyone else driving an unregistered vehicle, a moped driver operating on state roads without registration can be ticketed after July 1.

“I think this is the first step in regulating moped usage in the state of North Carolina,” said Washington Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford.

North Carolina’s restrictions on who can and cannot operate a moped are much looser than in other states: in South Carolina, a moped driver must have either a valid drivers license or, in the case of younger drivers, a valid permit, and carry liability insurance on the moped.

The North Carolina General Assembly is also considering such measures, as a Senate committee voiced approval of a House bill that would make liability insurance a requirement by July of 2016. According to Associated Press, Rep. Phil Shepard of Jacksonville said drivers of mopeds should be held financially responsible for accidents they have caused.

While there is no estimation of how many mopeds exists in North Carolina, there is data about the number of accidents in which moped drivers are involved. In 2013, mopeds were involved in 656 out of a total of 388,681 vehicle crashes statewide. Of the 656, 571 resulted in injuries, and 25 were fatal, according to the DMV’s 2013 Traffic Crash Facts report.

Drakeford said the new law requiring registration and that each vehicle has a tag will give the state the means to track mopeds, help with traffic enforcement and assist law enforcement with investigations.

“Just like any vehicle, it will help us to identify if a moped has been stolen,” Drakeford said.

Described as “the tame cousins of motorcycles” by the North Carolina DMV, a moped is defined as a vehicle that cannot exceed over 30 mph or possess an engine larger than 50 cubic centimeters. If a moped exceeds these standards, it must be registered as a motorcycle, according to the DMV website. In North Carolina, moped drivers must be 16 years of age or older and wear helmets, but until this year, there were no other requirements.

To register, moped owners will have to present a valid North Carolina drivers license or valid N.C. identification card, in addition to the manufacturers certificate of origin and an affidavit that requires the moped’s vehicle identification number (VIN).  Owners of mopeds without a VIN will have to apply to a DMV License and Theft office to get a new one.

The cost of the registration/tag is $18 and the plate must be renewed yearly via online, mail or the license plate agency. No inspection is required in order to register a moped, according to the DMV.

In addition to insurance liability for moped drivers, other legislation is being considered in Raleigh: barring mopeds on roads where the posted speed limit is 45 miles per hour or faster and barring drivers who have lost their licenses due to medical problems or impaired driving from operating a moped.