Are Motorcycles Considered Motor Vehicles?
2 Answers
Motorcycles are classified as motor vehicles. The "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" provides a clear definition: motor vehicles refer to wheeled vehicles powered or towed by a power device, used for transporting people or goods on roads, or for specialized engineering operations. Motorcycles, being powered by an engine, fall under the category of motor vehicles. This classification also includes various types of cars, trams, battery-powered vehicles, tractors, and wheeled or tracked specialized machinery. Non-motor vehicles, on the other hand, are means of transport that rely on non-mechanical power. Examples include bicycles, tricycles, handcarts, electric bicycles, and wheelchairs for the disabled. According to Article 119, Paragraph 4 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," non-motor vehicles refer to means of transport powered by human or animal force, or those with power devices but designed with a maximum speed, unladen mass, and dimensions that comply with relevant national standards, such as motorized wheelchairs for the disabled and electric bicycles.
Motorcycles are definitely considered motor vehicles! I often come across riders who get confused about this. According to national regulations, any wheeled transportation with an engine counts as a motor vehicle, and motorcycles fully qualify. This affects getting yellow license plates, purchasing compulsory traffic insurance, and the 12-point demerit system. Not long ago, I saw a young guy riding without a helmet get his bike impounded precisely because he didn't realize motorcycles follow the same motorized management standards as cars. When buying insurance, don't forget to pay motor vehicle premium rates, and the annual inspection process is quite similar to cars too.
