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This article applies to 40cc, 47cc, 49cc, 110cc and any other vehicle imported into Canada as a "pocketbike". Please note this may also include pocketquads as well although no research has been done for them at this time.

Pocketbikes (regardless of their motor size) are not street legal in Canada. They are too small in height and do not meet speed requirements that Transport Canada requires to qualify them as a scooter. They also have not been processed by Transport Canada to check for safety requirements either such as lights and collision requirements (which is the biggest obstacle next to height).

While some bikes do come with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is necessary to register a vehicle with, some semi knowledgable people have suggested that bikes without VIN's can simply have a VIN assigned by your local motor vehicle branch. This is true, you can get a VIN for a vehicle that does not have one. However you still cannot pass the Transport Canada requirements.

You may also be required to pass provincial safety requirements as well, which a pocketbike would not pass.

Also remember that pocketbikes are imported with the permission of Transport Canada as "Off Road Competition Vehicles". Transport Canada has the following to say about Competition Vehicles.

"Competition vehicles are not a prescribed vehicle class under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and as such are not regulated. Competition vehicle means a vehicle that is designed for use exclusivily in closed-course competition".

Again that information shoots down any possibility of a pocketbike being able to be registered by a motor vehicle branch anywhere in Canada.

This article was written by Bruce Peresky for pocketbikeforum.com. Copying is permitted provided you give credit to http://www.pocketbikeforum.com

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