FAQ

Motor Scooter Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find your question below? Email it to customerservice@NS4L.com

1. Why should I buy a motor scooter?

1.  
   • There are so many great reasons to buy a motor scooter. Here are the three best reasons:
     
     
     • Save money on gas. All motor scooters get great gas mileage and within a short period of time, your motor scooter will end up paying for itself!
       
       
     • You don’t have to wait for the bus. How many times have you sat at the bus stop and waited 15 minutes or more for the bus to come? Some of those times the bus passes you by because it is full! You can eliminate this problem with a motor scooter!
       
       
     • Park right outside of your classroom. Unless you are a graduate student, it is next to impossible to park a car on campus. With a motor scooter you can pull up to the outside of nearly every classroom!
       
       

2. Why should I buy a motor scooter from New Scooters 4 Less (NS4L)?

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   • It is our goal to provide the very best in customer service and products. We carry a wide variety of scooters, accessories, services, and more for every budget.
     
     
   • We will meet and beat competitor's prices! We want to earn your business!
     
   
   
   • We are here to help all college students and individuals looking for a great way to get to work or around town by providing affordable transportation and scooter service.
     
     
   • We offer Maintenance Packages to help you protect your investment and maintain a high resale value. Maintenance Packages also give parents a peace of mind due to free pick-up services included with some of the packages. These really help in the event of a breakdown due to a flat tire, etc.
     
     
   • We offer the lowest service rates in town and have low flat fees on general maintenance like oil changes, etc.
     
     
   • Convenient Location! We are located only 2 miles from campus!
     
     
   • Free delivery for any Gainesville resident when they purchase a New Scooters 4 Less motor scooter!
     

3. Do I need to have a motorcycle license to drive a
motor scooter?

1.  
   • This depends on the size of the motor. (In Florida) As long as the motor scooter is 50cc or less and you have a standard driver’s license, you do not need a motorcycle driver’s license. Please note that this law can vary by state, so please check with your local law enforcement agency.
     
     

4. Do I have to have a motorcycle license to purchase a scooter over 50cc?  

1.  
   • We do not require you to have a motorcycle license to purchase a scooter over 50cc, however, you obviously cannot drive off the lot with it unless you have a motorcycle license. You can pick it up with a pick-up truck or we can deliver it to your Gainesville residence for free!  We can also hold it for you until you obtain your motorcycle license.
     
     

5. Where can I take the motorcycle training class?

1.  
   • We recommend our good friends at Gainesville Motorcycle Safety Training! They have the very best instructors and very competitive rates! You can reserve your spot for the class for only $200 when you purchase your motorcycle (scooter over 50cc) at New Scooters 4 Less!

6. Do I have to wear a helmet?

1. • If you are under 21 years of age, then yes. Florida State Law requires you to wear a helmet. If you are over 21 years of age, Florida State Law does not require you to wear a helmet while riding your motor scooter as long as you have personal injury coverage of at least $10,000. However, for your safety, we highly encourage you to wear one. We stock TONS of different helmets that are all DOT (Department of Transportation) approved!
     
     
   • Even though you may not be required to wear a helmet, you are required to wear eye protection. A helmet with visor is best, but glasses or sunglasses are acceptable as well.
     
     

7. Do I have to have insurance for my motor scooter?

1.  
   • No. You are not required to have insurance for your motor scooter if it under 50cc. If you are interested in getting your motor scooter insured, check with your car insurance company. Many will simply add coverage for your scooter to your current policy.  If you are financing a motorcycle (a scooter over 50cc) then you will be required to have insurance.
     
     

8. How much does it cost to get my motor scooter
registered?

1.  
   • Registration costs through state tag agencies took a significant increase in September 2009, upwards of $150 or more. Exact cost depends on your date of purchase and date of birth (because vehicle registrations renew and expire on your birthday). It will cost around $50 to renew your registration after your tags expire. Reminder: Make sure you take cash or a check to the Tag Agency because they do not accept credit cards. For a flat $200 Administrative Fee, New Scooters 4 Less can register, tag, and title your motor scooter for you. The $200 covers the entire expense of your tag, title, any other registration fees, cost of temporary tag, etc. and also saves you the headache of having to carry the paperwork to your local tag office, stand in line, and get it registered yourself.  Instead, we simply issue you a temporary tag so you can drive right off the lot and then we contact you once your license plate comes in. Then you can pick your license plate up from our shop and we can put it on your scooter for you!  (We do NOT require you to register your scooter through our shop unless it is over 50cc as required by law. If you wish to take the paperwork to the local tag office, then you will not be accessed this administrative fee and you will need to pay the tag office directly for your registration.)

9. Where is the Alachua County Tag Agency?

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   1. The address for the agency closest to our store is:

12 SE 1st St.
Gainesville, FL 32601 – 5341
(352) 264-6868

     2. You can also get your motor scooter registered at these other tag agencies:

a.) 3946 SW Archer Rd.
Gainesville, FL 32608 – 2342
(352) 337-6200

b.) 5801 NW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL 32653 – 1777
(352) 374-5263

10. How much is a UF parking decal for motor scooters?

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   • It will cost approximately $144 for a year for a motor scooter decal.
     

11. Where do I go to get a UF parking decal?

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   • You will have to go to the University of Florida Transportation and Parking Services. Please check our University of Florida page for more information.
     

12. How many miles will my scooter get to the gallon?

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   • The answer to this question depends on a couple of factors. Miles per gallon depends on who is driving and the type of scooter. On average, you should get at least 60 + mpg on your motor scooter. Most get about 80 mpg.
     

13. How much fuel do motor scooters hold and what type do they use?

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   • Please check the specifications of each scooter. The majority of motor scooters only hold between 1 and 2 gallons. All of our scooters require premium fuel with an octane grade of 93.
     
     

14. Do I need to change its oil?

1.  
   • Yes. If your scooter is a 4-stroke scooter, you will need to change its oil. Even though your motor scooter doesn’t need as much maintenance as your car, if you want your motor scooter to last, we suggest getting your oil changed and your carburetor tuned up every few months. A new 4-stroke scooter should have its first oil change within the first 250 miles. After its first oil change, it is best to have it changed at least 3 - 4 times a year depending on how often you drive your motor scooter or every 500 - 750 miles. New Scooters 4 Less offers oil changes for $23.53 (lowest in Gainesville!).
     

15. What if I can’t get my motor scooter started with
the electric start?

1.  
   • Majority of people will only have trouble getting their motor scooter started with the electric start if they have let it sit for a long period of time. If you cannot start your motor scooter with the electric start, try putting your motor scooter up on its center stand. Once you have done so, turn your motor scooter into the on position with the key and try kick starting your motor scooter. It may take several kicks to get your motor scooter to turn over. If you are still having trouble, contact us and we would be happy to assist you. You can bring your battery in and we can charge it for you.
     
     
   • Motor scooter batteries are much smaller than car batteries. Therefore, they are going to die quicker. In order to keep your battery charged, we suggest riding your motor scooter often. You may want to invest in a battery charger just in case your battery gets a weak charge. Again, we would be happy to assist as well.
     

16. How long does a motor scooter last?

1.  
   • Like everything else, how long your motor scooter lasts depends on how well you take care of it. Remember to maintain your scooter by keeping it clean, keeping it out of the rain, and getting the oil changed and carburetor tuned frequently. We highly recommend investing into a motor scooter cover to help keep water and dirt off of your scooter and help keep it in great condition.
     

17. Do I have to mix oil and gas?

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   • This depends on the type of motor scooter you decide to purchase from us. Even though the majority of our motor scooters are 4-stroke and don’t require you to mix oil with gas, we do offer some of the top of the line 2-stroke motor scooters. Most of our 2-strokes have a separate compartment to put the 2-stroke oil into allowing the scooter to mix the gas and oil automatically. Please check the scooter specifications to see whether or not the motor scooter is 4-stroke or 2-stroke.
     

18. Can you make my current motor scooter go
faster?

1.  
   • This depends on which type of motor scooter you have. We can install upgrade kits on most 50cc motor scooters to increase the speed. Please give us a call or email us for more information. 
     

19. Are there any assembly, dealer, freight, or preparatory costs when I purchase my scooter?  

1.  
   • There are not any dealer or assembly fees on any of our Gorilla Motor Works, Red Streak, Peirspeed, or Puma Cycles scooters.  We only have a dealer freight and preparatory expense on the Vespa and Piaggio line-makes of scooters.
     
     The only other expenses you have at the time of purchase include sales tax, battery/tire tax, and tag/title/registration.  Feel free to contact us for an out the door quote on any scooter model.
     

20. Do they hold more than one person?

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   • Yes. The majority of our motor scooters can carry up to 2 people.
     

21. I just have a mechanical question, can you help?

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   • Yes. Are you having trouble with a motor scooter? Do you have general questions on the parts, service, and maintenance of your motor scooter? Is your motor scooter in for repair at our shop and you want to check on the status? Feel free to contact our mechanic specialists at mechanics@ns4l.com. They will reply back to you as soon as possible.
     

22. Do I have to be a NS4L or BuyMyScooter.com
customer to purchase a Maintenance Package?

1.  
   • No. Even if you did not purchase a motor scooter from New Scooters 4 Less or it's affiliate Buy My Scooter, you can still purchase a maintenance package. These packages were put together to benefit anyone who wants to take care of their motor scooter or knows they will be selling it in a few years. These packages were designed to encourage students to take care of their motor scooter so that they will be able to sell their scooter and get more money for it when they graduate. These packages are limited to Gainesville, FL and immediate surrounding residents only.
     
     

23. Do you offer student discounts?

1.  
   • Yes.  We offer a $50 discount on any motor scooter to any student with a valid Gator 1 or SFCC ID!  Please note:  We do not combine discounts on top of discounts, so if a scooter is already on sale or if you have a coupon, we will give you the greatest of which discounts you qualify for. For example, if a scooter is on sale during a promotion for $100 off and you have a student ID ($50 discount), we will give you the greater discount of $100 over the $50 discount, but not both. 
     

24. Do you offer a military discount?

1.  
   • Absolutely!  We offer a $50 discount on any regular priced motor scooter to any active or retired officer of our U.S. Armed Forces.  Thank you for everything you do! :)  Please see note in the question 23.  Same rules apply.
     

25. Why should I buy a scooter from New Scooters 4
Less instead of an online wholesaler?

1.  
   • There are several reasons why you should purchase a scooter from New Scooters 4 Less as opposed to an online wholesaler. First, most internet wholesalers ship the motor scooter to you unassembled. There have been several instances where customers who purchased a scooter from a wholesaler online have brought their scooter to us to have it assembled. After paying the shipping on the scooter and the labor for us to put it together, they normally end up paying the same amount or sometimes more than it would have cost to buy a new one already assembled from our store! Second, most motor scooters sold from a wholesaler online don't come with a warranty or if it does come with a warranty it is usually a very short one. And guess what? If you need a warranty part from that online wholesaler, you are going to have to call and sit on an 800 number until you get a human being on the phone. Then that 'service technician' will tell you what warranty part they think you need and put it in the mail to you and you have to wait 2 weeks or more to receive it.  Then 9 times out of 10, it is not the correct part you needed, and you have to go through the whole process all over again!
     
     Any scooter purchased from New Scooters 4 Less comes with a warranty of at least one year and some of our scooters come with two year warranties. Finally, if you purchase a scooter from a wholesaler online and something goes wrong with the motor scooter you purchased from that wholesaler, they will usually not accept a return. We have had many customers who have purchased from a wholesaler online to get a cheap scooter, but they ended up paying a lot more trying to have the scooter fixed or even ended up having to purchase a new one. New Scooters 4 Less has low prices on motor scooters that come with great warranties! New Scooters 4 Less has been providing scooters for Gators and several others for years! Buy from our local business because unlike wholesalers out on the web, we care for you and truly appreciate your business!