Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Helmet regulations in different countries...

In France
No helmets require

Motorcycles licences

Car licences with expérience two wheelers ( six months insurance during the five years before)
Or little stage three wheelers.

So there is every possibility that a Three Wheeler owner over here could innocently travel to Europe in the belief that as he bought it here as a car, it would be treated as such abroad.

That's how I recall the legislation, Martyn.

EU driving licence categories have been harmonised between member states, one of the advantages of being in the EU, so everyone should take a few minutes to check theirs. If you've renewed yours here in the UK then you should also check the new version has all the same entitlements as the one you sent off because it's been known for some to get 'mislaid'..

Harmonisation means that everyone's licence in the UK should look the same as member states, hence the authorities should be quite clued up about yours whilst they look at it.

The difference is, as Martyn has written, each country can have differing sub-clauses.

I find it amazing that with the trike laws in the UK that you can ride something like a Piaggio MP3 or a Harley Tri Glide without a helmet!

Never mind...

I know in Missouri on this side of the pond, I called the Troop C highway patrol that is the enforcement arm on the road and vehicle laws, I said that I might be getting a M3W and asked if I could drive it without a helmet.

He asked how many wheels it had and I told him three. He then said yes, you need to wear a helmet.

I told him it had a steering wheel, a car seat, seat belts and it was enclosed like a roadster sportscar. Again he asked me how many wheels it had. You see where he's going, don't you....

So in my state with a motorcycle helmet law as law, helmet it is.

The problem is that I've seen several Polaris Slingshots driving around and they're not wearing helmets. I think the people are uninformed about the helmet law and three wheels.

But here also you have to have a motorcycle endorsement on your license to drive a three wheeler.

My question would be to the state is this, if I'm going to be driving a three wheeler, any brand, and cannot ride a motorcycle well enough to pass a written and riding test to get the endorsement, how do I buy and drive and drive like a car vehicle?

Time will tell.

Sweden is OK without helmet as long as you use your safety belt.
The 5-sp is licensed as motorcycle, but can be driven with a car license.
Older 3-w are either motorcycles or cars.
My 1934 F4 is a car and can be driven without helmet or safety belt, but most old twins are classified as motorcycles demanding helmet.
Simple !?!?!

Stig S

I would not bother to much about the driving licence if you have a licence which alows you to drive your 3 Wheeler in you own country, it will be mandatory in all other countrys.
You have a permit so your legal! The only big matter is, if you will need a Helmet, Safty Jacket, First aid kit or other required acessories prescripted by the law in which country you will drive in or through...at least for the EU...is there a difference for the US?

What I actually ment was to do a list ( completed by our 3W pilots ) as a tool that we can consult be planing a trip what we need to take with us to avoid troubble with authoities in the different countrys...

Dodgy 'advice'. The correct way a UK licence should be seen in other EU countries is if the issue date precedes 19 Jan 2013, a car (full group B) or a motorcycle licence (full group A) will do. If the issue date is after 19 January 2013, only a motorcycle licence will do, either full, or with note 79, 'for tricycles only' on it. A car test passed after 19 Jan 2013 if the holder is over 21 only allows the driving of a tricycle inside UK, it is not valid anywhere other than the UK.

I think it is more than possible, a policeman in other EU countries than the UK will see things your way for a simpler life, the rules are both complicated and idiotic. Doesn't mean it's right though.

I believe an American motorbike licence is a lot easier to get at a younger age than in the EU. This is an explanation of the hoops that need jumped through in the UK and other EU countries.
Getting a motorbike licence

Added, unless very well advised by a practising lawyer in the intended country of visitation, I think as far as helmet wearing is concerned, one has to utterly follow the laws of that country.