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SEATTLE – With predictions about $5 gas continuing to swirl, more people are ditching their cars for something with two wheels

Sales of scooters, such as Honda brand or the popular Vespa, are booming. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, scooter sales nationwide rose 24 percent in the first three months of this year compared to the same time last year. The council says for all of 2007, sales of scooters in Washington ranked seventh in the nation. Overall, sales of scooters in Washington are up 54 percent since 2003.

But before you fork over your money, you should know the rules of the road change significantly once you mount these fuel efficient options. For one, most scooters are technically classified as motorcycles under Washington state law.

"If the bike is over 50cc's or goes over 30 mph, then it's considered by definition of law a motorcycle," said Washington State Trooper Brandy Kessler. It must be registered as a motorcycle and the driver has to have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license.

If you're riding something smaller or slower than that, the good news is you don't have to have the endorsement. The bad news is you can't take them on Washington's highways or interstates. Only scooters that reach at least 30 mph can go there, and even then, you're still bound by the rules of the road says Kessler.

Anything under 30 mph is considered a moped. Some cities have their own rules about where scooters can go.

As for insurance, Kessler says motorcycles are not required to have it in Washington state. But, riders are required to wear a helmet. You can get the motorcycle endorsement by passing a motorcycle knowledge test or passing a state-approved motorcycle training course.

The size and power of scooters vary greatly, depending on what you want. They can carry as little as a gallon or as much as four gallons of gas, with mileage ranging between 50 and 110 miles per gallon. Maximum speeds can range from 50 mph to nearly 100 mph for the larger scooters.