For design purposes, three wheeled scooters are divided into 2 categories:

1. wheel in front and 2 in back, known as a delta design or the traditional trike design.
2. wheels in front and 1 in back, known as a tadpole design.

Some 3 wheeled scooters enclose the rider in a "cabin" or cockpit. These include the Twike, Myers Motors NmG.

Some three wheeled scooters have independent suspension allowing the vehicle to tilt or lean, such as the Carver one.

Due to vagueness in motor vehicle laws, any three-wheeled vehicle that can travel over 31 mph (50 km/h) may be classified as a scooter or motorcycle.