Electric scooter laws in Australia, state by state

The device

• Designed for one person, electric, with one or more wheels.
• Maximum 60 kg (without rider); no larger than 750 mm wide × 1,350 mm high × 1,100 mm wheelbase.
• Motor-propelled speed must not exceed 25 km/h.

Who can ride — changed 31 August 2026

• Riders must be 16 or older and hold a valid driver licence (learner permit minimum). Equivalent interstate or overseas licences are recognised; an expired, suspended or disqualified licence does not count.
• Riders under 16, and 16–17-year-olds without a licence, may ride while supervised by a parent or guardian within safe distance.
• Some low-pedestrian recreational areas (rail trails, mountain-bike trails, private recreational facilities) are exempt; riders unable to hold a licence for medical reasons can apply for an E-Mobility Driver Licence Exemption (form F5464).

Where and how fast

• Footpaths: 12 km/h. Shared paths: 12 km/h when passing pedestrians unless signs say otherwise. Separated and bicycle paths: up to 25 km/h.
• Roads: bike lanes on roads up to 60 km/h, physically separated bike lanes, and streets up to 60 km/h — at no more than 25 km/h, obeying any lower posted limit.

Sources: Queensland Government — Rules for personal mobility devices · StreetSmarts QLD — E-bikes, e-scooters and PMDs

• Privately owned e-scooters are not allowed on roads or any road-related area — including footpaths, shared paths, cycleways and bicycle lanes. They may legally be used only on private property.
• Because an e-scooter cannot be registered, riding one in public can attract penalties for using an unregistered, uninsured and unlicensed motor vehicle.
• The NSW Government's Shared E-scooter Trial Program runs until 22 January 2027 in designated sites (locations have included Wollongong and Forster-Tuncurry, and sites can change or conclude). Rules inside trial areas: hired devices only, 16+, approved helmet, no footpaths, 10 km/h on shared paths and 20 km/h on roads up to 50 km/h, no passengers, no phone, no alcohol, and no leaving the geofenced zone.

Sources: Legal Aid NSW — E-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards · NSW Government — Shared E-scooter Trial Program

The device

• Maximum speed of 25 km/h on level ground, maximum weight 45 kg, two wheels in line, a footboard between them and handlebar steering; built to carry one person standing or seated.
• It is against the law to ride a device capable of more than 25 km/h on public land. (Some Victorian road-safety education material also quotes a 200 W power figure — if a specification is ambiguous, confirm with VicRoads before buying.)

Riding rules

• 16 or older, properly fitted helmet, and ride at no more than 20 km/h.
• Ride only on shared-use paths, bicycle paths, and roads with a speed limit up to 60 km/h. Footpaths are off-limits, as are roads over 60 km/h and freeways.
• Front and rear lights (flashing or steady) at night or in low light; no passengers or animals; no drink or drug riding; pedestrians have priority on shared paths.

Sources: VicRoads — E-scooter road rules · TAC — E-scooters

• Device: must not exceed 25 km/h on level ground, weigh 25 kg or less, and be no larger than 125 cm long × 70 cm wide × 135 cm high; designed for one person.
• Riders 16 and over only. An approved bicycle, skateboard or motorcycle helmet is required, and a bell or other warning device must be fitted.
• Speeds: 10 km/h on footpaths and pedestrian crossings; up to 25 km/h on bicycle paths, shared paths and local roads where safe; roads only where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less.
• Illegal on roads over 50 km/h and on paths signed 'no wheeled devices'; use the bicycle side of separated paths.
• The same drink and drug driving laws as car drivers apply; phones may not be held in the hand (handlebar-mounted navigation and hands-free calls follow driver-style rules); lights and reflectors are required at night; ride single file in groups and keep 2 m behind vehicles.

Source: WA Road Safety Commission — eRideables (page last updated May 2026)

The device

• Electric, one person, 45 kg or less, no larger than 125 × 70 × 135 cm, effective brakes, no sharp protrusions, a working bell or horn, and it must meet electrical safety standards. Seated devices are allowed if they meet the same spec.

Riding rules

• 16 or older, helmet required, lights in low light or at night. No driver licence, registration or CTP insurance.
• 10 km/h on footpaths, shared paths, beaches and crossings; 25 km/h on separated paths, bicycle paths, physically separated bike lanes, bike lanes on roads up to 50 km/h, and roads up to 50 km/h keeping left.
• 60 km/h roads may only be used where a bike lane exists (and only during that lane's operating hours).
• No phone held in the hand or resting on the body while moving (a handlebar mount for GPS or a speedometer is allowed without touching); no passengers; speeding and drink/drug riding can attract demerit points.

Sources: SA.GOV.AU — Personal mobility devices · SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport

• Device (PMD): electric, at least one wheel, under 125 × 70 × 135 cm, under 45 kg, and not capable of travelling faster than 25 km/h on level ground; one person only. A device over spec is classed as a motor vehicle and cannot legally be used unregistered.
• Age: 16 or older. Children under 16 may only use low-powered e-scooters that do not exceed 200 W and 10 km/h.
• Speeds: 15 km/h on footpaths; 25 km/h on shared paths, bicycle paths and roads. Road use is limited to streets of 50 km/h or less with no dividing line or median strip (and a single lane on one-way roads), plus roads declared by councils.
• Approved helmet; no phone; no passengers or animals; no alcohol or drugs; give way to pedestrians and keep left.
• At night: a white front light, red rear light and red rear reflector are all required. Police can fine riders and temporarily confiscate devices. No registration or insurance is needed.

Source: Transport Tasmania — Personal mobility devices

• Device: electric, one rider, 60 kg or less (without rider), maximum 25 km/h on level ground, no larger than 1,250 × 700 × 1,350 mm, with a braking system. Anything faster is considered a motor vehicle and is banned from paths — private property only.
• Age: children under 12 must be supervised by an adult; riders 12 and over may ride solo. Shared (Lime) devices are 16+.
• Where: footpaths, shared paths and nature strips; roads only where there is no footpath, shared path or nature strip (or it isn't practical to use), taking the shortest route back.
• Speeds: 15 km/h on footpaths; 25 km/h on shared paths, bicycle paths and the bicycle side of separated paths; slow to 10 km/h when crossing.
• Helmet, bell or warning device, lights/reflectors at night or in hazardous weather; no phone, no passengers, no alcohol or drugs; park without blocking paths or entrances.

Source: Transport Canberra — E-scooters and personal mobility devices

• A privately owned e-scooter is lawful in a public place only if it meets the Australian Road Rules definition of a "motorised scooter": maximum 200 W and 10 km/h (with helmet, give-way rules, and no use on roads over 50 km/h or roads with a dividing line or median).
• Most retail e-scooters exceed these limits. Anything more powerful or faster is classed as a non-complying motor vehicle, which cannot be registered — so riding it on roads, paths or other public places is unlawful without an exemption from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. Penalties include unregistered/uninsured and unlicensed-riding fines, demerit points and licence cancellation. Private property use remains fine.
• Public hire: Beam e-scooters operate in Darwin under agreement with the City of Darwin, capped at 15 km/h. Riders must be 18+, wear an approved helmet, stay inside the geofenced operating area, and may only ride on a road for up to 50 m to bypass an obstruction.

Source: NT Government — Electric scooters and bikes