An electric scooter is an excellent way to commute independently and enjoy a leisurely off-road ride. But each state has its law to keep you and others safe on the road.
Here are all Australian electric scooter laws consolidated state by state, so you know if you can legally ride an electric scooter on a public road!
Learn and observe these rules to remain safe and on the right side of the law.
Australian Capital Territory
Since 2019, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has deemed e-scooters and other personal mobility e-scooters as legal transport.
However, these e-scooters must meet the following specifications to travel legally in public:
- An electric motor must power the PMD.
- It should only carry a single person.
- It must not exceed 60 kg.
- It should include one or more wheels.
- The device must have a braking system.
- It must have a 25-kph max speed.
- It must have dimensions of 1,250 mm (L) x 700 mm (W) x 1,350 mm (H)
If your device meets these criteria, you may use your e-scooter in public. Riders must also observe the following traffic rules for PMDs:
- You can ride e-scooters on footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths, and the bicycle side of separated paths.
- The speed restrictions are:
- 15 kph for footpaths
- 25 kph for shared paths, bicycle paths, and the bicycle side of separated paths
- 10 kph when approaching or travelling across a crossing
- You must wear a helmet and use lights and reflectors when riding at night and in bad weather conditions.
- The e-scooter must be fitted with a warning device.
- Adults should supervise children under 12 years of age.
- You should always give way to pedestrians.
- You must not ride under the influence, use a mobile phone while riding, and carry a passenger.
These laws apply to private and shared e-scooters.
ACT currently operates shared e-scooter schemes in Canberra, Woden Valley, Gungahlin, Belconnen, Weston Creek, Molonglo, and Tuggeranong.
Check out their website for more information about electric scooter laws in ACT.
Victoria
Last 5 April, Victoria extended their e-scooter trial for six months in Melbourne, Yarra, Port Phillip, and Ballarat. They also allowed privately-owned e-scooters on public roads, except on footpaths. It was previously illegal to use private e-scooters in public.
However, private and hired e-scooters in Victoria still have a speed limit of 20 kph.
As of April 2023, here are the new road rules for private and shared e-scooters across Victoria:
- E-scooters can only be ridden in
- Bicycle lanes
- Shared paths
- Roads with up to 60 kph speed limit
- You must be at least 16 years old to ride.
- Helmets are required.
- The maximum speed limit is 20 kph.
- Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol is prohibited.
- Avoid using your mobile device while riding.
- Riders should not use an e-scooter capable of more than 25 kph (considered an unregistered vehicle).
- You must never ride on footpaths.
For your safety, the state also reminds e-scooter riders in Victoria to:
- Not carry passengers or animals while riding
- Ride responsibly
- Use a bell, horn, or verbal warning
- Not ride two abreast
- Give way to pedestrians
- Not lead an animal while reading
You don’t need a licence to ride a shared or private e-scooter. Learn more about the electric scooter laws on Victoria’s official website.
New South Wales
New South Wales is currently under a 12-month e-scooter trial in Lake Macquarie that started on 5 December 2022. It only consists of designated hired e-scooters. Private e-scooters are prohibited in public and can only be used on private property.
Here are the rules for the Lake Macquarie e-scooter trial:
- You must be 16 years old to ride a shared e-scooter.
- Shared e-scooters must not be used on roads or footpaths.
- The speed limit on shared paths is 10 kph.
- The trial is only applicable to these four tracks in Lake Macquarie:
- The Fernleigh Track
- The Croudace Bay foreshore
- The Warners Bay foreshore and up to Glendale
- The Toronto foreshore to Fassifern train station.
Besides these, riders must also:
- Wear an approved bicycle helmet
- Use e-scooter lights at night or in harsh weather conditions
- Avoid riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Ride responsibly
You also don’t need a licence to ride an e-scooter in NSW. Note that the e-scooter trials in Western Sydney Parklands and Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan ended last October 2022.
Fines will apply to riders caught disobeying the law. Learn more about NSW’s e-scooter laws and penalty fees on their website.
Queensland
As of Tuesday, 1 November 2022, new rules and increased penalties apply to people using personal mobility devices (PMDs) in Queensland. Many PMDs include e-scooters, skateboards, and self-balancing devices, including solo wheels and segways.
Regarding speed, riders must comply with applicable speed limits based on where they are riding.
Where there is no appropriate speed signage, the speed limits are:
- 12 kph on footpaths, shared paths, and crossings
- 25 kph on permitted local roads and dedicated bike paths and bike lanes
- 10 kph in shared zones
- or specified path speed limits
Riders can continue to ride on:
- Footpaths, shared and separated paths, and bike paths
- Local streets with a speed restriction of 50 km/h or less and without dividing lines, median strips, or one-way roadways with only one clearly defined lane
- Bike lanes on streets with a speed limit of 50 km/h
- Physically-separated bike lanes
Note that QLD has allowed the following rules to align with bicycle rules:
- Use a phone while stationary on a trail or nature strip
- Park their e-scooter parked on a trail or nature strip
- Ride diagonally through a pedestrian crossing
- Cross the pedestrian side of a separated footpath
- Travel through a safety zone near a tram station.
Learn more about the electric scooter laws in QLD on their website.
Western Australia
Western Australia's laws, which are similar to Queensland and Tasmania, allow electric scooters on shared paths, footpaths, local roads, and cycling lanes (on roads with a top speed of 50 kph). Note that local roads consist of residential streets without centre lines and with a speed restriction of 50 kph.
However, the state only considers an e-scooter an e-rideable if it:
- Has at least one wheel
- Used by only one person
- Has a dimension of 125 cm (length) x 70 cm (width) x 135 cm (height)
- Has a max weight of 25 kg
- Has a speed limit of 25 kph
If your e-scooter meets the specs above, then here are the current general laws you should follow:
- Only one person must ride per e-rideable
- Never carry a passenger or animal while riding
- Helmets must be worn at all times
- You must be 16 years or older to ride
- All e-rideables should have a bell
- Lights & reflectors are required at night
- Riders must obey the 10 kph speed limit on footpaths or 25 kph on bike paths, shared paths, and local roads
- Riding under the influence of drugs and alcohol is prohibited
- Mobile devices must not be used or held while riding
As of 18 March 2023, the City of Perth has a two-year e-scooter Share Scheme with Bird and Neuron. Learn more about e-scooter laws in WA.
South Australia
South Australia doesn’t allow any motorised wheeled recreational devices, including e-scooters, segways, e-skateboards, hoverboards, and electric unicycles, in public. You can only use these devices on private property.
However, the state currently has four e-scooter trials approved within Adelaide and North Adelaide, Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, the City of Unley, and along the Coastal Park Trail. Riders may only use the e-scooters permitted by the local city council.
Note that each city has their specific restrictions and designated tracks. Check their website for more details.
In general, here are the electric scooter laws and road rules in South Australia. Riders must
- Be 18 years or older
- Have a warning device like a bell
- Wear an approved and fitted helmet
- Ride on footpaths and shared paths unless prohibited
- May ride on the road when crossing or avoiding an obstruction. If travelling on the road is a must, riders must:
- Travel less than 50 m along the road
- Keep to the left
- Obey traffic signals
- Not ride on a road:
- With a dividing line
- With a median strip
- With a 50 kph speed limit
- Not ride in a bus lane or bike lane
- Use warning bells and signals
- Use lights and a reflector when riding at night
- Not exceed 15 kph
- Not ride abreast or with passengers
- Not travel under the influence of alcohol and drugs
- Not use a phone while riding
- Not carry e-scooters on public transport
See more details of electric scooter laws in SA.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory currently has an e-scooter trial in Darwin where locals can ride Neuron e-scooters and e-bikes.
Locals can ride Neuron e-scooters in the Darwin CBD and some of the city’s popular venues, including the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), Mindil Markets, Darwin Ski, Bundilla Beach, Sailing and Trailer Boat Clubs and Fannie Bay Shops.
Parking locations include the Darwin CBD, Darwin Waterfront, Mindil Beach, Cullen Bay, and Fannie Bay.
General rules that e-scooters in NT must follow include:
- Being 18 years or older to ride
- Having a warning device like a bell
- Wearing a fitted helmet
- Riding on footpaths and shared paths
- Riding less than 50 m on the road if there’s an obstruction
- Obeying traffic signals
- Using front and rear lights when riding at night
Moreover, every electric scooter rider in NT must NOT:
- Carry passengers
- Exceed 15 kph
- Ride side-by-side with others
- Use mobile device while on the road
- Carry e-scooters on public transport
- Ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Learn more about the e-scooter laws in Northern Territory on their website.
Tasmania
As in Queensland, Tasmania's laws on using privately owned electric scooters are more relaxed than most of Australia since the state laws allow private and shared e-scooters in Tasmania.
Moreover, Tasmania allows riders to travel on shared paths, footpaths, bicycle paths, and local roads with top speeds of 50 kph.
Generally, every electric scooter rider in Tasmania must:
- Be at least the age of 16
- Riders under 16 can ride low-powered e-scooters that don’t exceed 200 W and 10 kph
- Wear an approved helmet
- Give way to pedestrians
- Keep left if on the road
- Have a front white light, a rear red light, and a red rear reflector for night riding
Also, every electric scooter rider in Tasmania must:
- Not exceed 15 kph on footpaths
- Not exceed 25 kph on shared paths, bicycle paths, and roads
- Not carry passengers
- Not ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Not use a mobile device while on the road
Currently, the Hobart e-scooter trial will continue until 23 June 2023. For more information on the electric scooter laws in Tasmania, check out the state’s website.
Rule the Road with An EleKtro E-Scooter
Now that you know the rules and regulations of electric scooters in Australia, it's time to find the best one for you! EleKtro offers a great selection of e-scooters for every type of rider. Find an e-scooter from our Ultra Collection that will suit your needs. For more information, check our EleKtro online shop today.
