Do you live in the Northern Territory and want to ride an e-scooter? Before buying one, it’s important to learn about your state’s e-scooter laws to keep yourself safe when riding and avoid penalties.
Remember that each state has its own set of laws. This guide offers the information you need to know about the electric scooter laws in Northern Territory (NT).
Read each section carefully, and know whether or not you can use a private e-scooter in public.
Are Electric Scooters Legal in Northern Territory?
Exemptions under the Motor Vehicles Act and Traffic Act have been granted to allow electric scooter trials in NT.
Electric scooter laws in NT only allow approved shared or hired e-scooters on footpaths, shared paths, bicycle lanes and public spaces.
Meanwhile, privately owned e-scooters can only be ridden on private property. People caught riding private e-scooters in public will be fined for driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle.
When riding shared e-scooters in the Northern Territory, here are the general rules you must follow:
- You must be at least 18 years old to ride a shared e-scooter.
- You must wear a securely-fitted, approved bike helmet.
- You can only ride on footpaths, shared paths, and bicycle lanes unless prohibited.
- You can only travel up to 15 kph.
- Always keep to the left and give way to pedestrians.
- You can travel on the road for a distance of 50 m if there’s an obstruction on a footpath, nature strip, or shared path and if it’s impractical to travel on the adjacent area.
- Don’t carry passengers or use a mobile phone while riding.
- Don’t carry or take e-scooters inside public transport or outside permitted areas.
Learn more about the electric scooter laws in NT on the state’s official website.
What Is a Legal E-scooter in NT?
Northern Territory e-scooter laws only recognise shared e-scooters from Neuron Mobility as the legal e-scooter in NT. These rides have been approved after passing specific requirements, including having a warning device and fitted lights.
If you plan to buy your own e-scooter, you may buy and own a private e-scooter in Northern Territory. However, you can’t use it on public roads, footpaths, and spaces. You can only ride them on private property.
What Is the E-scooter Speed Limit in NT?
Electric scooter laws in NT only allow shared e-scooters to travel up to 15 kph for the rider’s safety. Riders are also required to have a warning device, front light, and rear light fitted on their device for extra safety day and night.
Do You Need a Licence to Ride an Electric Scooter in NT?
No. You don’t need a driver’s licence or learner permit to ride an e-scooter in NT. However, you must be at least 18 years of age and must wear an approved helmet to ride one.
Failure to comply with electric scooter laws in NT will result in a fine, demerit points, or a disqualified licence.
Electric Scooter Trial in Northern Territory
From January 2020, you can only ride a shared electric scooter in Darwin, NT. The only approved Darwin electric scooters are units from Neuron Mobility.
You can ride Neuron e-scooters in the following locations and areas:
- Darwin CBD
- Mindil Markets
- Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)
- Darwin Ski
- Sailing and Trailer Boat Clubs
- Bundilla Beach
- Fannie Bay Shops
You can find e-scooter parking locations in the Darwin CBD, Darwin Waterfront, Cullen Bay, Mindil Beach, and Fannie Bay.
Meanwhile, electric scooter Darwin law prohibits riding and parking e-scooters in the following areas:
- Inside the George Brown Botanic Gardens
- Inside Mindil Beach during the Sunset Markets
- Smith Street Mall at any time
- Mitchell Street between Peel and Knuckey streets from 7 pm to 6 am
- Around Parliament House and the Supreme Court
Note that the shared e-scooters are geo-fenced.
After over three years of implementing an electric scooter trial in Darwin, City of Darwin innovation general manager Alice Percy says that the e-scooters helped the city reduce carbon emissions by 125 tonnes per annum.
Learn more about Darwin’s e-scooter laws and trials on Darwin’s official website.
Learn Your City’s E-scooter Laws to Be Safe While Travelling!
If you want to use an electric scooter in Australia, remember to check your city or state’s e-scooter laws first to know what e-scooter you can buy and use.
If you live in NT and are interested in buying EleKtro e-scooters, you may order via elektro.au. We ship across Australia!
However, EleKtro would like to remind e-scooter enthusiasts in Northern Territory that private e-scooters like EleKtro e-scooters can only be ridden within private property. We strongly discourage using them in public to avoid breaking the law.
Meanwhile, learn more about the electric scooter laws in Australia by state!
