E-scooter laws: Australia, state by state (October 2026)

The quick comparison

Every state and territory requires a helmet. None allows passengers. Riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs is an offence everywhere.

Victoria

E-scooters that meet the Victorian device rules are legal across the state. A legal e-scooter has a top speed of 25 km/h on level ground, two wheels, a footboard and handlebars, and weighs 45 kg or less. Riders must be 16 or over, wear a helmet, ride at no more than 20 km/h, and use shared paths, bike paths and roads signed up to 60 km/h. No footpaths.

Victoria publishes its fines, current as of 1 July 2026: $1,046 for riding a scooter capable of more than 25 km/h (treated as an unregistered motor vehicle), $627 for a hand-held phone, $523 for running a red light, $418 for no helmet, $366 for a road over 60 km/h, $314 for the footpath or for riding under 16, and $261 for speeding or carrying a passenger.

Queensland

Queensland changed its rules twice in 2026. From 1 July 2026 a personal mobility device's motor must not be able to push it past 25 km/h, and fines rose. From 31 August 2026 riders of e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-unicycles and Segways must be 16 or older and hold at least a learner driver licence. Under 16s can ride only under the supervision of a parent, grandparent or guardian, or in designated recreational areas.

Speed limits: 12 km/h on footpaths and when passing pedestrians on shared paths, 25 km/h on bike paths, separated paths and roads of 60 km/h or less.

Western Australia

WA calls them "eRideables". Riders must be 16, wear a helmet and keep to 10 km/h on footpaths and crossings and 25 km/h on bike paths, shared paths and roads of 50 km/h or less. The device itself must not exceed 25 km/h on level ground.

South Australia

Private e-scooters became legal on 13 July 2025. Riders must be 16 and wear a bicycle or motorbike helmet; no licence or registration is needed. The limit is 10 km/h on footpaths, shared paths and beaches, and 25 km/h on bike paths, bike lanes and roads of 50 km/h or less. E-scooters, but not other devices, may also use the bike lane on a 60 km/h road. A speeding fine is $222, riding on a road over the limit $484, and no helmet $133, each plus a $108 victims of crime levy.

Tasmania

Tasmania's rules began on 1 December 2021. Riders must be 16 for a standard device, though under 16s may use low-powered scooters of no more than 200 watts and 10 km/h. Limits are 15 km/h on footpaths and 25 km/h on shared paths, bike paths and permitted roads, which are local roads of 50 km/h or less without a dividing line.

Australian Capital Territory

E-scooters can be ridden on footpaths (15 km/h), shared paths and bike paths (25 km/h), slowing to 10 km/h at crossings. A device that can exceed 25 km/h counts as a motor vehicle and is banned from paths. Roads are allowed only where there is no usable footpath, shared path or nature strip, and then for the shortest practical distance. Children under 12 must be supervised; the Lime hire scooters are for riders 16 and over.

Northern Territory

The NT allows a private "motorised scooter" of no more than 200 watts and 10 km/h, which rules out most scooters sold in shops. Anything bigger is a non-complying motor vehicle that cannot be ridden in public without an exemption. Darwin's Beam hire scooters run under their own exemption: riders 18 and over, 15 km/h, mostly on paths.

New South Wales

Private e-scooters are illegal on every NSW road, footpath, shared path and bike lane. Shared hire scooters are legal inside the Wollongong and Forster-Tuncurry trial areas until 22 January 2027. The NSW draft rules would sit closest to Western Australia's: 16 and over, 50 km/h roads, 20 km/h. Are e-scooters legal in NSW? has the detail, and the road map shows where legalisation is up to.

Riding interstate

The rules follow the place, not the rider. A Sydney visitor on a hire scooter in Brisbane must hold a licence and follow Queensland's limits. A Queenslander who brings their own scooter to Sydney cannot ride it in public at all.

Common questions