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E-scooter rules are set by each state and territory, and they differ more than e-bike rules do. Here is where privately owned e-scooters stand in October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice — each state page links to its official sources.
The short version
- Legal to ride in public: Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
- Not legal in public: New South Wales (private property only; hire scooters in trial areas) and the Northern Territory (only 200 W, 10 km/h scooters).
- The 25 km/h rule: in most states a legal e-scooter can’t be able to go faster than 25 km/h. Many scooters sold online go much faster and are not legal to ride in public anywhere in Australia unless limited.
- Weight: WA allows only 25 kg; VIC, SA and TAS 45 kg; QLD and the ACT 60 kg.
- Helmets are required everywhere. Most states set a minimum age of 16 (the ACT has none; Queensland also needs a learner licence).
- No registration is needed for a legal e-scooter in any state.
State by state
| State | Private e-scooters | Top speed (device) | Max weight | Footpath | Path / road | Min age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QLD | Legal | 25 km/h | 60 kg | 12 km/h | 25 km/h / 25 km/h (≤60 km/h roads) | 16 + learner licence |
| NSW | Not legal in public | — | — | — | — | — |
| VIC | Legal | 25 km/h | 45 kg | Banned | 20 km/h / 20 km/h (≤60 km/h roads) | 16 |
| WA | Legal | 25 km/h | 25 kg | 10 km/h | 25 km/h / 25 km/h (≤50 km/h roads) | 16 |
| SA | Legal | Not set | 45 kg | 10 km/h | 25 km/h / 25 km/h (≤50 km/h roads) | 16 |
| TAS | Legal | 25 km/h | 45 kg | 15 km/h | 25 km/h / 25 km/h (≤50 km/h roads) | 16 |
| ACT | Legal | 25 km/h | 60 kg | 15 km/h | 25 km/h / only if no path | None (under-12s supervised) |
| NT | Only 200 W / 10 km/h | 10 km/h | — | 10 km/h | 10 km/h / 10 km/h (≤50 km/h roads) | Not |
Fines
Fines vary a lot. Victoria charges $1,046 for riding a scooter that can exceed 25 km/h and $418 for no helmet; Queensland $518 for no helmet or riding unlicensed; Western Australia $50 for no helmet and up to $1,000 for phone use. Each state page lists the official amounts we could find.
Buying an e-scooter in Australia
- Check the top speed and weight against your state’s limits before you pay. A “40 km/h” scooter is only legal where you live if it can be locked to 25 km/h — and in WA it must also weigh 25 kg or less.
- In NSW, e-scooters sold must be certified to a safety standard and carry an approval mark (since 1 February 2026). A national standard is being developed by the ACCC.
- Ask which standard it meets (AS/NZS 60335.2.114, EN 17128 or UL 2272), keep the receipt, and use the charger it came with.
- Buying second-hand? Read buying a used e-scooter and check the serial before you pay.
Check if my e-scooter is legal →
Own one? Keep its serial number, photos and receipt in a free EbikeMate Passport — proof it’s yours if it’s ever stolen, and easier to sell.
Common questions
Are e-scooters legal in Australia?
Privately owned e-scooters are legal to ride in public in Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, within each state’s limits. They are not legal in public in New South Wales, and in the Northern Territory only 200 W, 10 km/h scooters are allowed (as of October 2026).
What is the speed limit for e-scooters in Australia?
In most states the scooter itself must not be able to go faster than 25 km/h, and riders have lower limits on footpaths — 10 km/h in WA and SA, 12 km/h in Queensland, 15 km/h in Tasmania and the ACT. Victoria bans footpath riding and limits riders to 20 km/h.
Do e-scooters need to be registered in Australia?
No. A legal e-scooter doesn’t need registration or insurance in any state. A scooter over the state limits is treated as an unregistered motor vehicle.
Can you ride an e-scooter on the footpath?
In Queensland (12 km/h), WA and SA (10 km/h), Tasmania and the ACT (15 km/h) — yes, giving way to pedestrians. Not in Victoria, and private e-scooters aren’t legal in public at all in NSW.
What is the maximum weight for an e-scooter?
25 kg in Western Australia; 45 kg in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania; 60 kg in Queensland and the ACT.
Official sources
- Queensland Government — Personal mobility devices (rules)
- NSW Government — Electric scooters
- Transport Victoria — E-scooter road rules
- Road Safety Commission — eRideables
- SA Law Handbook — Personal mobility devices
- Transport Tasmania — Personal mobility devices
- Transport Canberra — E-scooters
- NT Government — Electric scooters and bikes
This guide explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.