On this page · 8 sections
The short version
- From 28 February 2027, any e-scooter (and any e-skateboard or e-unicycle) in Queensland that can go faster than 25 km/h by motor power is illegal — including scooters bought before 1 July 2026.
- The official advice is to contact your retailer or manufacturer about limiting or “locking” the top speed.
- An illegal device can be seized and destroyed by police, and the fine for a device that isn’t limited is $621.
- If yours can’t be locked to 25 km/h, it can’t be ridden on Queensland roads or paths from that date.
What the rule says
Queensland’s StreetSmarts page for e-scooters says that from the end of the transition period “any device that is not locked to a maximum speed of 25km/h will be considered illegal”. Devices must be limited so they can’t travel faster than 25 km/h, and riders have until 28 February 2027 to comply.
Other device limits that still apply (Queensland Government): no more than 60 kg unladen, 750 mm wide, 1,350 mm high and a 1,100 mm wheelbase.
The rule is about what the scooter can do, not how fast you ride it. Riding at 25 km/h on a scooter that can reach 40 km/h won’t make it legal.
Step 1 — check your scooter’s top speed
- Look up the maker’s spec for your exact model and region version — e-scooter brands and models show the published top speed and say whether it comes from the maker or a third party.
- Run the free e-scooter legal check (top speed, weight, power).
- The same model can ship with different top speeds in different countries. Xiaomi’s own FAQ for the Electric Scooter 4 Ultra lists 6, 20, 25 and 25 km/h for its pedestrian, D, S and S+ modes and says speeds may differ by region (Xiaomi support KA-12745). Check the speed on your scooter, not an overseas review.
Step 2 — ask the retailer or manufacturer how to lock it
Queensland hasn’t published a technical standard for how the limit must be set. What the government says is to contact your retailer or manufacturer. Ask them:
- Can this model be set so it can’t go above 25 km/h — and can the rider undo it?
- Is it a firmware or regional setting the shop or maker applies, or just a riding mode in the app?
- Will they put it in writing (model, serial, date, “limited to 25 km/h”)?
Riding modes you can switch back may not be enough. Many scooters let you pick a slower mode in the app — for example, the Segway-Ninebot MAX G2 manual says the Sport-mode top speed can be adjusted in the Segway-Ninebot app. Queensland’s wording is “locked”, so a mode the rider can switch back above 25 km/h may not count. Ask the maker or retailer for a setting that stays locked, and keep the written confirmation.
Don’t use third-party “speed modules”, firmware hacks or unofficial apps — to limit or to unlock. Changes the maker hasn’t authorised can void the warranty (Segway’s manual says so), insurers can refuse claims for modified scooters (see e-scooter insurance), and a scooter that can be unlocked again may still be treated as illegal.
Step 3 — record it
- Keep the shop’s or maker’s written confirmation and a photo of the speed setting.
- Add it to your free E-scooter Passport as a service record (date, shop, “limited to 25 km/h”). If you sell the scooter later, the buyer can see it was made QLD-legal.
If your scooter can’t be limited
- From 28 February 2027 it can’t be ridden on Queensland roads, paths or footpaths.
- Selling it: state the real top speed in the ad. In Queensland it’s illegal to sell an e-mobility device to anyone under 16, including private sales (Queensland Government, “Rules for selling e-mobility devices”). See how to sell a used e-scooter.
- Replacing it: ask shops about a 25 km/h model — one request goes to up to 5 shops in your state.
Book a 25 km/h check with a workshop
Not sure if yours can be locked? Ask an e-scooter workshop near you.
Find an e-scooter workshop in Queensland →
Run a scooter shop in Queensland? Riders will be looking for 25 km/h checks before February — get listed free.
More: Queensland e-scooter laws · legal e-scooters in Queensland. General information, not legal advice. EbikeMate isn’t affiliated with Xiaomi, Segway-Ninebot or the Queensland Government.
Common questions
Does the 25 km/h rule apply to my scooter if I bought it before July 2026?
Yes. From 28 February 2027 every e-scooter in Queensland must be locked so it can’t go faster than 25 km/h, whenever it was bought.
Is riding slowly enough?
No. The rule is about the scooter’s top speed by motor power, not the speed you ride at.
Is choosing a slower mode in the app enough?
Not necessarily. Queensland says devices must be “locked” to 25 km/h and hasn’t published a technical test. A mode the rider can switch back may not count — ask the retailer or maker for a locked setting and get it in writing.
What happens if my scooter isn’t limited after the deadline?
It’s an illegal device: the fine is $621 and police can seize and destroy illegal devices.
Sources
- E-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles (updated 25 August 2026) — StreetSmarts, Queensland Government
- Legal vs illegal e-devices — StreetSmarts, Queensland Government
- New laws in effect 1 July 2026 — StreetSmarts, Queensland Government
- Rules for personal mobility devices (updated 26 August 2026) — Queensland Government
- Rules for selling e-mobility devices — Queensland Government
- Electric Scooter 4 Ultra speed modes (KA-12745) — Xiaomi support
- Ninebot KickScooter MAX G2 product manual — Segway-Ninebot
This guide explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.