Australia Electric Scooter Rules: Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Every State Compared
Australia's e-scooter laws differ by state. Queensland and ACT allow footpath riding; NSW and Victoria are more restrictive. Here are the rules for every state.
Australia Electric Scooter Rules: Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Every State Compared
You step off the kerb in Brisbane’s CBD and press the throttle. In two seconds you are doing 25 km/h on a bike lane. Do the same thing in Sydney and you could be fined for riding on the footpath, fined again for no helmet, and fined a third time for riding a vehicle that does not comply with the state’s pilot rules. There is no national e-scooter law in Australia. Each state and territory sets its own rules, and the differences are not minor. They determine where you can ride, how fast, and whether you are breaking the law from the moment you leave your front door. Here are the rules by state as they stand in 2025, with the speed limits, permitted infrastructure and penalties that matter to anyone riding a personal mobility device in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Australian Electric Scooter Law: The National Framework That Does Not Exist
The Commonwealth government sets vehicle standards through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. In 2023 it began work on a national standard for e-scooters, AS 5762, through Standards Australia. That standard has not been published. Until it is, every state uses its own definition of a personal mobility device and enforces its own rules. The only national constant is that no state requires registration or a driving licence, except the Northern Territory, which requires a driver's licence. All states mandate a helmet that meets AS/NZS 2063:2008 (bicycle standard) or AS/NZS 1698 (motorcycle standard). All states prohibit passengers, towing and mobile phone use while riding.
Queensland E-Scooter Rules: The Most Permissive State
Where You Can Ride
Queensland, regulated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, allows private e-scooters on footpaths, shared paths, bike lanes and local roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less. Stick to bike lanes and paths wherever they exist. The footpath is legal but slow.
Speed Limits And Power
The footpath speed limit is 12 km/h. The bike path and road limit is 25 km/h. Maximum continuous motor power is 200 watts, or 500 watts if the scooter is speed-limited to 25 km/h. Most off-the-shelf models sit in the 200-watt band and top out at the legal 25 km/h.
Age, Alcohol And Enforcement
Riders must be 12 or older. Anyone under 16 must be supervised by an adult. The blood alcohol limit is under 0.05% BAC. Fines apply for speeding, no helmet and riding on prohibited infrastructure. Enforcement is increasing in the Brisbane CBD, where police conduct regular patrols near Queen Street Mall and the Riverside Expressway path. Ride sober, helmet on, and keep to 12 km/h the moment you see pedestrians.
New South Wales E-Scooter Rules: The Most Restrictive State
New South Wales, regulated by Transport for NSW, has the strictest rules of any mainland state. Footpath riding is prohibited. Private e-scooters are legal only on bike lanes and roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less. Multi-lane roads are off limits. The speed limit on bike lanes and roads is 25 km/h. Maximum motor power is 200 watts. The rider must be 16 or older. The blood alcohol limit is under 0.05% BAC.
Fines And Where Police Watch
Fines are in the mid-three-hundred-dollar range for most offences. Check the Transport for NSW website for current penalty amounts. Enforcement is heavy in Sydney’s CBD, particularly around Circular Quay, George Street and the Sydney Harbour Bridge approaches. The NSW government runs a limited trial of rental e-scooters in select regional councils, but private scooters are not covered by that trial. Owning one in NSW means you are riding under the state's general PMD rules, which are among the most restrictive in the country. Before you buy, map your route. If it touches a footpath or a multi-lane road, you have no legal way to ride it.
Victoria E-Scooter Rules: Pilot Programme With Restrictions
Victoria, regulated by VicRoads, operates a pilot programme that legalises private e-scooters on bike lanes and roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less. Footpath riding is prohibited. The speed limit is 20 km/h on shared paths and 25 km/h on roads. Maximum motor power is 200 watts. The rider must be 16 or older. The blood alcohol limit is under 0.05% BAC.
Scooter Dimensions And Equipment
The scooter must weigh under 25 kg, be under 1,250 mm long, under 700 mm wide and have handlebars no higher than 1,270 mm above the ground. At least one effective brake is required. Measure your scooter before you ride in Melbourne. A wide deck or tall bars that are legal in Queensland can earn you a fine in Victoria.
Fines And The 2026 Review
Fines for riding on the footpath, speeding or no helmet are in the high-two-hundred-dollar range. Check the VicRoads site for the current figure. Enforcement is increasing in Melbourne’s CBD, particularly on Bourke Street Mall and Flinders Street. The pilot programme is scheduled for review in 2026. Rules may tighten or relax depending on incident data, so check back before the review date.
| State | Footpath Riding | Bike Lane Riding | Road Riding (≤50 km/h) | Speed Limit (Footpath) | Speed Limit (Road/Bike Lane) | Min. Age | Blood Alcohol Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 km/h | 25 km/h | 12 | Under 0.05% |
| New South Wales | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 25 km/h | 16 | Under 0.05% |
| Victoria | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 25 km/h | 16 | Under 0.05% |
| ACT | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 km/h | 25 km/h | 12 | Under 0.05% |
| Western Australia | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 km/h | 25 km/h | 16 | Under 0.05% |
| South Australia | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 25 km/h | 18 | Zero (0.00%) |
| Tasmania | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 km/h | 25 km/h | 16 | Under 0.05% |
| Northern Territory | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 km/h | 25 km/h | 18 | Under 0.05% |
ACT, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania And Northern Territory E-Scooter Rules
ACT And Western Australia
The Australian Capital Territory follows Queensland’s model. Footpath riding is permitted at 12 km/h. Bike lanes and roads under 50 km/h are allowed at 25 km/h. Riders must be 12 or older. Western Australia allows footpath riding at 12 km/h and bike lane riding at 25 km/h. The minimum age is 16.
South Australia
South Australia prohibits footpath riding. Bike lane and road riding is legal at 25 km/h. The minimum age is 18 and the blood alcohol limit is zero, the only state with a zero limit. Do not drink and ride here. The penalty is a fine in the high-three-hundred-dollar range and a court date.
Tasmania And The Northern Territory
Tasmania permits footpath riding at 12 km/h and bike lane or road riding at 25 km/h. The minimum age is 16. The Northern Territory requires a driver’s licence to ride an e-scooter, the only jurisdiction that does. Footpath riding is permitted at 12 km/h. The minimum age is 18. Carry your licence. Police in Darwin do check.
Common Questions
Can I ride an e-scooter on the footpath in NSW?
No. Footpath riding is prohibited in New South Wales. You must use bike lanes or roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less.
What is the speed limit for e-scooters on footpaths in Queensland?
The speed limit on footpaths in Queensland is 12 km/h. On bike lanes and local roads the limit is 25 km/h.
Do I need a licence to ride an e-scooter in Victoria?
No. Victoria does not require a driver's licence for e-scooter riders. The minimum age is 16 and a helmet is mandatory.
What is the fine for riding an e-scooter on the footpath in South Australia?
The fine is in the high-three-hundred-dollar range for riding on the footpath in South Australia. Footpath riding is prohibited statewide. Check the SA Police website for the current penalty amount.
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