Rules and penalties

This page contains information about the rules and penalties associated with riding hire and private e-scooters.

What are the rules for e-scooter riding?

E-scooter riders must: 

• be aged 16 years and over 
• not exceed the maximum speed of 20 km/h 
• ride only on roads that have a speed limit of 60km/h or less, or on bike or shared paths 
• always wear a helmet 
• follow traffic rules 
• always have proper control and ride responsibly 

• use a warning (e.g., bell, horn, or verbal) to avert danger 
• give way to pedestrians where appropriate 
• have front and rear lights if riding at night 

E-scooter riders cannot: 

• ride on the footpath 
• use a hand-held mobile phone while riding 
• ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol 
• carry passengers or animals  
• lead an animal, including by tethering the animal to the e-scooter 
• ride in tandem, two abreast 
• ride a high-speed e-scooter – one capable of more than 25km/h 
• ride on roads that have a speed limit over 60km/h. 

E-scooter riders must follow these rules, or penalties apply 

• The legal speed you can ride an e-scooter is up to 20 km/h. 
• Riding an e-scooter after drinking is the same as driving a car - you’ll lose your car licence if you’re over 0.05. 
• Drinking and riding an e-scooter? – you risk losing your car licence, heavy fines, an alcohol interlock on your car and a behaviour change program. 
• E-scooters can never be ridden on the footpath. A $192 fine applies. 
• It’s illegal and unsafe to ride on the footpath. Only ride e-scooters on roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h or less, or on bike and shared paths. 
• You must wear a helmet when riding an e-scooter. A $240 fine applies. 

• If you’re thinking of buying an e-scooter, check you’re buying an e-scooter that is legal for road use (including being speed limited to 25km/h). 

The following devices are not considered legal devices and are not allowed to be ridden in public areas:  

• e-scooters capable of travelling faster than 25 km/h
• devices powered by a petrol motor
• electric skateboards
• electric unicycles or monocycles, or
• electric roller-skates.

The above devices can only be ridden on private property. The fine for riding an illegal device in a public area is $925. Other penalties may also apply. 

Learn more about legal e-scooters

Frequently asked questions  

Do I need a licence to ride a scooter? 

No. 

Why must e-scooters not travel at over 20km/h? 

This is the speed we tested under trial conditions and found it to be effective. 

The road toll and road trauma are significant priorities for the government. Lower speeds will reduce risks and create a safe environment for all road users, including these vulnerable road users. 

Riders travelling faster than 20 km/h on a legal device can be fined for speeding. 

Why can’t I use an e-scooter that is able to travel above 25km/h? 

The maximum speed capability rules out devices that can travel at excessive speed, putting everyone at risk. It aligns with rules elsewhere in Australia and internationally. 

E-scooters with a maximum speed capability of up to 25 km/h do not require licencing, registration, or insurance because they are low speed devices.  

E-scooters capable of traveling at higher speeds do not fit these criteria and are more like mopeds.  

Devices capable of travelling faster than 25 km/h are considered unregistered motor vehicles and riders caught riding one could face significant fines. 

So why can I buy an e-scooter that can go faster than 25km/h? 

Many e-scooter retailers sell all over Australia where there are different rules in different states, and we don’t restrict what you can buy for private use on private property.  

E-scooters limited to a maximum speed of 25km/h are common and will be able to be used on public low-speed roads, shared use paths, bike paths and lanes in Victoria. 

People will need to monitor their speed while riding private e-scooters to ensure they stay within the 20 km/h speed limit. 

Hire e-scooters are speed limited to 20km/h to make keeping to the speed limit easier. 

Are e-scooters covered by insurance? 

Operators of hire schemes need to provide insurance for riders and third parties.  

The current hire scheme operators in Victoria provide personal injury insurance for riders and third-party injury insurance (the latter covers pedestrians involved in an e-scooter accident and applies even in cases where the rider is doing the wrong thing).  

Cyclists and e-scooter riders are not covered by TAC for accidents involving other bikes, pedestrians or where there is no motor vehicle involved.  

However, e-scooter riders involved in an accident with a motor vehicle are eligible for compensation through the TAC, regardless of who is deemed at fault.  

Like cyclists, private e-scooter riders are responsible for their own insurance or bearing any costs associated with an accident they caused. 

E-scooters look like a great transport option for people too young to drive. Why can’t younger riders ride them? 

To evaluate the safety of e-scooter usage, we reduced the minimum age to 16 years, allowing riders to use them on roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h or less.  

Following the trial, we are retaining a minimum age of 16 to use an e-scooter, which aligns with other jurisdictions and the Australian Road Rules. Sixteen is also the age at which someone in Victoria can obtain a learner permit and is likely to be familiar with the road rules. 

We remind parents and carers that e-scooters are only legal for people aged 16 years and over and please ask them to play their role in keeping their kids safe. 

We take our responsibility to keep Victorians safe extremely seriously – and that is why we are regulating e-scooters with strong road rules in place. 

Will drivers need to give Minimum Passing Distance to e-scooters? 

Yes, the rules for passing distances are the same as for cyclists. 

Do e-scooter riders need to wear protective gear other than helmets? 

We encourage users to take safety seriously and do what they can to improve their own safety, including by wearing bright clothing (especially at night) and other equipment that will improve safety. 

Can more than one person ride on an e-scooter? Can an adult ride an e-scooter with an underage passenger? 

No. Only one person is allowed on an e-scooter at a time. 

Can I use my mobile phone while riding? 

No – you can’t use a mobile phone while riding an e-scooter. 

How will other road users interact with e-scooters – are they like bicycles or like cars? 

E-scooters will be treated the same as bikes by other road users. 

My child is riding a bike on the footpath, can I accompany them on my e-scooter? 

No, footpath riding using an e-scooter is illegal in all circumstances.

Penalties

The current value of a penalty unit in Victoria is $197.59.