Do you need a licence to ride an e-scooter in Queensland?
From 31 August 2026, Queensland becomes the first Australian state to require a driver licence to ride an electric scooter. Ride unsupervised and you now need to be at least 16 and hold at least a learner licence. Here is exactly what changes, who is exempt, and what it means if you own or are buying a scooter.
Last reviewed 26 Aug 2026
A commuter riding a helmeted electric scooter on a Queensland city street. Photo for illustration.
Key points
- From 31 August 2026, riding an e-scooter unsupervised in Queensland requires you to be at least 16 and hold at least a learner licence (Queensland, interstate or overseas equivalent).
- It applies to personal mobility devices, which covers e-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles, not just e-bikes.
- Children aged 12 to 17 can still ride, but only under the direct supervision of a licensed adult.
- Riding without the required age and licence carries a $518 fine.
- The licence rule sits on top of Queensland's 12 km/h footpath cap and the 25 km/h device speed limit.
From 31 August 2026, Queensland becomes the first Australian state to require a driver licence to ride an electric scooter. If you ride unsupervised on public paths or roads, you now need to be at least 16 and hold at least a learner licence. This is a genuine shift: until now, no state has asked e-scooter riders to be licensed at all.
What changed on 31 August 2026
Queensland's transport authority (StreetSmarts) now requires anyone riding a personal mobility device without supervision to be aged 16 or older and to hold a minimum of a learner licence. A learner, provisional or open licence all count, and a licence from another Australian state or a recognised overseas equivalent is accepted. Riding without meeting the age and licence requirement carries a $518 fine.
It applies to e-scooters, not just e-bikes
The headlines have focused on e-bikes, but the licence rule applies to personal mobility devices as a class, which includes e-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles. If you ride an e-scooter in Queensland, this is your rule too.
Who is exempt
Children aged 12 to 17 can still ride, but only under the direct supervision of a licensed adult. There are also medical exemptions and designated recreational areas where the rule is applied differently. If you are 16 or 17 and want to ride on your own, you need at least a learner licence like everyone else.
How it fits with Queensland's other 2026 changes
The licence requirement sits on top of the rules that landed earlier in 2026. Footpaths are capped at 12 km/h at all times (down from 25 km/h on 1 July 2026), shared paths are 12 km/h when passing pedestrians and up to 25 km/h where signed, and roads with a limit of 60 km/h or less allow up to 25 km/h. Helmets remain compulsory and must be fastened. By 28 February 2027, every device must also be limited so it cannot exceed 25 km/h. For the full picture, see our Queensland e-scooter law guide.
What it means if you own or are buying
If you are 16 or older and already hold any Australian licence, nothing changes in your day to day riding: keep your helmet on and stay within the speed caps. If you are buying for a teenager aged 12 to 15, factor in that they can only ride under supervision. And if you do not hold a licence of any kind, this is the change that matters most: you can no longer legally ride an e-scooter unsupervised on Queensland paths or roads, no matter how careful you are. For how the rules compare in every other state, see our state by state legality guide.
Queensland is the first state to treat riding an e-scooter like driving: no licence, no unsupervised ride. If you already hold any licence you are covered. If you do not, this is the change that stops you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to ride an e-scooter in Queensland?
Yes, from 31 August 2026. To ride a personal mobility device such as an e-scooter unsupervised on public paths or roads in Queensland you must be at least 16 and hold at least a learner licence. Riders aged 12 to 17 may ride only under the supervision of a licensed adult.
What licence do I need to ride an e-scooter in QLD?
A minimum of a learner licence. A learner, provisional or open licence all qualify, and a licence from another Australian state or a recognised overseas equivalent is accepted. If you already hold any driver licence, you are covered.
Can under 16s ride an e-scooter in Queensland?
Only under direct supervision. Children aged 12 to 17 can ride a personal mobility device if supervised by a licensed adult. Unsupervised riders must be 16 or older and licensed.
What is the fine for riding an e-scooter without a licence in QLD?
$518 for failing to meet the age and licence requirement. Speeding on a device carries separate fines starting at $345.
Does the Queensland licence rule apply to e-scooters or only e-bikes?
Both. The requirement applies to personal mobility devices as a class, which includes e-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles, alongside the separate changes to e-bikes.
Sources
- Queensland Government StreetSmarts: E-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles (checked 26 Aug 2026)
- Queensland Government: Rules for personal mobility devices (checked 26 Aug 2026)