E-bike and electric trike rules in Victoria

In Victoria, a legal e-bike has working pedals and a motor of up to 250W continuous rated power that only helps while you pedal. The help eases off above 6 km/h and stops at 25 km/h. A throttle can help you get moving, up to 6 km/h (Transport Victoria; Australian Design Rule definitions). There's also a rarely seen category of bikes with up to 200W.

What about EN 15194? Victoria's rules set these limits rather than requiring a particular certificate. Transport Victoria suggests looking for a bike that complies with the European standard EN 15194 when you buy.

A bike or trike with more than 250W, or with motor help above 25 km/h, is treated as an unregistered motor vehicle, with fines of over $1,000. It can only be ridden on private property (Transport Victoria).

No. You don't need a licence or registration for an e-bike or electric trike that meets the rules, and there's no minimum age. Victoria Police puts it simply: "People of any age can ride an e-bike without a licence in Victoria" (Victoria Police).

In Victoria, footpaths are mainly for riders under 13. Riders aged 13 and over can use them in a few cases, including when they carry a certificate from their doctor (Road Safety Road Rules, rule 250). If you're 13 or older, you can ride on the footpath when you're:

• riding with a child under 13 who is riding too
• an adult carrying a child in a bike seat or on a pedal attachment
• carrying a doctor's certificate (see below)
• riding with someone who has that certificate.

• Who signs it: a registered medical practitioner, such as your GP or specialist.
• What it says: that you have a disability or medical condition that makes riding on the road undesirable or impractical.
• Conditions: follow any conditions your doctor writes on it. If the condition is temporary, the certificate needs an expiry date.
• Carry it: keep it with you, and show it if police or an authorised person asks.
• Riding together: someone aged 13 or over who is riding with you can use the footpath too.

Unlike NSW, Victoria's rule doesn't switch off when there's a bike path nearby. On the footpath, keep left, give way to people walking, and follow any "no bicycles" signs. This certificate is separate from a helmet exemption.

Buying for a parent or partner? If they'd like to use footpaths, talk to their GP before you buy.

You can carry a passenger if your bike or trike is designed for them, and they sit in a seat made for them and wear a bike helmet (Road Safety Road Rules, rules 246 and 256).

• To tow someone in a bike trailer, you must be 16 or older, the trailer must be able to carry them safely, and they wear a helmet. The passenger must be under 10, unless they have a medical certificate (Transport Victoria).
• For shopping and cargo, stay within the max total load on the product page.

Wear an approved bike helmet, fitted and done up. Your bike or trike needs at least one working brake and a bell or horn (Road Safety Road Rules, rules 256 and 258).

Riding at night or in bad weather? You need a white front light and a red rear light, each visible from 200 metres, plus a red rear reflector visible from 50 metres (rule 259).

Using your phone for maps or calls? Only in a holder fixed to the bike, and without touching it (Transport Victoria).

• Hook turns: you can make a hook turn to turn right at an intersection unless signs say otherwise. At some CBD intersections, every vehicle has to.
• Trams: when passengers are getting off a tram onto the road, stop behind the tram until the doors close and the road is clear.
• Riding side by side: two riders can ride side by side, no more than 1.5 metres apart.
• Passing distance: drivers must give you at least 1 metre on roads up to 60 km/h, and 1.5 metres above that.
• Freeways: riding isn't allowed on Melbourne's urban freeways.

Sources: Transport Victoria: bicycle road rules, Transport Victoria: places to ride.

• E-bike limits: no change. The road rules in force from 17 February 2026 keep the same 250W and 25 km/h limits.
• Battery safety: Energy Safe Victoria has consulted on requiring lithium-ion e-bikes and similar devices to be certified before they're sold. It's still considering feedback, and nothing has changed yet (Energy Safe Victoria).
• Trains: converted e-bikes (regular bikes fitted with a motor kit) aren't allowed on trains or in ticketing areas (Transport Victoria).

We'll update this page if the rules change.

What this means for e-trike buyers in Victoria: an electric trike is treated like a bicycle, so there's no licence or registration, and riders of any age can use one. The 250W limit applies, so the 500W version is for private property and off-road use only. If the rider would like to use footpaths, a doctor's certificate makes that possible.

Victoria's road rules include tricycles in the definition of a bicycle (Road Safety Road Rules, dictionary). An electric trike that meets the limits above is ridden just like a bike: same paths, same footpath rules, same helmet rules, and no licence.

Ridewave electric trikes come in a 250W version and a 500W version.

• 250W: pedal assist set up to EN 15194 limits: help eases off above 6 km/h and stops at 25 km/h, with a start-up throttle up to 6 km/h.
• 500W: doesn't meet Victoria's e-bike rules, so it can't be ridden on roads, bike paths, shared paths or footpaths. It's for private property and off-road use, where permitted.

Before using an e-bike or electric trike, check the applicable local laws relating to your intended use of the vehicle on roads and road related areas.

Not sure which suits? Come and talk it through at our Vermont showroom.

Families often compare the two. In Victoria, someone using a motorised wheelchair that can't go over 10 km/h, such as many mobility scooters, is treated as a pedestrian (Road Safety Road Rules, rule 18). An electric trike is a bicycle: you pedal, the motor helps up to 25 km/h, and bicycle rules apply. If the rider enjoys pedalling and wants to get out further, an electric trike is worth a test ride.

• Where will they ride? Roads, bike paths and shared paths are all fine. For footpaths, talk to their GP about a certificate.
• Getting on and off: a low step-through frame makes it easier.
• Storage: will it fit in the garage, unit or car? Every Ridewave e-trike folds.
• What will they carry? Shopping, a passenger, or a pet.
• Try before you buy: book a test ride together in Vermont.

• Pedal assist up to 25 km/h: the motor helps while you pedal.
• Half-twist start-up throttle: helps you get moving from a stop, up to 6 km/h only.
• Rear differential and hydraulic disc brakes on all three wheels.
• Folds for storage and transport.
• Free assembly when you pick up from our Vermont showroom, and free delivery in Victoria.

Each product page lists the motor for that model. See our electric trikes

The same rules apply: up to 250W, help up to 25 km/h, no licence, and the same footpath, helmet and light rules. Our Miniwave folding e-bike is certified to EN 15194.

The easiest way to decide is to try one. Test rides are by appointment at our Melbourne showroom:

• Address: Unit 62/203 Rooks Rd, Vermont VIC 3133
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. Weekends by appointment.

Plan your Melbourne visit

• Road Safety Road Rules 2017 (Vic) (rules 18, 246, 247, 250, 252, 256, 257, 258 and 259, and the dictionary), checked 16 October 2026
• Transport Victoria: electric bikes, checked 16 October 2026
• Transport Victoria: bicycle road rules, checked 16 October 2026
• Transport Victoria: places to ride, checked 16 October 2026
• Victoria Police: e-bike safety, checked 16 October 2026
• Australian Design Rule definitions (EPAC), checked 16 October 2026
• Energy Safe Victoria: e-transport devices, checked 16 October 2026

Riding in another state? See e-bike rules in NSW, e-bike rules in QLD or e-bike rules across Australia.

• 16 October 2026: page published, checked against the Road Safety Road Rules 2017 (Vic, in force from 17 February 2026) and Transport Victoria guidance.