Can a 14 or 15-Year-Old Ride an E-Scooter in Victoria? (No — Here's Why, and What to Buy Instead)
Ad / affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change our picks. More.
Short answer: no. In Victoria you must be 16 or older to ride an e-scooter — and that applies to private scooters and hire scooters alike.1,2,3 A 14 or 15-year-old riding one on a road or shared path can be fined, and the scooter can be impounded.2,3
I know that's not what a lot of kids (or tired parents doing the school run) want to hear. The good news: a legal e-bike has no minimum age, and for a younger teen it's the better machine anyway — bigger wheels, proper brakes, and they're allowed in bike lanes. [Kirk: a sentence from your own experience — e.g. how many under-16s you see on scooters along St Georges Road or the Merri Creek Trail.]
The age rule: 16 and over, no exceptions
VicRoads lists "be aged 16 years and over" as one of the core rules for riding hire and private e-scooters.1 Victoria Police says the same.3 The Transport Accident Commission's explanation is that 16 matches other jurisdictions and the Australian Road Rules, and is the age a Victorian can get a learner permit and is likely to know the road rules. It also asks parents and carers to "play their role in keeping their kids safe".1,8
The fine for riding an e-scooter under 16 is 1 penalty unit — $192, according to VicRoads' penalty table.2
All the e-scooter rules (for when they do turn 16)
| Rule | What it means | Fine (VicRoads) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Rider must be 16+ | $192 |
| Helmet | Always wear one | $240 |
| Riding speed | No faster than 20 km/h | $240 |
| The scooter itself | Must not be capable of more than 25 km/h on level ground (and no heavier than 45 kg). A faster one is an unregistered motor vehicle. | $962 |
| Where | Roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h or less, bike paths and shared paths | $192 on a road over 60 km/h |
| Footpaths | Never | $192 |
| Passengers | None | $192 |
| Phone | No hand-held phone | $577 |
Sources: VicRoads rules and penalties pages;1,2 device definition from Victoria Police and Transport Victoria.3,4 Riders also need front and rear lights at night, can't ride two abreast, and can't ride under the influence — the same drink and drug-driving regime as motorists applies, which can affect a future licence.1,2
Watch out for "too fast" scooters. Plenty of scooters sold online can do 40–60 km/h. VicRoads says devices capable of more than 25 km/h can only be ridden on private property, and electric skateboards, electric unicycles and petrol-powered devices aren't legal in public at all.1 So even for a 16-year-old, "it has a 25 km/h mode" isn't good enough if it's capable of more.
How we got here: the trial, 2024 and the 2026 amendment
- The trial. Victoria ran a two-year e-scooter trial, during which the minimum age was lowered to 16 so riders could use roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h or less. At the end of the trial the government kept it at 16.1
- 4 October 2024. The trial ended. Share-hire scooters became permanent in council areas with an operator agreement, private scooters could be used across Victoria, tougher penalties started, and the main rules — 16+, 20 km/h, roads of 60 km/h or less — stayed the same.5
- 18 February 2026. The Road Safety Road Rules Amendment (Electric Scooters) Rules 2026 (SR No. 12 of 2026) came into operation.6 It's the latest amendment to Victoria's e-scooter road rules; among other things it inserts a new rule 262J about riding "class B" and "class C" electric scooters other than under a vehicle-sharing scheme.7 It did not create an under-16 exception: VicRoads' current rules page still says riders must be 16 and over.1 If you need the detail, read the amendment itself on AustLII or legislation.vic.gov.au.6,7,9
"But it's only on our street…" — private property
The road rules apply on roads and road-related areas, which include footpaths, bike paths and shared paths;1,4 a car park that's open to the public generally counts too. Private property, with the owner's permission, is different. But "private" means your backyard or a friend's farm. It doesn't mean the court outside, the school grounds or the shopping-centre car park. [Kirk: if you know of a specific legal place locally for kids to ride, add it here; otherwise leave this out.]
What to get a 14 or 15-year-old instead: a legal e-bike
A legal e-bike (250 W, pedal-assist only, assistance cuts out at 25 km/h, throttle only up to 6 km/h) has no minimum age, and there's no licence or registration.10 Why I'd choose one for a younger teen even if scooters were allowed:
- Bigger wheels and a lower centre of gravity — much more forgiving of potholes, tram tracks and gutters than small scooter wheels.
- They have to pedal, so it's still exercise, and the bike can't take off without them.
- Bike lanes and shared paths are fine, and so are roads. (Like scooters, no footpath riding from age 13, unless accompanying a child under 13.)10
- Panniers or a rack carry a school bag far better than a backpack on a scooter.
The catch is the same one scooters have: lots of "e-bikes" sold online are illegal (throttles, 500 W+, unlock modes). Start with our teen e-bike rules and legal-bike checklist, then the best legal e-bikes for teens.
For when they turn 16
If a scooter's still on the wish list at 16, make sure it's limited to 25 km/h by design, buy a helmet with it, and go through the rules table above together. [Kirk: when you've tested one, link a future "legal 25 km/h e-scooters for 16–17s" guide here.]
Sources
- VicRoads — Rules for riding hire and private e-scooters
- VicRoads — E-scooter penalties
- Victoria Police — Electric powered scooters (e-scooters)
- Transport Victoria — E-scooter road rules
- Premier of Victoria — Permanent e-scooter rules in place across the state (4 Oct 2024)
- AustLII — Road Safety Road Rules Amendment (Electric Scooters) Rules 2026 (SR No 12 of 2026), reg 3 Commencement
- AustLII — same Rules, reg 4 (new rule 262J)
- TAC — E-scooter FAQ
- legislation.vic.gov.au — Road Safety Road Rules Amendment (Electric Scooters) Rules 2026 (as made)
- Victoria Police — Electric bike (e-bike) safety