Are ebikes legal in Australia? Rules explained

Ebikes are legal in Australia and are regulated as bicycles under standard rules.

Explore More By Bike works with operators who provide compliant ebikes that meet Australian standards.

1. Ebikes must meet power limits

Ebikes use pedal assist, which adds power as soon as you start pedalling.

What this means

• motor power is limited (generally up to 250 watts for pedal assist)
• the motor only assists while you are pedalling

2. Speed is limited

What this means

• motor assistance cuts out at 25 km/h
• you can ride faster, but only using your own effort

3. Ebikes follow standard cycling rules

What this means

• ebikes are treated like normal bikes
• you can ride on bike paths, shared paths, and roads where permitted

4. Throttle rules are restricted

What this means

• throttles may be limited or only assist at very low speed
• most ebikes rely on pedal assist

5. Rules can vary slightly by state

What this means

• general rules are similar across Australia
• small differences may apply locally

Quick reality check

• ebikes are legal in Australia
• they are treated like bicycles
• power and speed are limited
• compliant bikes are provided

Bottom line

Ebikes are legal and widely used in Australia.

As long as you ride a compliant bike, you can ride with confidence.

Related Guides

• Do you need a helmet for ebike hire in Australia?
• Is an ebike ride hard? What to expect