Electric Bike Laws in Melbourne & Wider Victoria: What's Legal in 2026

Accurate as of July 2026. Rules can change, please check the latest at transport.vic.gov.au.

What Counts as an Electric Bike

There are only two categories of vehicle which are considered electric bikes in Victoria. These are Electrically Power-Assisted Cycles (EPACs) and Power-Assisted Cycles (PACs), the latter a lower-powered and less common category.

Anything that exceeds the power limits for these categories is treated as a motor vehicle, with all the licensing and registration that entails. Legal e-bikes in either category should comply with the EN15194 standard, the technical spec legitimate e-bikes are built to.

EPACs, the Main Category

EPACs (Electrically Power-Assisted Cycles) are the industry-standard, most common type of e-bike in Victoria. The motor is capped at 250 watts, and motorised assistance cuts off once you reach 25km/h. To be clear, this is not a limit on how fast you can ride. Like any bike, pedal harder and you can ride faster, but the motor will stop contributing once you're over this limit.

A throttle is allowed, but only for "walk mode," a low-speed setting that pushes the bike along at up to 6km/h without pedalling, handy for starting from a standstill or wheeling the bike up a driveway. Beyond that speed, the motor only helps while you're actually pedalling.

PACs sit in the same broad category, but as a lower-powered, less common one. With a lower power cap of 200W, these are mainly legacy bikes that you'll rarely find on today's market. Riders considering a secondhand or older e-bike should check which category it falls into before assuming it's road ready. Go over either limit, for EPAC or PAC, and the bike is reclassified as a motor vehicle, with registration and a licence required to ride it legally.

All bikes, e- or otherwise, require working pedals, a brake, a bell, and lights/reflectors at night.

Do You Need a Licence or Registration?

There is no licence or registration required for a compliant e-bike.

If the bike does not comply with Victorian regulations, it would need to be registered as a motor vehicle, and therefore, you would need to obtain a registration and motorbike license. This option is not really worth considering since these vehicles are often not able to be legally registered.

A non-compliant bike can only be used on private property.

Where Can You Ride?

E-bikes follow the same rules as bicycles. This means that you are permitted to ride on roads, in bike lanes and on shared pedestrian and bike paths. DIY or converted bikes that are compliant have the same riding rights as any other e-bike, but are explicitly banned from trains and ticketed public transport areas.

Footpaths are generally fine for kids, but not for adults riding alone. Under Victorian road rules, anyone 13 or older cannot ride on the footpath unless they're accompanying a child younger than 13.

Helmets are mandatory in every case, whether you're on the road, a bike lane, a shared path, or a footpath.

What Happens If Your E-Bike Doesn't Comply?

If your e-bike exceeds the aforementioned limits on power and/or speed, or has illegal modifications such as power-override switches, you risk being fined for the use of an unregistered motor vehicle, as well as for driving one without a licence. These fines can exceed $1000 per offence. To reiterate, non-compliant e-bikes can be used only on private property.

Melbourne Powered stocks both compliant, road-legal e-bikes and private-property e-bikes. If you're riding on the road, whether that's commuting, running errands, or just getting around the streets, we will always find the right bike for you.

FAQs

Is it illegal to ride an e-bike in Victoria?

No. E-bikes are a fully legal mode of transportation, provided that they comply with Victorian regulations around power and speed.

Do you need a licence for an e-bike?

You do not need a licence for a legally compliant e-bike. If your motorised bike falls foul of Victorian regulations, you would be required to register it as a motor vehicle and acquire a licence accordingly.

Is there an age limit?

Just like bicycles, there is no age limit to ride a compliant e-bike. Age is only relevant when it comes to riding on footpaths: only children under 13 and adults supervising are permitted to ride on footpaths.

What's the fastest legal e-bike speed?

There is no speed limit for e-bikes. However, importantly, motorised assistance cuts off at 25km/h. This means you can ride as fast as you can pedal, but the motor will stop pushing you faster over 25km/h.

Can you ride an e-bike on the footpath?

You can only ride an e-bike on the footpath if you are 12 or under, or an adult supervising someone within this age bracket.

Ready to find a compliant e-bike that suits you? Browse Melbourne Powered's range of e-bikes here.

Still not sure which e-bike is right for your situation?

Come in store or give us a call, we're happy to walk you through the options and make sure you end up on the right bike for how and where you plan to ride.