Skateboards, scooters etc
Skateboards and scooters are legally defined as wheeled recreational devices. Bicycles with wheels less than 355mm are also included.
While usually powered by foot or gravity they can be fitted with motors up to 300 watts. If you do fit a motor, your 'device' then becomes a motor vehicle, which means you must register and license it. It also means that you'll need a driver licence to use it.
Using your wheeled recreational device
While you may need a driver licence to operate a motorised wheeled recreational device, they are not required to have a warrant of fitness or registration. But there are requirements for where and how you can use them:
- On the road, you must keep as close as possible to the edge of the roadway.
- On the footpath:
- you must ride carefully and be considerate of others on the footpath
- you must not ride at speeds that put other footpath users at risk
- you must give way to pedestrians and drivers of mobility vehicles.
See section 11 of the Road User Rule (PDF, 680 KB, 34 pages) for more detail on how and where you can use these devices.
It's your responsibility
Your are responsible for finding out the requirements for using low-powered vehicles. The power rating of the motor fixed to your vehicle will determine whether there are specific requirements for its use, eg wearing safety helmets. Manufacturers and retailers won't always provide this information. Check out our vehicle definitions for the requirements.
Power-assisted cycles
A power-assisted cycle is a cycle that has a motor of up to 300 watts. The law treats these as ordinary cycles rather than motorcycles. This means that you don't have to register or license them.
Other types of low-powered vehicles
If your vehicle doesn't fall in the above descriptions, it must be treated as a moped. This means you'll need a driver licence to ride it. Find out more about mopeds.
