From 13 July 2025, privately owned electric scooters (e-scooters) and other personal mobility devices may lawfully be ridden on South Australian roads and paths.

Before 13 July, e-scooters and other personal mobility devices could only be used legally if they were part of an approved trial, such as the trials in Adelaide and North Adelaide and the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters. These trials ended on 13 July 2025 [see Road Traffic (Electric Personal Transporters) Notice No 1 of 2025 and Road Traffic (Electric Personal Transporters) Notice No 2 of 2025].

Definitions

From 13 July 2025, a personal mobility device is a vehicle that has all of the following features:

[See Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) s 5 and Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014 (SA) reg 3(6b)].

Bicycles and motorised wheelchairs are not personal mobility devices [Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014 (SA) reg 3(6b)]. Personal mobility devices are also excluded from the definitions of electric personal transporter and motor vehicle [Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014 (SA) reg 3(1), (6a)].

An electric scooter (or e-scooter) is a personal mobility device that:

[See Road Traffic (Road Rules - Ancillary and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2014 (SA) reg 30A(16)].

Rules for use

From 13 July 2025, personal mobility devices may be ridden on roads and paths without a driver's licence, registration or insurance.

Most of the rules that apply specifically to the use of personal mobility devices are found in regulation 30A of the Road Traffic (Road Rules - Ancillary and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2014 (SA).

It is a criminal offence to:

The maximum penalty for breaching any of these rules is a fine of $2,500. Many of these offences are expiable [see Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014 (SA) Sch 4].

Further, most of the road rules and regulations that apply to bicycles also apply to personal mobility devices [see Road Traffic (Road Rules - Ancillary and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2014 (SA) reg 30A(2), (3)]. As such, it is also an offence to ride a personal mobility device:

Like offences committed on bicycles, some offences committed on personal mobility devices can attract demerit points if the rider has a driver's licence.

As at 13 July 2025, personal mobility devices may not be taken on public transport such as busses, trains and trams. The Government has indicated that this may change. The latest information can be found on the Adelaide Metro website.

More information about the rules that apply to e-scooters and other personal mobility devices can be found on the South Australian Government My Licence website.

Fleet-operated e-scooters

While the approved trials of e-scooters in Adelaide and North Adelaide and the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters ended on 13 July 2025, commercial operators may continue to offer e-scooters and other personal mobility devices for hire if they comply with the new rules. If the devices do not comply with the prescribed specifications, the commercial operator may seek Ministerial approval to operate their business.

A commercial operator of a personal mobility device must:

[See Road Traffic (Road Rules - Ancillary and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2014 (SA) reg 30.]

Injuries and insurance

E-scooters and other personal mobility devices are not registered motor vehicles and do not qualify for compulsory third party insurance. This means that if a person is injured by an e-scooter, any compensation claim must be brought against the rider personally. If the rider's details are unknown, no claim can be made.

Pedestrians injured by a personal mobility device owned and operated by a commercial operator may, in some circumstances, be covered by the operator's insurance. It will depend on the contract between the rider and the operator. Many contracts provide that any policy will not apply to the rider, or to pedestrians, where the rider fails to comply with a condition of the contract or a legal requirement, such as riding without a helmet or with a passenger.

Call the Legal Helpline on 1300 366 424 during business hours for free information and advice about e-scooter offences and injuries.