ACT eBike Laws 2026 — What Applies
The ACT is permissive on riding and strict on one thing almost nobody checks: helmets. It is now the only Australian jurisdiction that does not accept the European EN 1078 standard, which means a helmet that is perfectly legal in every other state may not be legal here.
The ACT accepts AS/NZS 2063:2008 or a later edition only. Since Tasmania widened its list in December 2025, the ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction that does not accept EN 1078. If you bought a European-standard helmet interstate or online, check the sticker before riding in Canberra.
The rules that matter
1. Helmets — AS/NZS 2063 only
The ACT accepts AS/NZS 2063:2008 or a later edition. It does not accept EN 1078, US CPSC, ASTM or Snell, all of which are accepted in NSW, Victoria, WA, SA and now Tasmania. This is the single most likely way for an otherwise careful ACT rider to be non-compliant.
2. 250 W EPACs are unambiguously legal
There is a persistent myth that the ACT only permits 200 W because of an older definition. It is wrong. The Road Transport (General) Act 1999 dictionary expressly includes a 250 W EPAC, and the 200 W exclusion is disapplied to them. Both a 250 W EPAC and a 200 W power-assisted pedal cycle are lawful.
3. Footpaths permitted at any age
Footpath riding is allowed at any age in the ACT with no numeric speed cap for eBikes, other than 10 km/h at crossings. The 15 km/h cap that appears in ACT material applies to personal mobility devices such as e-scooters, a separate legal class.
4. No minimum age and no licence
The ACT has no minimum riding age and no licence requirement for a compliant eBike. No reform has been announced.
What it costs
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Riding an unregistered motor vehicle (an illegal eBike) | $750 |
| Riding unlicensed (same stop, separate offence) | $750 |
| Not wearing an approved helmet | $218 |
As in Victoria, an over-limit eBike attracts the unregistered and unlicensed offences together, so the realistic exposure for an illegal bike is $1,500.
Nothing in the system teaches this
Australian Capital Territory has no licence and no test for eBike riders, so nothing checks whether a young rider knows the road rules, the stopping distances, or which bikes are actually legal before they are riding in traffic. That gap is what the eBikeSafe course fills.
The basics, unchanged
- 250 W EPAC or 200 W power-assisted pedal cycle — both lawful
- 25 km/h cut-out
- No licence, registration or minimum age
- Footpaths permitted at any age
Who this affects most
⛑️ Anyone with a non-Australian-standard helmet
The ACT is now the only jurisdiction that does not accept EN 1078. A helmet bought online or interstate may be legal everywhere else and not here. Check for the AS/NZS 2063 mark.
🚴 Anyone told the ACT caps eBikes at 200 W
That is a myth. 250 W EPACs are expressly included in the ACT definition and are unambiguously legal.
Frequently asked questions
Are EN 1078 helmets legal in the ACT? +
No. The ACT accepts AS/NZS 2063:2008 or a later edition only. Since Tasmania widened its accepted list in December 2025, the ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction that does not accept EN 1078. A helmet legal in every other state may not be legal in Canberra.
Is a 250 W eBike legal in the ACT? +
Yes, unambiguously. The Road Transport (General) Act 1999 dictionary expressly includes a 250 W EPAC and disapplies the 200 W exclusion to them. Claims that the ACT is limited to 200 W, or that 250 W is a grey area, are incorrect.
Is there a minimum age to ride an eBike in the ACT? +
No. The ACT has no minimum riding age and no licence requirement for a compliant eBike, and no reform has been announced as at August 2026.
Can I ride on the footpath in the ACT? +
Yes, at any age. There is no numeric footpath speed cap for eBikes other than 10 km/h at crossings. The 15 km/h figure applies to personal mobility devices such as e-scooters, which are a separate legal class.
The rules are permissive. The traffic is not.
The ACT sets no minimum age and no licence requirement, so nothing in the system teaches a young rider the road rules before they are in traffic. eBikeSafe covers being seen, stopping distances, intersections, safe charging, helmet standards, and what makes a bike legal in the ACT and every other state. Ten modules, must-pass quizzes, and a QR-verified Rider Qualification at the end.
No account needed to buy — the voucher code is emailed to you instantly.
eBikeSafe is a rider education course. It is not a government-accredited qualification and does not replace any licence or registration requirement.
For a full comparison of eBike laws across all eight Australian states and territories, see the Australian eBike laws comparison table. Queensland riders: see the Queensland 2026 changes.
Rules current as at 8 August 2026, checked against Australian Capital Territory government sources. This page is general information, not legal advice — for the authoritative position, always check the ACT transport authority directly.