In Western Australia, a valid car licence lets you ride a moped — a scooter with an engine of 50cc or less that is designed not to exceed 50 km/h. No car licence? WA has a moped-only licence you can hold from 16. Anything above 50cc needs a motorcycle licence, starting with an R-E learner's permit.
That single distinction decides almost everything else. WA's rules also differ from other states in a few important ways, so it's worth knowing exactly where you stand before you buy. This guide starts with mopeds — riding one on your car licence, or getting the moped licence from scratch — then covers the motorcycle licence for anything bigger.
What Licence Do You Need to Ride a Scooter in WA?
| Bike type | Licence needed |
|---|---|
| 50cc petrol scooter / moped | Valid WA car licence (or R-N moped licence) |
| Registered electric moped (non-piston engine, ≤50 km/h) | Valid WA car licence (or R-N moped licence) |
| Scooter or motorcycle above 50cc | Motorcycle licence (R-E class minimum) |
| Personal electric scooter (eRideable) | No licence required — but rules apply |
Can You Ride a Moped or Scooter on a Car Licence in WA?
Yes — but only a moped. If you hold a valid WA driver's licence (not a learner's permit), you can legally ride any moped without needing a separate motorcycle licence.
A moped is defined as:
- A motorcycle designed so it cannot exceed 50 km/h
- Either a petrol engine of 50cc or less, OR a non-piston power source such as an electric motor
This covers the majority of 50cc petrol scooters. If the scooter is 50cc and can't exceed 50 km/h by design, your car licence is all you need — you can browse our current 50cc scooters in Perth, with new and used qualifying stock shown first.
Important: the 50cc / 50 km/h limit is strict. If the scooter is 125cc, or if it's capable of going faster than 50 km/h, you need a motorcycle licence regardless of what speed you actually ride it at on the road.
Do You Need a Motorbike Licence for a Scooter?
Only if the scooter is above 50cc, or is capable of exceeding 50 km/h. "Scooter" isn't a legal category in Western Australia — the law looks at engine capacity and designed top speed, not at whether the bike has a step-through frame or a twist-and-go automatic gearbox. A 50cc scooter is a moped and needs no motorcycle licence. A 125cc scooter is a motorcycle and does.
What cc Can You Ride on a Car Licence in WA?
50cc, and no more. The threshold is exact: a petrol engine of 50cc or less, fitted to a bike designed so it cannot exceed 50 km/h. Both conditions have to be met — a 50cc machine capable of 70 km/h is not a moped, and neither is a 60cc one limited to 50 km/h.
Can I Ride a 150cc on a Car Licence?
No. Neither a 125cc nor a 150cc scooter can be ridden on a car licence in WA, and neither can a motorcycle of any size. The moment you go above 50cc you need a motorcycle licence, starting with the R-E learner's permit.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Ride a Moped in WA?
Sixteen. WA is the only place in Australia with a moped-only licence class (R-N), and the only one that issues a P-plate licence to ride at 16: the learner's permit starts at 15½ and the licence itself at 16 years old. That's a full year before you can drive a car on your own — a car learner's permit also starts at 16, but you can't drive unsupervised until you get your provisional licence at 17. That makes 50cc scooters a practical first vehicle for young riders in Perth, and it's the reason the moped-only class exists separately at all.
How to Get a Moped Licence in WA (R-N)
If you don't hold a car licence, the R-N moped licence is the quickest way onto the road. It covers mopeds only — anything above 50cc still needs the motorcycle licence below — but you can start at 15½ and ride solo at 16.
- Get your learner's permit, from 15½. Apply at a Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) service centre or regional agent with a Driver's Licence application form (DLA1) and proof of identity, then pass an eyesight test and the Computerised Theory Test (CTT). The permit is valid for 3 years.
- Learn to ride. Ride with an approved supervisor — as your pillion, in a sidecar, or on another moped or motorcycle — with L plates on the front and back. There's no minimum number of logged hours for a moped licence, though the more supervised riding you do, the better. Learners can't ride where learners aren't allowed, such as Kings Park.
- Pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT), from 15½. A computer-based test of spotting hazards in traffic. Metro centres don't need an appointment.
- Pass the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA), from 16. Your on-road riding test, once you've passed the HPT. Bring your permit and a licensed, roadworthy moped, and wear a helmet, enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved top.
- Ride on your P plates. Pass the PDA, pay for your first one-year licence, and you get a provisional licence for 2 years or until you turn 19, whichever is longer — so a rider licensed at 16 stays on P plates until 19. Red P plates for the first 6 months (no riding between midnight and 5am except for work or school, and one passenger at most), then green P plates. Your blood alcohol limit is zero.
Costs:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Learner's permit application (includes first PDA) | $150.80 |
| Computerised Theory Test (first attempt) | $22.40 |
| Computerised Theory Test (resit) | $19.20 |
| Hazard Perception Test (first attempt) | $29.90 |
| Hazard Perception Test (resit) | $24.10 |
| Practical Driving Assessment (resit) | $120.50 |
| Provisional licence (1 year) | $49.40 |
Pass each test first time and you'll pay $203.10 in application and test fees, plus $49.40 for your first one-year provisional licence: $252.50 in all.
Going Above 50cc: The Motorcycle Licence (R-E to R)
Anything above 50cc — a 125cc or 150cc scooter included — needs a motorcycle licence. WA's pathway runs from a learner's permit to the restricted R-E licence (provisional for newer drivers) and then the unrestricted R licence.
Learner's Permit (R-E), from 16
- Apply in person with a DLA1 form and proof of identity, pass an eyesight test and the CTT (35 multiple-choice questions, 28 to pass).
- The fees match the moped permit: $150.80 for the application (including your first PDA), $22.40 for the CTT and $19.20 per resit. A printed logbook is $10.70; Learn&Log on the ServiceWA app is free.
- The permit is valid for 3 years. Ride with an approved supervisor at all times — as a pillion, on another bike or in a sidecar — and display L plates on the front and back.
- Log at least 50 hours of supervised riding, including 5 at night, unless you already hold a car (C class) licence or higher — P plates included. A moped (R-N) licence doesn't count.
- Lessons with a paid instructor are optional for now. Our rider training guide covers what they're for and WA's proposal to make training compulsory.
R-E Licence, from 17
- Hold your learner's permit for at least 6 months, pass the Hazard Perception Test (from 16½) and the Practical Driving Assessment (from 17), and complete your logbook hours if they apply.
- If this is your first licence, you've held a licence for less than 2 years, or you're under 19, your R-E licence is provisional: you stay on P plates until you've held a licence for 2 years and turned 19. Red P plates (no riding between midnight and 5am except for work or school, one passenger at most) apply only in your first 6 months of holding any licence; after that, green.
- If you're 19 or over and have held a car licence for 2 years, there are no P plates.
- Either way, until you upgrade to R you can only ride LAMS-approved motorcycles.
What Is a LAMS Motorcycle?
LAMS stands for Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme. In WA, a LAMS-approved motorcycle must meet all of the following:
- Engine capacity of 660cc or less
- Power-to-weight ratio of 150 kW/t or less
- OR, for electric motorcycles: power output of 25kW or less
This covers a wide range of scooters and motorcycles — including most of the 125cc, 150cc, 300cc, and 400cc models commonly ridden in Perth. You can check whether a specific bike is LAMS-approved using the official LAMS search tool on the Transport for NSW website, which WA uses as its reference list.
Unrestricted Licence (R), after 2 Years
After holding your R-E licence for at least two years, pass another PDA to upgrade to an unrestricted R class licence. Then you can ride any motorcycle — including bikes above 660cc or with a power-to-weight ratio above 150 kW/t.
Do You Need a Licence for an Electric Scooter in WA?
Not for a personal electric scooter — the kind you push along and step onto, rather than a registered road vehicle. These fall under a separate category in WA called eRideables, and no licence or registration is required. Rules still apply, though.
Your eRideable must:
- Not exceed 25 km/h on level ground
- Weigh no more than 25 kg
- Be no longer than 125 cm, no wider than 70 cm, no taller than 135 cm
- Have a bell or warning device fitted (where practicable)
Where you can ride:
| Location | Max speed |
|---|---|
| Footpaths and pedestrian crossings | 10 km/h |
| Shared paths, bicycle paths, local roads (50 km/h zones or under) | 25 km/h |
| Roads with speed limits above 50 km/h | Not permitted |
Other rules:
- Riders must be at least 16 years old to ride with the motor engaged
- Helmets are required
- No riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Only one person per device
Note: an electric scooter that is registered as a road vehicle (like an electric moped) is treated differently — see the moped section above.
Can I Transfer an Interstate or Overseas Motorcycle Licence to WA?
If you hold a motorcycle licence from another Australian state or territory, or from an overseas jurisdiction, you may be able to transfer it to a WA licence without completing a PDA. Contact Transport WA's Driver and Vehicle Services directly to confirm what's required for your specific situation.
Summary: Which Licence Do You Need?
- 50cc scooter or registered electric moped designed not to exceed 50 km/h: Your car licence is enough.
- No car licence, and you want a moped: Get the R-N moped licence — learner's permit from 15½, solo riding from 16.
- Anything above 50cc: You need a motorcycle licence, starting with the R-E learner's permit at age 16.
- Personal electric scooter (eRideable): No licence needed — just follow the road rules.
Information based on WA Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure guidelines current as of October 2026. Fees and rules can change — check transport.wa.gov.au for the latest.