WA Scooter & Motorcycle Licence Guide: What You Need to Ride in Perth

If you're looking at scooters or motorcycles in Perth and aren't sure what licence you need, this guide covers everything — from riding a 50cc moped on your car licence through to getting your full unrestricted motorcycle licence.

Western Australia's licensing rules differ from other states in a few important ways, so it's worth understanding exactly where you stand before you buy.

The Quick Answer: It Depends on the Bike

Riding a 50cc Scooter on a Car Licence

In Western Australia, 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 two-wheeled vehicle with a petrol engine of 50cc or less, OR an electric motor of 4000W or less
• A maximum design speed of 50 km/h

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.

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 you're riding it at on the road.

WA's unique moped-only licence

WA is the only state in Australia where you can get a moped-only licence at 16 years old — a full year before you can get a car licence. This makes 50cc scooters a practical first vehicle for young riders in Perth.

Getting a Motorcycle Licence (R-E Class) — Step by Step

For anything above 50cc, you need a motorcycle licence. In WA this is a staged process through three levels: learner, provisional, and unrestricted.

Stage 1: Learner's Permit (R-E class)

Minimum age: 16 years

What you need to do:

1. Study WA's road rules and the motorcycle rider handbook
2. Visit a Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre in person
3. Submit a Driver's Licence application form (DLA1) with proof of identity
4. Pass an eyesight test
5. Pass the Computerised Theory Test (CTT) — 35 multiple-choice questions, need 28/35 to pass

Costs:

Your learner's permit is valid for 3 years.

Logbook requirement:

• If you do not already hold a full WA car licence, you must log at least 50 hours of supervised riding before progressing
• If you already hold a full car (C) licence, the logbook requirement is waived

While on your learner's permit, you must ride with an approved supervisor at all times (either as a pillion, on another bike, or in a sidecar) and display a yellow L plate.

Stage 2: Provisional Licence (R-E class)

Minimum age: 16 years and 6 months
Minimum time on L plates: 6 months

Once you've held your learner's permit for at least six months and completed the logbook hours (if required), you can progress to your provisional licence.

What you need to do:

1. Pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) — a computer-based video test assessing hazard awareness
2. Book and pass the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) — conducted by a Transport WA assessor on public roads

P plate stages:

Throughout both provisional stages, 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 NSW Roads and Maritime Services website (used nationally as the reference list).

Stage 3: Unrestricted Motorcycle Licence (R class)

Minimum time on R-E licence: 2 years

After holding your restricted R-E licence for at least two years, you can upgrade to an unrestricted R class licence by passing another Practical Driving Assessment (PDA).

Once you hold an R class licence, you can ride any motorcycle — including bikes above 660cc or with a power-to-weight ratio above 150 kW/t.

Personal Electric Scooters (eRideables)

Personal electric scooters — the kind you push along and step onto, not registered road vehicles — fall under a different category in WA called eRideables. No licence or registration is required, but rules do apply.

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:

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.

Already Licensed in Another State or Country?

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 electric moped (≤4000W, ≤50 km/h): Your car licence is enough.
• 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.
• New to riding with no car licence: You can get a moped-only licence from age 16, or start the full motorcycle licence pathway at 16.

Information based on Transport WA guidelines current as of mid-2025. Fees and rules can change — check transport.wa.gov.au for the latest.