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

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. Anything above that needs a motorcycle licence, starting with an R-E learner's permit available from age 16.

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 covers the full picture — from riding a 50cc moped on your car licence through to the unrestricted R class.

What Licence Do You Need to Ride a Scooter in WA?

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 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. 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 Do You Get a Motorcycle Licence in WA? (R-E Class)

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 for the Hazard Perception Test; 17 years for the Practical Driving Assessment
Minimum time on L plates: 6 months

Once you've held your learner's permit for at least six months, passed the HPT, reached 17 years old, 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 Transport for NSW website, which WA uses as its 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.

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:

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.
• 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.