Motorised wheelchairs can’t exceed a speed of 10 km/h.
Those that exceed 10km/h must be treated as road going vehicles requiring conditional licensing for the road.
Motorised wheelchairs
Motorised wheelchairs limited to 10km/h don’t need to be licensed
Motorised wheelchairs driven by electric engines, and vehicles referred to as 'gophers' must be designed to not exceed a speed of 10km/h.
Limiting the speed of motorised wheelchairs to 10 km/h means:
- the driver of these vehicles will be legally defined as a pedestrian
- a vehicle designed with this restriction is not legally considered as a motorised vehicle and does not need to be licensed
- drivers of these wheelchairs are not required to hold a driver's licence
- drivers aren't required to pay compulsory Motor Injury Insurance (MII).
Motorised wheelchairs capable of speeds higher than 10km/h
Motorised wheelchairs that can travel faster than 10 km/h don't have pedestrian status. Because of this, they’re treated like road vehicles and must follow the same rules as other motor vehicles, including licensing and safety requirements.
This generally makes the wheelchair, mobility scooter, or gopher illegal to use on public roads, as it would be too difficult to meet the safety standards (like proper braking and lighting).
To make it legal, the wheelchair would need to be sent back to the manufacturer to have its top speed limited to 10 km/h.
Fees
Light vehicle licence (registration) fees (2025/2026)
Vehicle owners must also pay motor injury insurance (MII) insurance. Visit Motor Injury Insurance (MII) for fees and more information.
Light vehicle licence: Administration fee
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Light vehicle standard administration recording fee - 3. 6 and 12 months renewal | $9.50 |
| Light vehicle standard administration recording fee - 1 month renewal | $1.75 |
Light vehicle: Bulk, transfer and duplicate licence fees
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Duplicate or certified copy of vehicle licence document - DoTDirect Download | $0.00 |
| Duplicate or certified copy of vehicle licence document - Purchase at DVS Centre or by phone | $6.90 |
| Vehicle Licence Administration fee (Bulk licensing fee) - Applicable to vehicle dealers only | $13.30 |
| Vehicle licence transfer fee | $20.50 |
Light vehicle: Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) not exceeding 4,500 kg fees
Per 100kg
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Light vehicle registration: Caravan (motor propelled), per 100 kg | $28.64 |
| Light vehicle registration: Caravan (trailer type), per 100 kg | $7.16 |
| Light vehicle registration: Converter dolly, per 100 kg | $14.32 |
| Light vehicle registration: Fork lift, per 100 kg | $7.16 |
| Light vehicle registration: Goods vehicle, per 100 kg | $28.64 |
| Light vehicle registration: Mobile crane, per 100 kg | $7.16 |
| Light vehicle registration: Motor car, per 100 kg | $28.64 |
| Light vehicle registration: Omnibus, per 100 kg | $28.64 |
| Light vehicle registration: Other trailer, not being a plant trailer truck, per 100 kg | $14.32 |
| Light vehicle registration: Plant trailer, per 100 kg | $7.16 |
| Light vehicle registration: Semi-trailer, per 100 kg | $14.32 |
| Light vehicle registration: Tow motor, per 100 kg | $7.16 |
| Light vehicle registration: Tow truck, per 100 kg | $28.64 |
| Light vehicle registration: Tractor (not prime mover), per 100 kg | $7.16 |
| Light vehicle registration: Tractor plant truck, per 100 kg | $7.16 |
| Light vehicle registration: Trailer, per 100 kg | $14.32 |
| Light vehicle registration: Tractor (prime mover type) and truck | $28.64 |
Motorcycles
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Light vehicle registration: Motorcycle (not exceeding 250 cc) | $70.48 |
| Light vehicle registration: Motorcycle (power to weight ratio not exceeding 150 kW/t) | $99.12 |
Light vehicle: Example, how to calculate your vehicle licence fee
In the following example, a 12 month renewal is applied to a standard motor car (Tare weight: 1,650 kg - the weight of the unladen vehicle):
| Calculate your light vehicle licence fee | Fee calculation |
|---|---|
|
Vehicle fee per 100 kg x Total weight (rounded up to the nearest 100 kg) / 100 |
$28.64x (1,700 kg / 100) = $486.88 |
|
Plus prescribed flat fee $13.20 (12-month renewal: (discounted rate) = $6.60) |
$6.60 |
|
Total vehicle licence fee (rounded to the nearest five cents |
$493.48 |
Notes:
- Prescribed flat fee for a vehicle for a period of one year is $13.20 discounted 50%.
- Any vehicle renewal term less than 12 months; calculation will be $13.20 divided by 12 then multiplying by the number of months in respect of which the renewal is paid.
- 6-month renewal: ($13.20/12)*6 = $6.60.
- 3-month renewal: ($13.20/12)*3 = $3.30.
- 1-month renewal: ($13.20/12) = $1.10.
Key:
- GVM = Gross vehicle Mass. kg = kilogram. cc = cubic centimetre, engine displacement.
- kW/t = kilowatt per tonne, 1 m² / S³.