Assessing driver licence exemptions for riding e-mobility devices

Find out how to issue a driver licence exemption for riders of an e-mobility device.

New licence requirements for riding e-mobility devices

As some individuals cannot hold a driver licence due to a medical condition or disability, an e-mobility driver licence exemption is available. This driver licence exemption ensures that e-mobility devices remain accessible to those who rely on them for their mobility needs.

E-Mobility Driver Licence Exemption form (F5464)

There will be a short transition time for riders to get an exemption. However, from 30 November 2026, riders must have their medical or disability exemption to ride without a valid driver licence.

Your role

As a health practitioner registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), you are eligible to verify your patient’s request for an exemption.

You’ll need to:

• complete the E-Mobility Driver Licence Exemption form (F5464) and verify the declaration made by the e-mobility device rider or their support person
• declare that you have an ongoing patient-practitioner relationship with the e-mobility device rider and are actively involved in managing their medical condition or disability
• if the rider’s medical condition or disability changes over time, you should review their eligibility to continue using an e-mobility device. While it’s the individual’s responsibility to ensure they remain safe to ride, your role may involve providing updated medical advice as necessary to support the rider to continue to use their device.

Your responsibility

You’re required to act within your professional scope of practice and have sufficient knowledge of the rider’s condition and its potential impact on their ability to safely use their type of e-mobility device.

By signing the form, you’re not conducting a formal or standardised assessment of the individual’s skills, abilities or fitness to drive a motor vehicle under the Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines.

Instead, you’re verifying that the rider appears capable of safely operating their e-mobility device based on your professional knowledge and judgement.

While not mandatory, you may:

• request the rider do an observed test ride to assist you in forming your opinion
• consider any existing documentation provided by the rider that clarifies their functional impairment when forming your opinion.

For example, this may include:

• a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) eligibility assessment
• previous specialist report
• documentation detailing the rider’s diagnosis.

Eligibility for an exemption

An e-mobility rider is eligible if they:

• do not hold a driver licence due to their medical condition or disability—whether they’ve previously been assessed for fitness to drive or not
• have held a licence before, which has been cancelled or surrendered due to their condition.

An e-mobility rider is not eligible if their driver licence is expired, suspended, disqualified or cancelled for another reason, such as:

• accumulating excess demerit points
• drink or drug driving
• driving without a driver licence.

What mobility devices this applies to

E-mobility devices

E-mobility devices are electrically powered devices designed for personal transportation.

They include e-bikes and personal mobility devices such as:

• e-scooters
• e-skateboards
• hoverboards
• self-balancing devices like Segways.

These devices are often used for short-distance travel, providing an eco-friendly and convenient alternative to traditional fuel-powered vehicles.

Read more about:

• e-bikes
• personal mobility devices, such as e-scooters
• adaptive e-bikes or e-trikes that have been designed or modified to accommodate the rider’s disability such as added stability or customised controls. Some of these devices may be non-compliant and require the rider to receive further verification from the Department of Transport and Main Roads before they can be ridden in public.

Motorised mobility devices

Riders do not require a valid driver licence to operate a motorised mobility device—these do not need you to complete an exemption form.

Read more about motorised mobility devices.

Conditions on the exemption

You may impose conditions to the rider’s driver licence exemption, if needed for the rider to safely operate their e-mobility device. You must record any conditions on the exemption form and discuss them with the rider and their carer or support person.

Examples of conditions may include:

• wearing corrective lenses while riding
• riding only during daylight hours
• riding only under supervision.

A supervisor is someone who:

• is 18 years or older
• understands how to safely operate the device
• understands the relevant road and safety rules
• is able to guide and support the rider
• is able to intervene if unsafe behaviour or a safety risk arises.

Expiry date

You can issue the exemption for a maximum of 5 years. The length of time should be based on your professional judgement for what suits the rider’s medical condition or disability. If the rider’s condition changes, affecting their ability to ride safely, you should review their eligibility to continue using an e-mobility device and discuss this with the rider.

When the exemption is nearing its expiry date, you’ll need to complete a new exemption form for the rider to continue riding their e-mobility device

No need to notify us

We don’t need to see or record the exemption once you’ve completed it.

This means, there is no pathway to let us know if you revoke or amend the exemption form should the rider’s condition change. You should discuss this with the rider direct.

Completing the form

You can complete the E-Mobility Driver Licence Exemption form (F5464) physically or digitally with a digital signature.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Review Part 1—Declaration by the applicant

Read the declaration completed by the applicant in Part 1.

• Verify that the rider is 16 years or older.
• Ensure that the rider has provided all required information and that the declaration has been signed and dated, by the rider or their support person.
• Confirm that the rider understands the declaration and the responsibilities of using an e-mobility device.

Step 2: Complete Part 2—Declaration by the health practitioner

Complete Part 2 of the form, with all of the required details.

Read about your responsibility to determine if the rider appears capable of safely operating the device specified in Part 1.

The Details of your role section can include how long you have been treating the rider and how your profession directly relates to the rider’s medical condition or disability.

Do not include details of the riders’ medical condition or disability.

Section 1 includes declaration of any conditions that the rider must follow. If required, tick Yes to the rider requiring a condition and include the specific condition in the text field.

Determine an expiry date. Consider the individual’s medical condition or disability, including whether it’s likely to change over time or remain stable.

Step 3: Give the form to the rider

Once you’ve completed the E-Mobility Driver Licence Exemption (F5464) form, the rider must carry the physical copy or a digital copy while riding their e-mobility device. For example, this could be a photo on their mobile phone.