Queensland E-Bike Assurance Scheme: What Owners Need to Know

Queensland e-bike owners facing new compliance requirements have only nine authorised inspection centres available statewide, with no locations currently listed in several major regional cities.

The Electrically Power-Assisted Cycle (EPAC) Assurance Scheme commenced on 2 November 2026, allowing owners of eligible older e-bikes to have their devices inspected and approved for continued legal use. However, the initial network consists entirely of Trek bicycle stores, most of them concentrated in south-east Queensland.

The state’s official directory of authorised verifiers lists three centres in Brisbane, two on the Gold Coast, and one each in Ipswich, Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton. There are no authorised locations currently listed in Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba or Mackay.

Owners requiring verification must book an appointment and bring their e-bike to an approved retailer. The Department of Transport and Main Roads advises that appointments may take a couple of weeks, depending on individual store capacity.

The department expects additional retailers to join the program over the coming months. Alternative arrangements are also being developed for rural and remote residents without reasonable access to a verifier, with further details expected in early 2027.

Which e-bikes need inspection?

The scheme primarily covers eligible e-bikes manufactured before 1 July 2026 that do not meet the European EN 15194 standard or lack the required compliance label.

To qualify, these older bicycles must have pedals as their primary source of power, a maximum continuous rated motor output of 250 watts, and motor assistance that stops at 25 km/h. Where throttle control is fitted, throttle-only assistance must be limited to 6 km/h to help riders start moving.

Devices must also satisfy other technical and safety requirements before an authorised retailer can approve them. E-bikes that already meet EN 15194 and display the required compliance label do not need another inspection.

For eligible older bicycles, the initial pre-screening is free. A formal assessment may cost up to $50, with a further $20 permitted for issuing a permanent compliance label and recording the verification.

Owners covered by the transition arrangements have until 28 February 2027 to obtain the required label. From 1 March 2027, e-bikes that need verification must display the appropriate compliance label to continue being ridden legally in public.

The scheme cannot be used to legalise high-powered, high-speed or illegally modified devices. It also provides a separate pathway for certain e-bikes and e-trikes designed or adapted for people with disabilities or medical conditions.

A label issued through the scheme confirms that an eligible device has met Queensland’s verification requirements. It does not certify full compliance with the European EN 15194 standard.

Cycling advocates highlight the cost of compliance

Bicycle Queensland has supported clearer rules distinguishing lawful pedal-assisted bicycles from illegal high-powered devices, while the cost and accessibility of verification remain concerns for cycling advocates.

In its published explanation of the new laws, the organisation outlines the inspection process and the potential $70 charge facing owners whose existing bicycles require verification.

The fee applies to the formal assessment and labelling process rather than every e-bike owner. Riders whose bicycles already carry the correct EN 15194 label are not required to pay for another inspection.

The limited number of participating retailers also presents a practical question for people living far from an inspection centre, particularly those who rely on their e-bikes for everyday transport.

Bicycle Industries Australia has welcomed the scheme. Its general manager, Peter Bourke, has supported measures that help riders access safe, legal products and said the program would allow bicycle businesses to assist owners in establishing whether their devices meet Queensland’s requirements.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has described the scheme as a practical way for owners of legitimate existing e-bikes to continue riding, while keeping dangerous high-powered and high-speed devices off public roads and paths.

Research shows e-bikes are used across Queensland

The availability of inspection centres takes on wider significance when considered alongside new research into the growing number of Queenslanders using electric bicycles and other e-mobility devices.

A University of Queensland study, released on 21 October 2026, estimated that Queenslanders owned approximately 587,000 e-bikes, accounting for 61 per cent of privately owned e-mobility devices. The study also estimated 352,100 e-scooters and 30,400 other devices.

Researchers found that one in three Queensland households owned an e-mobility device, with total household spending on the devices estimated at $2.2 billion. Ownership was not confined to metropolitan areas. The study found that 28 per cent of households in remote Queensland reported owning an e-mobility device, reinforcing the importance of access to transport options outside major cities.

For one in four e-mobility users surveyed, a private car was their only alternative means of transport. More than half of the primary users of privately owned devices were aged 50 or older. The findings point to the role electric transport now plays in everyday travel, from commuting and shopping to recreation and maintaining independence.

However, the estimated 587,000 e-bikes do not represent the number requiring inspection under the new scheme. Many already meet the relevant standards, while others may be ineligible for verification.

The research also identified safety concerns. About half of privately owned e-mobility devices were classified as non-compliant based on owners’ self-reported speed, motor power and throttle characteristics.

Researchers cautioned that the findings covered different types of e-mobility devices and did not establish how many existing e-bikes would require inspection or replacement compliance labels.

Safety reforms target illegal high-powered devices

The assurance scheme forms part of Queensland’s broader e-mobility reforms, introduced amid concerns about serious injuries, unsafe riding and devices capable of travelling well beyond the permitted limits.

New rules introduced during 2026 include restrictions on motor power and speed, tighter age and licensing requirements, and expanded police enforcement powers.

Under the state’s current e-bike rules, bicycles powered by motors exceeding 250 watts of maximum continuous rated output cannot legally be ridden on public roads or paths as ordinary e-bikes. Devices that depend entirely on throttle power, rather than pedalling, are also prohibited, apart from the limited starting assistance permitted under the rules. Police can issue significant fines and seize illegal devices.

Transport authorities say the verification process is intended to distinguish suitable older bicycles from machines that fail the state’s safety requirements. The scheme gives owners of qualifying existing e-bikes a means of keeping their bicycles on the road without requiring them to meet every provision of the European standard introduced for newer devices.

Where owners can get their e-bikes checked

As of 11 November 2026, the Queensland Government lists nine authorised inspection centres, all operated by Trek Bicycle.

Region	Authorised inspection centre
Brisbane	Trek Carindale
Brisbane	Trek Windsor
Brisbane	Trek Woolloongabba
Ipswich	Trek Ipswich, East Ipswich
Moreton Bay	Trek North Lakes
Gold Coast	Trek Ashmore, Molendinar
Gold Coast	Trek Burleigh Heads
Sunshine Coast	Trek Sunshine Coast, Minyama
Central Queensland	Trek Rockhampton, Norman Gardens

Source: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, EPAC Assurance Scheme authorised verifier directory. The government has advised owners to check the directory regularly as more retailers join the scheme.

Owners must contact an authorised retailer to arrange an inspection before visiting. The department recommends bringing any available information about the bicycle’s make, model, purchase date and technical specifications.

For eligible riders whose bicycles still need verification, the transition period provides an opportunity to arrange an inspection before the February deadline. Whether the expanding network reaches more regional communities before then remains an important question as the scheme progresses.

Published 10-Nov-2026
Featured Image Credit: Brisbane City Council