Motorcycles, quad bikes and scooters

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Motorcycle riders: road rules

In the Northern Territory (NT), you must hold a rider (class R) licence to ride a motorcycle.

In addition to the road rules in the NT, you must also follow specific road rules for motorcycles.

If you don't follow these rules, you may face traffic offences and penalties.

Rules for all rider licence holders

The following rules apply to all rider licence holders:

You must have at least one hand on the handlebars.
You must keep both feet on the footrests except when stopping or moving off.
If the lane is wide enough in certain circumstances, you can share a lane with another motorcycle rider if you're not more than 1.5m apart.

Rules for specific rider licences

In addition to the above, you must also follow the rules that apply to your specific licence.

Learner licence (L plate)

Blood or breath alcohol concentration

Your blood or breath alcohol concentration must be zero - even if you hold an open licence in another class.

Display an L plate

You must clearly show a yellow L plate on the:

rear of the motorcycle you're riding or
back of a vest worn while riding.

The plate must not be hidden or covered.

Licence

You must carry your learner rider licence with you at all times when you are riding.

Motorcycle type

You must only ride learner approved motorcycles (LAM).

Check the LAM list on the New South Wales Government website.

Speed

You must not exceed 80km/h.

Passengers

You must not to carry any pillion passenger on your motorcycle.

Provisional licence (P plate)

Blood or breath alcohol concentration

Your blood or breath alcohol concentration must be zero.

Display a P plate

You must clearly show a P plate on the:

rear of the motorcycle you're riding or
back of a vest worn while riding.

The plate must not be hidden or covered.

Licence

You must carry your provisional rider licence with you at all times when riding.

Motorcycle type

You must only ride learner approved motorcycles (LAM).

Check the LAM list on the New South Wales Government website.

Speed

You must not exceed 100km/h.

Passengers

You must not carry any pillion passengers on your motorcycle.

Demerit points

If you hold a provisional licence and get 5 or more demerit points in a continuous 12 month period, you will get a notice requiring you to choose between a:

period of suspension or
12 month good driving behaviour period.

Restricted licence

Blood or breath alcohol concentration

Your blood or breath alcohol concentration must be less than 0.05% BAC.

Licence

You must carry your restricted rider licence at all times when riding.

Motorcycle type

You must only ride learner approved motorcycles (LAM).

Check the LAM list on the New South Wales Government website.

Passengers

You must not carry any pillion passengers on your motorcycle.

Demerit points

Read about demerit points.

Full or open licence

Blood or breath alcohol concentration

Your blood or breath alcohol concentration must be less than 0.05% BAC.

Passengers

You and any pillion or sidecar passenger must each wear a correctly fitted, securely fastened and approved helmet.

There must be an approved seat and adequate/secure footrests for any pillion passenger.

You and any pillion passenger must sit astride the seat and face forwards.

Any pillion passenger must have their feet on the footrests.

You can only have one pillion passenger.

Any pillion passenger must be 8 years of age or older.

Demerit points

If you hold an open licence and get 12 or more demerit points in a 3-year period, you will be sent a notice requiring you to choose between a:

period of suspension or
12 month good driving behaviour period.

Lane filtering

If you have a full or open motorcycle licence, you can safely lane filter between stationary or slow moving traffic moving in the same direction of travel.

You can only do this if:

your speed is not over 30km/h and
it is safe to do so.

You must not overtake vehicles by:

lane splitting - moving past stationary or moving traffic at an unsafe speed of more than 30km/h.
edge filtering - changing direction to move towards the edge, kerb or shoulder of the road to either:
- pass one or more vehicles on the road
- pass between 2 vehicles, one of which is parked.