Guide · Bikes, car gear and travel
How long should an e-bike or e-scooter last in Australia?
An e-bike or e-scooter bought for around $2,500 should last about 6 years or more.
An e-bike or e-scooter is an expensive purchase. A battery, motor or controller that fails early is usually covered, and battery faults are a safety issue too.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long an e-bike or e-scooter should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $500 | 2 years |
| $500 to $2,000 | 4 years |
| Over $2,000 | 6 years |
For one bought around $2,500:
- Under 4 years: very likely covered.
- 4 years to 6 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 6 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- The battery barely holds a charge or fails early
- The motor, controller or display stops working
- The brakes, frame or folding mechanism fails
What usually isn’t covered
- Normal battery fade over hundreds of charges
- Damage from a crash, or from water on a model that isn’t rated for it
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
Safety first. If it overheats, sparks, smells of burning or has hurt someone, stop using it. Then check Product Safety Australia for a recall.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought an e-bike or e-scooter here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for an e-bike or e-scooter
If the battery swells, overheats or smells, stop charging and using it. Move it outside and away from anything flammable.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should an e-bike or e-scooter last?
By our guide, an e-bike or e-scooter bought for around $2,500 should last about 6 years or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to an e-bike or e-scooter after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if an e-bike or e-scooter fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Do I need the receipt to take an e-bike or e-scooter back?
You need proof of purchase, but not the original receipt. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration can do the job.
More guides
- How long should tyres last?
- How long should a car battery last?
- How long should a dash cam last?
- How long should a bike last?
- See all guides
Where this comes from
ACCC: consumer rights and guarantees · Product Safety Australia: recalls