Photo: Jigar Patel, Pexels
Lane filtering is legal for experienced motorcycle riders in every Australian state and territory, at up to 30 km/h between stopped or slow-moving traffic. This explainer is for car drivers, including learners and P platers: what filtering riders are allowed to do, where they are banned, and how to drive safely around motorcycles.
Key facts for car drivers
- Lane filtering means a motorcycle riding slowly between lines of stopped or slow traffic going the same way.
- The limit is 30 km/h in every state and territory.
- In most states only riders with a full (open or unrestricted) motorcycle licence may filter. Learner riders cannot filter anywhere.
- Lane splitting, riding between lanes faster than 30 km/h, is illegal.
- You must not deliberately move into the path of a rider who is filtering legally (NSW).
Lane filtering rules by state
| State or territory | Who can filter | Where filtering is banned |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Full motorcycle licence, under 30 km/h | Next to kerbs or parked cars, school zones |
| Victoria | Not learner riders. Up to 30 km/h | Bicycle lanes, shared paths, road shoulders, between traffic and the kerb |
| Queensland | Open licence for that motorcycle, 30 km/h or less. Not L or P riders | School zones during school hours, where a No filtering sign applies |
| WA | Not learner riders, sidecars or three-wheelers. 30 km/h or less (since 29 March 2021) | Speed limits of 40 km/h or less, school zones, shared zones, roundabouts, near crossings, between heavy vehicles, in or beside bicycle, bus or other special lanes, next to the kerb or parked cars |
| SA | R and R-Date licence holders, 30 km/h or slower. Not learners or P1 riders | School zones, across pedestrian and children’s crossings, next to parked cars, between vehicles and the kerb, roundabouts, bicycle, bus and tram lanes |
| Tasmania | Full motorcycle licence only, not over 30 km/h. Not L or P riders, including interstate ones | School zones during school zone hours, between the road edge and traffic, next to parked cars, where a No filtering sign applies |
| ACT | Fully licensed riders only, not over 30 km/h | Kerbside next to a footpath, bicycle and breakdown lanes, any 40 km/h zone, past heavy vehicles and buses |
| NT | Unrestricted class R licence, not over 30 km/h | Lane splitting and edge filtering (between traffic and the kerb or shoulder) are illegal |
What this means when you are driving
- Expect motorcycles between lanes whenever traffic is stopped or crawling, such as at traffic lights (ACT, TAS).
- Check twice before changing lanes or pulling out (NSW). Motorcycles hide easily behind cars and trucks.
- Do a head check over your shoulder. Mirrors alone miss motorcycles in your blind spot (NSW, ACT, VIC).
- Do not open your door without checking for riders passing your car (VIC).
- Stay in your lane. Do not swerve to block a rider who is filtering legally.
Other rules about motorcycles every driver should know
Give them a full lane
Do not drive alongside a motorcycle in the same lane. Riders have a right to a full-width lane (NSW, ACT). Two riders may ride side by side if they are within 1.5 metres of each other (NSW, VIC, SA).
Overtake as you would a car
Leave as much space when overtaking a motorcycle as you would for a car (NSW, ACT, NT). In Victoria you must leave at least 1 metre when passing motorcyclists and bicycle riders on roads up to 60 km/h. See minimum passing distance for cyclists.
Keep back
Riders may brake or swerve for debris, oil or potholes a car could drive over. Leave extra following distance (NSW, ACT, NT). Do not cut in front of a rider, because motorcycles cannot stop as fast as a car (NT).
Look for them at intersections
Over one third of motorcycle crashes in Victoria happen at intersections. A gap that looks safe may not be if a motorcycle is among the cars, because many motorcycles accelerate faster than cars (VIC).
At night
Dip your headlights when approaching or overtaking a rider (NT).
Why riders are at risk
The NSW handbook says motorcycle riders are 25 times more likely to be killed in a crash than people in cars, per kilometre travelled. They are hardest to see on busy city roads, at intersections and when changing lanes, and on country roads around bends.
Penalties for riders
Filtering illegally brings fines and demerit points for the rider. WA lists $100 and 2 demerit points. NSW says lane splitting carries heavy fines and 3 demerit points. Check the current figure with your state.
Common questions
Is lane filtering legal in Australia?
Yes, in every state and territory, at up to 30 km/h, for riders with the right licence, and with local bans such as school zones.
What is the difference between lane filtering and lane splitting?
Filtering is riding slowly, at 30 km/h or less, between stopped or slow traffic. Splitting is doing it faster than 30 km/h, and it is illegal.
Can a motorcycle ride between my car and the kerb?
No. NSW, Victoria, WA, SA, Tasmania and the ACT ban filtering between traffic and the kerb. The NT calls it edge filtering and bans it.
Can P plate riders lane filter?
Not in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT or the NT, where a full licence is needed, and not on an SA P1 licence. Victoria and WA ban learner riders; check their rider rules for P riders.
Can scooters lane filter?
Victoria’s definition includes scooters. In SA, moped riders with only a car licence cannot filter.
What should I do if a motorcycle is filtering up beside me?
Hold your position and do not change lanes until it has passed and you have checked again.
Related: the Australian Road Rules explained, overtaking, merging and changing lanes and school zones in every state.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” and “Lane filtering” (nsw.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” and “Motorcycle road rules” (transport.vic.gov.au)
- Queensland Government, “Motorcycle road rules” (qld.gov.au)
- Road Safety Commission WA, “Lane Filtering” (wa.gov.au)
- Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook”, February 2026, and “Motor bike lane filtering” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules, Version 2.1” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “NT Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)