An Adelaide man spotted riding a motorised Esky has been reported for driving without a licence, police say.

An officer saw the Esky being driven through a shopping centre car park on Monday at 6:45pm (ACDT).

The officer spoke to the driver and warned him the Esky could not be legally driven on roads, but the man was seen a short time later driving the Esky on Northcote Drive at Para Hills.

Police said the Esky was a novelty import and could not be legally registered in South Australia or driven on roads.

The Esky was impounded and the man was reported for driving unlicensed, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

He will appear in court at a later date.

"Police would like to remind the public that these novelty motor vehicles which includes the likes of pit bikes, motorised eskies and the likes cannot be registered and therefore cannot be legally driven or ridden on the road," Senior Sergeant Nils Uellendahl said.

"They are for private property novelty use only and can be a danger to the drivers and other road users."