Understanding heavy vehicle licensing

Depending on the size of your rig, it may not be covered by your regular driver’s licence. Find out more about how to get a heavy vehicle licence.

Whether you’re a first-time RV owner or are looking to upgrade to a larger rig, the prospect of having to organise a heavy vehicle licence can seem daunting. While there are a new set of rules and different kinds of heavy vehicle licences, don’t be deterred — they’re not too complicated.

But before you get too far down the journey, please note, you must have a regular car licence — and have held it for at least a year — before you can obtain a heavy vehicle licence.

So, if you’ve got that handy, don’t let the unknowns of licencing stand in the way of your dream trip or the RV you’ve had your eye on. And if you’re just entering the lifestyle, having a Light Rigid licence means you can consider a much wider range of options.

Heavy vehicles

Any vehicle that weighs more than 4.5 tonnes requires a special licence in all Australian states. All licensing, tests, training and so on are administered by state and territory road authorities, according to categories specified by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), which makes it easy to wrap your head around.

There are five classes of heavy vehicle licences. The majority of motorhomes you’ll find on the market will fit into the Light Rigid classification, and some into Medium Rigid. If you’re looking at caravans or camper trailers, these tend to border the lower edge of Light Rigid and sometimes require more than a Class C licence — so be sure to check this with the dealers or manufacturers.

The licence classes are as follows:

Light Right (LR)

Light Rigid licences are for small trucks/vehicles that have a gross vehicle mass (GVM) over 4.5T, but not over 8T. Any trailer towed must not have a GVM over 9T.

Medium Rigid (MR)

This licence is for any vehicle with two axles with a GVM over 8T. Any trailer towed must not have a GVM over 9T.

Heavy Rigid (HR)

You will need an HR licence to drive trucks and buses with a GVM over 8T and three or more axles. Any trailer towed must not have a GVM over 9T. This category also covers articulated buses with three or more axles.

Heavy Combination (HC) and Multi-Combination Trucks (MC)

Ranging from articulated trucks with more than three axles to road trains and B-doubles. This licence category is unlikely to be applicable to any commercially available motorhome.

Acquiring LR or MR licences

As mentioned, to acquire a LR or MR licence, you will need to already have a full driver’s licence (Class C) for a minimum of one year.

The tests for LR and MR licences vary from state to state, but there is a written test to clarify your knowledge of road rules as they apply to heavy vehicles and a driving test, both of which you’ll need to pass.

While you might be confident in your research and practical abilities, if you’re after an easy way to do the whole process at once — including having someone give you insight on the relevant heavy vehicle road rules — there are options available. This includes enrolling with one of the many certified courses around the country. These courses tend to last for 1–2 days and will give you instruction on what to expect, including the theory and practical components, before conducting the tests themselves.

For more information on your state’s Heavy Vehicle Licensing, visit the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator or your state’s relevant website:

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