Licence classes
What are the different licence classes for driving or riding in NSW? See what you can drive with car, rider and heavy vehicle licences.
What is a licence class?
A licence class is a category of licence. Which licence class you need depends on the type of vehicle you want to drive.
For example, motorcycle and scooter riders have a class R licence. Car drivers have a class C licence. A heavy vehicle licence lets you drive cars and trucks.
Licence classes are the same in all Australian states and territories.
Driving passengers for payment
Regardless of licence class, to drive passengers for a fare or another form of payment, you must also hold a Bus Driver Authority.
What can I drive with a...?
A class C – Car licence lets you drive:
- vehicles including cars, utes, vans, some light trucks and car-based motor tricycles. You can also drive tractors and certain implements such as graders
- vehicles up to 4.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)
- vehicles that seat up to 12 adults, including the driver.
See Driver licence.
A class R – Rider licence lets you drive:
- motorcycles and scooters.
See Rider licence.
A class LR – Light Rigid licence lets you drive:
- rigid vehicles with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes, but not more than 8 tonnes (any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes GVM)
- vehicles up to 8 tonnes GVM which can carry more than 12 adults including the driver
- vehicles with no restrictions on the number of axles
- any vehicle covered by a class C licence, but not motorcycles and scooters.
A class MR – Medium Rigid licence lets you drive:
- rigid vehicles with 2 axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes (any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes GVM)
- any vehicle covered by a class LR licence.
A class HR – Heavy Rigid licence lets you drive:
- rigid vehicles with 3 or more axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes (any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes GVM)
- articulated buses
- any vehicle covered by a class MR licence.
A class HC – Heavy Combination licence lets you drive:
- heavy combination vehicles such as
- articulated vehicles with three or more axles and
- tow trailer combinations with a GVM more than 9 tonnes, including unladen dolly
- any vehicle covered by a class HR licence.
A class MC – Multi Combination licence lets you drive:
- multi combination vehicles such as road trains, B-doubles and prime mover, low loader dolly and low loader trailer combinations
- any vehicle covered by a class HC licence.
