02-site-structure.md and truck-licence/truck-licence-research.md.
If a vehicle is over 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), a normal car (class C) licence isn't enough — you need a heavy vehicle licence. "Truck licence" and "heavy vehicle licence" mean the same thing: an umbrella for the five classes below. Which one you need depends on the truck's weight, how many axles it has, and whether it tows a heavy trailer.
The five heavy vehicle licence classes
These definitions are set nationally, so they hold in every state and territory:
| Class | Name | What you can drive | Towing | Before you can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Car | Vehicles up to 4.5 t GVM; up to 12 seats | Light trailer | Baseline licence |
| LR | Light Rigid | Rigid truck or bus over 4.5 t and up to 8 t GVM, or any vehicle seating more than 12 adults (incl. driver) up to 8 t | Trailer up to 9 t GVM | Hold C for 1 year |
| MR | Medium Rigid | Rigid truck or bus over 8 t GVM with 2 axles | Trailer up to 9 t GVM | Hold C for 1 year |
| HR | Heavy Rigid | Rigid truck or bus over 8 t GVM with 3 or more axles; articulated ("bendy") buses | Trailer up to 9 t GVM | Hold C for 2 years (or LR/MR for 1 year in most states) |
| HC | Heavy Combination | An articulated vehicle — prime mover + single semi-trailer over 9 t GVM, or a rigid truck towing a trailer over 9 t. A single-trailer semi. | — | Hold MR or HR for 1 year |
| MC | Multi Combination | The top class — B-doubles and road trains (multiple trailers) | — | Hold HR or HC for 1 year |
Light Rigid
The smallest truck licence. Small trucks and light buses over the car limit, up to 8 t.
Drive: small rigid trucks & buses, 4.5–8 t
Medium Rigid
Two-axle rigid trucks over 8 t — think medium delivery and tipper trucks.
Drive: 2-axle rigids over 8 t
Heavy Rigid
The workhorse licence and the most searched-for class. Three-axle rigid trucks and buses.
Drive: 3+ axle rigids, big buses
Heavy Combination
Your first articulated licence — a prime mover pulling a single semi-trailer.
Drive: single-trailer semis
Multi Combination
The top of the ladder — B-doubles and road trains. The interstate line-haul licence.
Drive: B-doubles, road trains
The progression ladder
You build up class by class — each step needs time on the licence below it:
Automatic vs manual (the condition on your licence)
How you're tested decides what you're allowed to drive:
- Test in an automatic → your licence is restricted to automatic heavy vehicles of that class.
- Test in a manual (synchromesh) → you can drive both automatic and manual.
If you'll ever drive older manual trucks — including the classic "Road Ranger" gearboxes — sit your test in a manual so you're not locked out later. (The exact condition-code letter shown on the card varies by state.)
How it differs by state
The classes above are national. What changes across the eight states and territories is who assesses you and what it costs. The big split is between a government-run driving test and a competency-based assessment run by a private, accredited training provider (RTO):
| State | How you're assessed | Government road test? |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Competency-based (HVCBA) via a TfNSW-accredited RTO | Rural fallback only |
| VIC | Fully via accredited providers; formal course required for HC & MC | No |
| QLD | TMR government examiner tests LR–HC; MC is RTO training only | Yes (LR–HC) |
| WA | Government or RTO for HR/HC; MC is RTO only | Yes |
| SA | Government road test or competency assessment (LR–HR); HC/MC vary | Yes |
| TAS | Competency-based via external providers; car → HC allowed | No |
| ACT | Provider-delivered assessment; upgrading is free | No |
| NT | RTO or authorised examiner (LR–HR); HC/MC RTO only | Yes |
Pick your state for the exact steps, fees, minimum ages and funding options:
How to get a truck licence: the steps
- Check you're eligible — you've held the licence below for long enough (see the ladder above).
- Pass the heavy vehicle knowledge test — a road-rules theory test for heavy vehicles. Try a free practice test.
- Pass an eyesight test, and for the larger classes a commercial medical (fitness-to-drive check).
- Train and be assessed — either a government driving test or a competency-based assessment with an accredited provider, depending on your state and class.
- Get your licence issued by your state road authority.
What does a truck licence cost?
Training and assessment is the main cost, and it's set by private providers — so it varies. Indicative all-in ranges (training + assessment, before government fees):
| Class | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| LR / MR | $500 – $1,600 |
| HR | $790 – $3,000 (auto usually $1,200–$2,000; manual $2,500–$3,000) |
| HC | $1,550 – $3,200 |
| MC | $1,800 – $4,000 (HC → MC upgrade $900–$1,500) |
On top of that you'll pay government fees (knowledge test, licence issue) that differ by state, and possibly a medical (~$100–$150). Government subsidies and Free TAFE places exist in some states — worth checking your state guide.
Related tickets drivers often need
These aren't truck licences, but transport employers often want them alongside one:
- Forklift licence (LF / LO) — a workplace high-risk-work ticket for loading docks and warehouses. Nationally recognised, issued by your state's WHS regulator.
- Dangerous Goods driver licence — needed to carry placard loads of dangerous goods.
- Fatigue management (BFM / AFM) — for drivers working extended hours under national heavy-vehicle rules.
Ready to get started?
Compare accredited truck driving schools in your state and get quotes — free, no obligation.
Get quotes from truck schools near you →Free heavy vehicle knowledge test practice
Before your licence you'll sit a heavy vehicle knowledge (theory) test. Practise with the free interactive mock test — the official NSW Driver Knowledge Test questions for a rigid truck licence (LR/MR/HR), with instant feedback — to walk in confident.
Start the free NSW practice test →
Frequently asked questions
What truck can I drive on a normal car licence?
Anything up to 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) with up to 12 seats — for example a small removalist truck or large van. Above 4.5 t you need a heavy vehicle licence, starting with LR.
What's the easiest truck licence to get first?
LR (Light Rigid) or MR (Medium Rigid) — both are available after holding a car licence for just one year, and they're the entry point to the ladder. MR is the more common starting class for people heading into truck driving.
Can I go straight to an HC or MC licence?
No — you have to step up through MR or HR first, then hold that for a year before HC, and hold HR or HC for a year before MC. The only exception is Tasmania, which allows a car licence holder to go directly to HC after two years.
What's the difference between HC and MC?
HC (Heavy Combination) covers a single-trailer articulated vehicle — a prime mover pulling one semi-trailer. MC (Multi Combination) is the top class and covers multi-trailer combinations like B-doubles and road trains.
Should I do my test in an automatic or a manual?
If you test in an automatic, your licence is restricted to automatic trucks of that class. Testing in a manual (synchromesh) lets you drive both. If you might ever drive manual trucks, do your test in a manual.
How long does it take to get a truck licence?
The training and assessment itself is usually a few days per class. The bigger factor is the holding period — the time you must already have held the class below before you're eligible to upgrade.
This is a general guide for all of Australia. Licence rules, fees, minimum ages and assessment methods are set by each state and territory and can change — always confirm the details with your state road authority before you apply. trucking.com.au is an independent hub and is not a government body.