On 1 November 1998 South Australia adopted the nationally agreed common licence classes and condition codes developed by the National Road Transport Commission.

Licence classes and condition codes now mean the same in all States and Territories of Australia.
Definitions are available at national common licence classes & condition codes.

The number of licence classes has been reduced from 12 to 8

Class: C (old class: Car)

The holder may drive

• any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) not exceeding 4500 kg (but not including buses designed to carry more than 12 seated persons, motor bikes and motor trikes)
  eg sedans, station wagons, panel vans, utilities, light delivery vans, small trucks, special purpose vehicles (eg. farm machines, small tractors, forklifts or other like machinery)
• small articulated vehicles provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 4500 kg.
  eg small truck towing a horse float, trailer or caravan.

May tow

• trailer, horse float, caravan or farm implement

May not drive

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 4500 kg
• buses designed to carry more than 12 seated persons
• motor bikes or motor trikes

Minimum age/driving experience

• 16 years 6 months

Class: LR (old class: SB)

The holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class C
• any motor vehicle with a GVM exceeding 4500 kg but not exceeding 8000 kg. eg trucks, vans, tippers, special purpose vehicles and buses designed to carry 13 or more seated persons.
• medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg.

May tow

• any farm implement or any trailer, provided the overall mass is within the gross combination mass (GCM) of the towing vehicle

May not drive 

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 8000 kg
• the combination of a vehicle and trailer where the laden mass of the combination exceeds the GCM of the towing vehicle
• motor bikes or motor trikes

Minimum age/driving experience

• must have held a class C Driver’s Licence for at least one year

Class: MR (old classes: LT, LB)

The holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class LR
• any motor vehicle with 2 axles and a GVM greater than 8000 kg eg 2 axle trucks, tippers and buses.
• 3 axle motor vehicles, but only where the GVM is 8000 kg or less
• any special purpose vehicle with two or more axles and an unladen mass not exceeding 15000 kg
• medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg

May tow

• any farm implement or any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9000 kg, provided it is within the GCM of the towing vehicle

May not drive

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 8000 kg
• the combination of a vehicle and trailer where the GVM of the trailer exceeds 9000 kg
• motor bikes or motor trikes

Minimum age/driving experience

• must have held a class C Driver’s Licence for at least one year

Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8000 kg GVM.

Class: HR (old classes: HT, HB

The holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class MR
• any motor vehicle with 3 or more axles  eg trucks and tippers.
• any special purpose vehicle
• medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg
• any bus (including articulated buses)

May tow

• any farm implement or any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9000 kg, provided it is within the GCM of the towing vehicle

May not drive

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 8000 kg
• the combination of a vehicle and trailer where the GVM of the trailer exceeds 9000 kg
• motor bikes or motor trikes

Minimum age/driving experience

• must have held a class C Driver’s Licence for at least two years
• or a class LR or MR Driver’s Licence for at least one year

Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8000 kg GVM.

Class: HC (old class: HA)

The holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class HR
• a prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer (whether or not any unladen convertor dolly is also attached)
• a rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a single trailer with a GVM greater than 9000 kg (whether or not any unladen convertor dolly is also attached)

May not drive

• B doubles
• Road Trains
• motor bikes or motor trikes

Minimum age/driving experience

• must have held a class MR or HR Driver’s Licence for at least one year

Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8 tonne GVM.

Class: HC (with condition X- restricted to 24000 kg GCM) (old class: LA)

Same as HC above, but the holder is only authorised to drive a combination of a prime mover and semi-trailer, and a combination of a rigid truck and trailer, provided the GCM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 24000 kg

Class: MC (old classes: DA, RT)

The holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class HC
• B doubles
• Road Trains

May not drive

• motor bikes or motor trikes

Minimum age/driving experience

• must have held a class HC or HR Driver’s Licence for at least one year

Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8 tonne GVM.

Class: R-DATE*(old class: BIKE-DATE)

The holder may drive

• any motor bike or motor trike the engine capacity up to 660ml with a power-to-weight ratio of 150kw/t
  *The holder of a Driver’s Licence endorsed R-DATE remains restricted to a motor bike or motor trike the engine capacity of which does not exceed 660ml with a power-to-weight ratio of 150kw/t until he or she is granted a licence endorsed R, despite the fact that the date included on the classification has passed.

May not drive

• motor vehicles covered by any other class.

Minimum age/driving experience

• 16 years 6 months

Class: R (old class: BIKE)

The holder may drive

• any motor bike or motor trike

May not drive

• motor vehicles covered by any other class (except R-Date)

Minimum age/driving experience

•  must have held a class R-Date Driver's Licence for at least one year.

NB: The holder of any class of Driver's Licence is authorised to ride a 'moped' (provided the moped is compliant with the Australian Design Rules and is registered and insured).

A 'moped' is defined as a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle (other than a power-assisted pedal cycle) that:

• Is propelled by an internal combustion engine with a capacity not exceeding 50 millilitres; or a motor other than an internal combustion engine; and
• Is capable of a speed not exceeding 50 kilometres per hour.
• The holder of a learner's permit cannot ride a 'moped' on the learner's permit, unless the permit is for class R-DATE or R.

If you hold a current licence and have complied with the minimum driving experience for the being sought, you may drive a motor vehicle of that class without a learner’s permit under the following conditions.

Drivers 

• must not drive while there is any alcohol present in their blood or the presence of THC (Cannabis) or Methylamphetamine (Speed) in their blood or oral fluid.
• must carry their current licence while driving
• must display ‘L’ plates to the front and rear of the vehicle they are driving
• must be accompanied by a passenger who holds a Driver’s Licence (not being a provisional licence) for that class of vehicle
• must not exceed any speed limit by more than 10 km/h. (Exceeding any speed limit is an offence under the Road Traffic Act)
• must not exceed 80 km/h (or 100 km/h if accompanied by a Motor Driving Instructor in a clearly marked driving school vehicle fitted with dual service brake controls) in areas where the speed is permitted.

Heavy vehicle classes (exemptions only)
Under special circumstances the Registrar of Motor Vehicles may grant an exemption to an applicant from the minimum experience requirements for a specific licence class. Applicants who are exempted by the Registrar must produce evidence of the exemption to a to obtain a learner’s permit for the licence class.
All applicants for the class HC Training-In-Lieu of Experience (TILE) course must obtain a learner’s permit before in-vehicle training can commence.

Practical tests for licensing
For all classes of licences, except class MC, you may choose to undertake either a Vehicle-On-Road-Test (VORT) or a Competency Based Training (CBT) course.
For the class MC licence, you must successfully complete the South Australian CBT course (in a B-double vehicle) that is based on the Austroads class MC curriculum. This course is delivered through approved heavy vehicle training organisations (see Driving Schools in the

Details on heavy vehicle specifications for practical test requirements and practical test content may be obtained from the pamphlet Heavy Vehicle Driving Tests - Minimum Vehicle Specifications and Practical Test Content.

Copies are available from any or from most heavy vehicle Driving Instructors.

On passing the VORT or CBT course, the Authorised or Accredited Instructor will issue a Certificate of Competency, which must be presented to a together with a current licence and completed Driver’s Licence Replacement application.

The licence will be endorsed with the new class on payment of the administration. Learner’s conditions still apply until the licence is endorsed with the upgraded class.

NOTE: While driving vehicles over 8000 kg GVM, drivers must carry their licence with them at all times.

Danny’s Ezy Learn now has a HR Automatic, this will allow you to drive any HR Automatic and any MR Manual or Automatic truck.

A HR Automatic is ideal for anyone wanting to drive dump trucks......loaders.......dozers...........graders............cranes.......... automatic buses.......... or any other heavy machinery.

At most mines now, all their heavy machinery is automatic and this licence will cover their requirements.

If you have any enquires please ring Danny on........... home 08 8642 6099 or mobile 0417 826 247 fax 08 8642 2430