Driver's licence classes and condition codes are uniform across all states and territories of Australia.
There are eight driver's licence classifications:
- C Car
- LR Light Rigid
- MR Medium Rigid
- HR Heavy Rigid
- HC Heavy Combination
- MC Multi Combination
- R-DATE Motorcycle or trike with an engine capacity up to 660 ml and a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 150 kw/tonne
- R Motorcycle.
A U Ultra High Powered Vehicle licence class is due to be introduced in South Australia in December 2024. Find out more about a U class licence.
The driver's licence classifications below provide a full description of the classes, age and driving experience requirements.
C class
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
A motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) not greater than 4.5 tonne but not including:
- a bus designed to carry more than 12 seated persons
- a motor bike or motor trike.
Examples of vehicles which may be driven:
- sedans
- station wagons
- panel vans
- utilities
- light delivery vans
- small trucks
- quad bikes
- special purpose vehicles - eg farm machines, small tractors and forklifts. If you intend to operate a forklift you will require a high risk work licence- visit Safework SA for information on forklift operation.
- a motor vehicle towing a single trailer, subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Road Traffic Act 1961 - eg towing a horse float, trailer, caravan or farm implement.
Minimum driving experience
Must be at least 17 years old:
- if you are under the age of 25 you must have held your learner's permit for at least 12 months
- if you are 25 or over you must have held your learner's permit for at least six months.
LR class
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
- A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of the preceding class.
- A motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 4.5 tonne but not greater than 8 tonne - eg trucks, vans, tippers, special purpose vehicles, and buses designed to carry 13 or more seated persons.
- A bus with a GVM not greater than 8 tonne.
- A motor vehicle included above towing a single trailer, subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Road Traffic Act 1961 or the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia).
May tow:
- any farm implement
- any trailer provided the overall mass is within the gross combination mass (GCM) of the towing vehicle.
Driver’s licence card or digital licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 4.5 tonne GVM.
Minimum driving experience
Must have held a class C for at least one year.
MR Class
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
- A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of a preceding class.
- A motor vehicle (other than a special purpose vehicle) with 2 axles and a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 8 tonne.
- A motor vehicle included above towing a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) with a GVM not greater than 9 tonne, subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia).
- A special purpose vehicle with 2 axles and a GVM greater than 8 tonne, or 3 or more axles and a GVM not greater than 15 tonne.
May tow:
- any farm implement
- any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9 tonne provided it is within the gross combination mass (GCM) of the towing vehicle.
Driver’s licence card or digital licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 4.5 tonne GVM.
Minimum driving experience
Must have held a class C for at least one year.
HR class
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
- A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of a preceding class.
- A motor vehicle (other than an articulated motor vehicle or a special purpose vehicle) with three or more axles and a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 8 tonne.
- A motor vehicle included above towing a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) with a GVM not greater than 9 tonne, subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia).
- An articulated bus with three or more axles and a GVM greater than 8 tonne.
- A special purpose vehicle with three or more axles and a GVM greater than 15 tonne.
May tow:
- any farm implement
- any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9 tonne provided it is within the gross combination mass (GCM) of the towing vehicle.
Driver’s licence card or digital licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 4.5 tonne GVM.
Minimum driving experience
Must have held a class C for at least two years or a class LR or MR for at least one year.
HC class
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
- A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of a preceding class.
- A prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer (whether or not any unladen converter dolly or low loader dolly is also attached).
- A rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a single trailer with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 9 tonne (whether or not any unladen converter dolly or low loader dolly is also attached).
Driver's licence card or digital licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 4.5 tonne GVM.
Minimum driving experience
Must have held a class MR or HR for at least one year.
MC class
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
- Any motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles except a motor bike or motor trike (Includes B doubles and road trains).
Driver's licence card or digital licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass (GVM).
Minimum driving experience
Must have held a class HR or HC for at least one year.
R-DATE
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
A motor bike or motor trike that:
- has an engine capacity not exceeding 660 mL and a power to weight ratio not exceeding 150 kW per tonne
- is of a kind approved by the Registrar by notice in the Government Gazette.
(An * (asterisk) means the expiry date of the learner's permit or the date falling one year after class R-Date was endorsed on the licence. It indicates the date on which the holder may apply for a class R licence.)
Minimum driving experience
- Must be at least 19 years of age.
- Must have held a motorcycle learner's permit for at least 12 months.
R
Motor vehicles authorised to be driven
Any motor bike or motor trike.
Minimum driving experience
Must have held a class R-DATE for at least 2 years.
Driving a bus
There are no specific licence classes to drive a bus. The authority to drive a bus is included in the three rigid vehicle licence classes LR, MR and HR. Holders of a licence class MC or HC are also authorised to drive buses.
The size of bus that you are authorised to drive is limited by the licence class appearing on your driver's licence.
Driving a bus for hire, fare or reward
You must be accredited to drive a bus for hire, fare or reward. For more information see Driving a bus or passenger vehicle.
Heavy vehicle transmission conditions
If you hold a HR or HC licence with an auto restriction and your MC Certificate of Competency also specifies auto, then the MC licence is issued with an auto restriction.
If your MC Certificate of Competency specifies auto but your HR or HC licence has no restrictions, your MC licence will have no restrictions.
Need help?
Contact Service SA
Online
Only send general enquiries online. Service SA will respond within 3 working days.
If the matter is urgent or is specifically about your current licence or registration, phone or visit a Service SA centre instead.
Phone
Call Service SA between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays:
- 13 10 84
- +61 8 8226 0206 (overseas callers).
In person
Service SA centre locations and opening hours.
