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Getting a heavy vehicle licence

Follow these steps to upgrade your current driver’s licence to drive a heavy vehicle.

Step 1. Check the licence class table and the minimum driving experience requirements for the licence you need. There are five heavy vehicle classes:

light or medium rigid vehicles (LR and MR class licences)
heavy rigid or heavy combination (HR and HC class licences)
multi-combination (MC class licence)

Step 2. If you hold a current driver's licence and meet the minimum driving experience requirements for the desired licence class, you can drive a motor vehicle of that class without a learner's permit - but only under learner’s permit conditions and laws.

Step 3. If you don't meet the minimum driving experience requirements for the desired licence class, you may be able to obtain a learner’s permit for that class by:

applying for an exemption or restricted licence, or
passing a training-in-lieu-of-experience course.

Applying for an exemption or a restricted licence

You can apply for an exemption if you have special circumstances, such as employment in farming or transporting produce.

Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. An exemption or restricted licence is not available for an MC class licence. To apply for an exemption, phone 13 10 84 or visit a Service SA customer service centre.

To apply for a restricted HR licence, you must be at least 17 years and six months of age.

To apply for a restricted HC licence, you must be at least 18 years and six months of age.

You'll need to include the following information in your application:

your name, address, date of birth and current driver's licence number
the name and address of your employer, i.e. the farmer who operates the farming property and the location of the property
a signed statement from your employer confirming your employment
the nature of the agricultural or horticultural pursuits in which you will be engaged
details of the vehicles you will be required to drive. Please include the registration numbers and Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of all trucks, truck/trailer combinations and articulated motor vehicles.

Following approval of your application, a learner's permit may be issued.

To apply for an exemption, you'll need to provide all of the above information and post it to:

Licence Services Manager
Licence Services
Locked Bag 700
GPO Adelaide SA 5001

Training–in-lieu-of-experience courses

If you're applying for an HC class licence and have held a C class licence for at least two years, you can undertake an approved training-in-lieu-of-experience course. You must obtain a learner’s permit before in-vehicle training can begin.

For more information, phone 13 10 84 or visit a Service SA customer service centre.

For all classes of licences, except MC class, you can choose to pass either a practical driving test (a vehicle-on-road test or VORT) or a competency-based training course (CBT) with an authorised driving instructor.

To obtain an MC class licence, you will need to pass a CBT course in a B-double vehicle.

Vehicle-on-road-test (VORT)

Heavy vehicle specifications for practical driving tests are available in the pamphlet 'Heavy vehicle driving tests' available from a Service SA customer service centre.

Competency-based training course (CBT)

Information is available in the trainee guide that records the training tasks as they are completed throughout the course.

You can download trainee information for each vehicle class below:

light or medium rigid vehicles (LR and MR class licences)
heavy rigid and heavy combination (HR and HC class licences)
multi-combination (MC class licence).

Authorised driving instructors are listed under Driving Schools in the Yellow Pages.

When you pass the VORT or CBT course you will receive a certificate of competence that can be presented to obtain your heavy vehicle driver’s licence.

To apply for a licence, you will need to complete a driver's licence replacement application at a Service SA customer service centre. You will also need to take your certificate of competence and your current driver’s licence with you.

Your licence will be endorsed with the new licence class on payment of the fee. Learner’s conditions apply when driving a higher class of vehicle until the licence is upgraded.