What are the Different NSW Driver Licence Classes
Are you curious about the various driver licence classes available in New South Wales (NSW)? Whether you’re a learner or a fully-licensed driver, it’s important to understand the different classes and what they allow you to drive.
In this blog, we’ll break down the different licence classes for cars, motorcycles, and heavy vehicles, providing you with a clear understanding of each one. Let’s dive in and explore the basics of each licence class in NSW.
Different NSW Driver Licence Classes
What is a Licence Class?
A licence class is a specific category of a driving licence that indicates the type of vehicle you are authorised to operate. The class you need depends on the vehicle type.
NSW Learner & Provisional Licence
The NSW system uses a three-tiered, progression-based licensing system consisting of the three following licences.
- Learner licence – To obtain this class of licence in NSW, you must be 16 years old. You will also have to verify your identity, pass an eyesight test and take the DKT (Driver Knowledge Test), paying for any licensing and test fees.
- Your learner licence is valid for up to 5 years. You can only drive under the supervision of a fully licensed driver. After you have held your licence for 10 months, you can take the HPT (Hazard Perception Test). Once you’ve driven for 120 hours (including 20 hours night driving) you can take a driving test to apply for your provisional P1 licence.
- Provisional P1 licence – Once you have completed 120 hours of driving practice, the HPT and the driving test, you can apply for a P1 licence. This licence is valid for 18 months.
You can drive alone, but there are restrictions on your driving hours and other such things. Once you’ve had your P1 licence for 12 months or longer, you can progress to a P2 licence. - Provisional P2 licence – After holding your P1 licence for 12 months, you can get a provisional P2 licence. Once you’ve held this licence for 24 months, you can apply for a full driver licence. Note that at this time, you can also upgrade to the LR, MR, or HR heavy vehicle licence.
NSW Full Licence
There are numerous licence classes issued by Roads and Maritime Services for fully licenced drivers in NSW, each of which allow you to handle different classes of vehicle. Additional competency based assessment tests are required for each class of licence.
- C licence – A C (car) licence is the most common. You can drive cars up to 4.5 tonnes in Gross Vehicle Mass, which seat up 12 adults including the driver. These car licences let you drive vans, utes, cars, and some light trucks as well as some implements like graders and tractors.
- R licence – An R (rider) licence lets you drive vehicles like motorcycles and motorised scooters.
- LR licence – LR (light rigid) lets you drive vehicles of a GVM of between 4.5-8 tonnes. Towed trailers cannot weigh more than 9 tonnes. You may also drive vehicles that hold more than 12 adults including the driver.
- MR licence – MR (medium rigid) licences let you drive rigid vehicles with 2 axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes. You cannot tow trailers of more than 9 tonnes.
- HR licence – HR (heavy rigid) licences let you drive vehicles with 3 or more axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes. You cannot tow trailers exceeding 9 tonnes. This category includes articulated buses.
- HC licence – HC (heavy combination) licences let you drive articulated vehicles with more than 3 axles. You can tow trailer combinations exceeding more than 9 tonnes.
- MC licence – MC (Multi combination) licences let you drive any vehicle such as a b-double truck and road train.
Know Which Licence Is Right For You
Most drivers only get a C licence, but depending on the vehicles you want to drive, any of the above licence categories may be right for you. So take the time to understand each one, and choose the licence that’s right for your needs.
Become A Safer Driver
If you want to improve your driving skills with a refresher course or become a safer driver, then book driving lessons with Sydney’s premier driving school, LTrent. We also offer the Safer Drivers Course, which not only will help you hone in your driving skills, but the course amounts to 20 bonus hours for your logbook if you are a learner driver. To get started book driving lessons online, or give us a call on 02 8748 4500.