In order to understand which truck models you can drive with a car licence, we should first go through the different licence classes in Australia. Licences vary according to the class of vehicle in question. There are six main vehicle classes which are: C-car cars then LR light rigid, MR medium rigid, HR heavy rigid vehicles, HC heavy combination and MC multi-combination vehicles.
Vehicle licence classes explained
C-Car licence: This type of licence allows you to drive a typical car, i.e. one that has a Gross Vehicle Mass or GVM of 4.5 tonnes or less. You can also drive vehicles that have a sitting capacity of up to 12 adults (including the driver) such as a minibus.
If you want to know more about the vehicle types and models you can drive with a car licence jump to the section: Vehicles you can drive with your car licence.
LR-Light Rigid licence: This type of licence allows you to drive a 12-adult capacity rigid vehicles with a GVM above 4.5 tonnes but not exceeding 8 tonnes. This licence doesn’t come with vehicle axle restrictions. The 3 tonne flatbeds and a 14 seater minibus are two examples of vehicles that you can hire with us but require a driver who holds a LR licence.
MR- Medium Rigid licence: This type of licence allows you to drive 2-axle vehicles with a GVM exceeding 8 tonnes. Towed trailers must weigh 9 tonnes or less. The 7.5 tonne pantech with tail lift and the 6 tonne tautliner with tuck-away tail lift are two examples of vehicles that you can hire with us but require a driver who holds a MR licence.
HR-Heavy Rigid licence: This licence covers rigid vehicles with a GVM exceeding 8 tonnes and three or more axles, i.e. articulated vehicles. Towed trailers must weigh 9 tonnes or less. The 12 tonne tautliner truck is an example of truck that you can hire with us but requires a driver who holds a HR licence. HC-Heavy Combination licence: A HC licence covers articulated vehicles with 3 or more axles. Towed trailers can weigh over 9 tonnes. The Single rated prime mover is an example of truck that you can hire with us but requires a driver who holds a HC licence.
MC- Multi Combination licence: A MC licence covers multi-combination vehicles like B-doubles and road trains. You can drive all vehicles covered under a HC licence if you have a multi combination licence. The B double prime mover is an example of truck that you can hire with us but requires a driver who holds a MC licence.
Vehicles you can drive with your car licence
If you have a C-Car licence, you can rent and drive a variety of trucks and vehicles for one-off jobs like moving household goods, transporting cargo, etc. Given that a C-Car licence covers vehicles weighing up to 4.5 tonnes with a carrying capacity of 12, there are many vans and small trucks you can rent with your car licence. They include but aren’t limited to; You can drive any vans, utes and dual cab utes such as the below Mitsubishi Triton Dual Cab Ute,
This Mitsubishi 1 Tonne ute,
Or even this Toyota Hiace van.
Moving on to larger types of vehicles, your C car licence allows you to drive some flatbed trucks such as the 2 tonne flatbed. However for any bigger flatbeds you will need someone who holds a LR licence to drive the vehicle.
You can drive mini buses and mini vans such as the 12 seat bus. However, if you need a vehicle that can carry more than 12 passengers, then you will need a LR- Light rigid licence.
Your car licence also allows you to drive this 3 tonne moving truck but for anything bigger such as our 8 tonne moving truck you will need a driver who holds a MR licence.
Finally, you can drive a 2 tonne tipper truck such as the Fuso Canter tipper truck.
Note that your C car licence strictly doesn’t allow you to drive any of our prime movers, tautliners or curtainsiders but you can hire a truck driver with us!
