Vehicle classes

Find out about the different vehicle classes and their eligibility requirements. Suspended or expired licence periods are not included when calculating your driving/riding experience.

About the vehicle classes

The sections below show the different vehicles classes that you can be licensed to drive or ride.

Each section has information about the types of vehicles in that class, and eligibility and experience requirements for a licence.

Note: Any time your licence is suspended or expired cannot be included when calculating the eligibility and experience periods.

Moped (R-N class) (R class with an N condition)

A moped is a motorcycle that;

• Is designed so as not to be capable of a speed exceeding 50 km/h; and
• Either:
  • has an engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc; or
  • is not powered by a piston engine.

  

  To hold this class	To take driving/riding lessons	Licence authorisation
  Minimum age 16 years	Minimum age 15 years 6 months	If you are authorised to drive an R-N class vehicle you may ride any moped

  Note: If you are authorised to drive Car (C class) (Unrestricted) vehicles you may drive any: Moped (R-N class).

  What is the difference between a moped and a scooter?

  Mopeds and scooters are very similar in appearance but have a few fundamental differences. Scooters are motorcycles that have a step-through style frame. They generally have smaller wheels than a motorcycle and an engine positioned closer to the rear wheel.

  When the engine capacity or top speed exceeds the specifications for a moped (i.e. above 50 kph or above 50 cc), the motorcycle is often referred to as a scooter and the appropriate licence class is required in order to ride it.

  Motorcycle and trike motorcycle (R-E class) LAMS approved

  A Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) approved motorcycle:

  • has a power-to-weight ratio up to 150 kilowatts per tonne (kW/t); and a maximum engine capacity up to 660cc or is powered by an electric powered engine with a power output up to 25kW
  • does not include a moped

  

  Trike Motorcycle (R-E class) LAMS approved

  Trikes are defined as 'a motor vehicle with three wheels, but do not include a two wheeled motor vehicle with a sidecar attached to it that is supported by a third wheel'.

  A person who completes a Practical Driving Assessment on a trike does not demonstrate sufficient balance skills for the Director General to be satisfied that they can safely ride two wheeled motorcycles.

  Accordingly, the R-E or R class granted to these applicants will be restricted with condition code 31 (restricted to ride motor trikes only).

  These applicants are subject to the same eligibility criteria as other motorcycle applicants (e.g. they must hold an R-E class for at least two years before applying for an R class).

  • Motorcycle (with or without a side car) that is listed as a LAMS approved motorcycle.
  • LAMS approved motor carrier.
  • A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of the preceding motorcycle class.

  Motorcycle (R class) licence

  A motorcycle with an engine capacity exceeding 660 cc or a power to weight ratio exceeding 150 kW/t.

  

  • Motorcycle with, or without, side car attachment.
  • Any motor carrier.
  • A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of the preceding motorcycle class.

  Note: Holders of an R-E class licence that was issued prior to 5 November 2018, may elect to sit a PDA to upgrade to an R class licence after having held the R-E licence for a minimum period of 12 months.

  Car (C class) licence

  A motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) not greater than 4,500 kg and constructed or equipped to seat no more than 12 adults (including the driver).

  

  • Motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor carrier, that has a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 4,500 kg or less.
  • Motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor carrier, equipped to seat not more than 12 adults (including the driver).
  • Moped (R-N class).

  Light Rigid (LR class) heavy vehicle

  A motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass over 4,500 kg to a maximum of 8,000 kg (no axle limit) or which carries more than 12 passengers (including the driver) to a maximum of 8,000 kg.

  

  • Motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor carrier, with a GVM exceeding 4,500 kg but not exceeding 8,000 kg.
  • Motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor carrier, not exceeding 4,500 kg that is equipped to seat more than 12 adult (including the driver).
  • Car (C class) motor vehicle.
  • Moped (R-N class).
  More in this section:

  Medium Rigid (MR class) heavy vehicle

  A motor vehicle that has 2 axles and a gross vehicle mass greater than 8,000 kg.

  

  • Motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor carrier, that has 2 axles and a GVM exceeding 8,000 kg.
    Light Rigid (LR class) vehicle.
  • Car (C class) vehicle.
  • Moped (R-N class).
  • A Medium Rigid (MR class) motor vehicle may be used to tow one trailer (not a semi-trailer) that has a GVM not exceeding 9,000 kg, and no other trailer.

  Heavy Rigid (HR class) heavy vehicle

  A motor vehicle that has 3 or more axles and a gross vehicle mass greater than 8,000 kg.

  

  

  • Car (C class) licence for at least two (2) years that is no longer provisional; or
  • Light Rigid (LR class) licence for at least one (1) year; or
  • Medium Rigid (MR class) licence for at least one (1) year.
  • 12 months after attaining your car licence (C class); or
  • On attaining your LR (Light Rigid class) licence; or
  • On attaining your LR (Light Rigid class) or MR (Medium Rigid class) licence.
  • Motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor carrier, that has at least 3 axles and a GVM exceeding 8,000 kg.
  • MR (Medium Rigid class) vehicle.
  • LR (Light Rigid class) vehicle.
  • C (Car class) vehicle.
  • Moped.
  • A HR class motor vehicle may be used to tow one trailer (not a semi-trailer) that has a GVM not exceeding 9,000 kg, and no other trailer.

  Heavy Combination (HC class) heavy vehicle

  A prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer plus any unladen converter dolly, or rigid motor vehicle attached to a trailer that has a gross vehicle mass greater than 9,000 kg plus any unladen converter dolly.

  

  

  • Car (C class) licence for at least three years (3) that is no longer provisional, and
  • Medium Rigid (MR class) licence or Heavy Rigid (HR class) licence for at least one (1) year.
  • On attaining your Medium Rigid (MR class) licence, or
  • Heavy Rigid (HR class) licence.
  • Motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor carrier, that is attached to a semi-trailer or trailer that has a GVM exceeding 9,000 kg.
  • Heavy Rigid (HR class) vehicle.
  • Medium Rigid (MR class) vehicle.
  • Light Rigid (LR class) vehicle.
  • Car (C class) vehicle.
  • Moped (R-N class) vehicle.

  A HC class motor vehicle may be used to tow one, but no more than one, trailer in addition to the trailer or semi-trailer if the additional trailer has a GVM not exceeding 9,000 kg or is an unladen converter dolly or low loader dolly.

  Multi Combination (MC class) heavy vehicle

  Any heavy combination unit towing one or more trailers, each having a gross vehicle mass greater than 9,000 kg. Multi Combination vehicle driver assessments are conducted by private training organisations.

  

  

  • C (Car class) licence for at least three years (3) that is no longer provisional and
  • Heavy Rigid (HR class) licence or Heavy Combination (HC class) licence for at least one (1) year.
  • Heavy Combination unit towing one or more additional trailers with a GVM exceeding 9,000 kg.
  • Heavy Combination (HC class) vehicle.
  • Heavy Rigid (HR class) vehicle.
  • Medium Rigid (MR class) vehicle.
  • Light Rigid (LR class) vehicle.
  • Car (C class) vehicle.
  • Moped (R-N class) vehicle.

  Special tractor vehicle classes

  These vehicle classes are included within the National Driver Licensing Scheme classifications.

  If you have a driver’s licence for C class vehicles and you need to drive tractors that fall within the heavy vehicle classes, you can apply for a conditional authorisation to drive these types of tractors.

  If applying for conditional authorisation for a vehicle class above Heavy Rigid (HR) you must be at least 18 years old.

  There’s information on how to apply under our agricultural industry page.

  Special wheelchair licence

  The authorisation you require on your driver's licence to operate special wheelchairs class will be either a C or R class, depending on whether the wheelchair is licensed as a car or a motorcycle.

  If you are already authorised to drive C or ride R class vehicles with your driver's licence, you will not require any further authorisation to operate special wheelchairs.

  Agricultural vehicle driver's licence

  You do not need a driver’s licence to drive a tractor or agricultural vehicle on private property. You will need the appropriate driver’s licence if you need to drive the vehicle on a public road. You may also need a permit from Main Roads if the vehicle is oversize or over-mass.

  If the vehicle you want to drive on a public road has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) equal to or less than 4,500 kg, you must hold an appropriate C (car) class driver’s licence.

  If the vehicle you want to drive has a GVM over 4,500 kg, you must hold an appropriate heavy vehicle driver’s licence.

  Some towed agricultural implements do not need to be licensed, as they fall within the definition of a trailer. Drivers of vehicles (including tractors) towing these implements anywhere other than on private property, must hold the appropriate licence class.

  Heavy vehicle pilot licence

  To drive an escort vehicle on a public road, you will need a heavy vehicle pilot licence as well as holding the relevant WA driver's licence for the class of vehicle being driven. A heavy vehicle pilot licence is issued by Main Roads Western Australia and detailed information on how to apply is available on their website.