Which Trucks Can You Drive With a Car Licence in Australia?

Are you in Australia and need to rent a truck for moving house, transporting goods, or tackling a big project? If you only hold a standard car driver’s licence, you might be wondering if you’re even allowed to drive a truck—and if so, what your options are. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need a heavy vehicle licence to rent and drive certain types of trucks. Many truck rental companies offer smaller trucks and vehicles that fall within the legal weight and size limits for Australian car licence holders.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the truck rental options available to Australian drivers with a car licence. Whether you’re moving across town or need to haul equipment for work, we’ll guide you through the vehicles you can legally drive and introduce you to some of the top rental companies in Australia. Let’s dive in and find the perfect truck for your needs!

Licence Classes in Australia

Before diving into the trucks you can drive with a car licence, it’s important to understand which licence you hold, and how this determines what vehicles you’re allowed to drive or operate in Australia. Here’s a breakdown of the key licence categories.

1. Car Licences (Class C)

This is the standard driver’s licence most people hold in Australia. With a Class C licence, you can drive:

• Vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). This includes, for example, our fleet of 3-tonne, fully-automatic pantech trucks.
• Vehicles that seat up to 12 passengers, including the driver.
• Common vehicles like cars, SUVs, utes, and small vans.

If you have an Australian car licence, you’re allowed to drive smaller trucks and vehicles within the 4.5-tonne GVM limit. Fortunately, many rental companies offer trucks that fit this category, making them accessible to car licence holders. Our automatic 3-tonne trucks, for example, can be driven with an Australian standard car licence, and are delivered to your home or business for extra convenience.

Delivered to your Door!  We Drop Off – You Move – We Pick Up

The main difference between a car licence and the heavy vehicle licences introduced below is the weight and size of the vehicles you’re allowed to drive. With a car licence, you’re restricted to lighter vehicles (up to 4.5 tonnes GVM), while heavy vehicle licences allow you to operate larger and more complex vehicles.

Explainer: What Is Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)?

When renting or driving a truck, understanding Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is crucial, especially if you only hold a car licence. GVM is a key factor in determining whether you’re legally allowed to drive a particular vehicle. Here’s everything you need to know:

Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) refers to the maximum loaded weight of a rigid vehicle as specified by the manufacturer. This includes the vehicle itself, all passengers, fuel, and any cargo being carried. Essentially, it’s the total weight the vehicle can safely handle while driving on the road.

Why Does GVM Matter?

GVM is important for several reasons:

1. Legal Compliance: In Australia, your driver’s licence class determines the maximum GVM of the vehicle you’re allowed to drive. For example, a standard car licence (Class C) limits you to vehicles with a GVM of up to 4.5 tonnes.
2. Safety: Exceeding the GVM can compromise the vehicle’s handling, braking, and overall safety, increasing the risk of accidents.
3. Vehicle Integrity: Overloading a vehicle can cause damage to its components, such as axles, springs, and tyres, leading to costly repairs or breakdowns.

In summary, GVM is a critical factor when renting or driving a truck, especially for car licence holders. Always ensure the vehicle’s GVM is within your licence class limits and never exceed the manufacturer’s specified weight. This will keep you safe, legal, and stress-free on the road!

For most people renting trucks for personal use, an Australian car licence is sufficient. A 3-tonne truck can easily fit the contents of an average 3-bedroom unit and you are unlikely to ever exceed its GVM. However, if you need to drive a larger truck in Australia, you’ll need to upgrade to the appropriate heavy vehicle licence. These licence classes are defined by each state, so always with your state’s government website for the exact licence classes and types. For more details, visit our blog posts on trucks you can drive on a standard licence in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

2. Heavy Vehicle Licences

For larger trucks and commercial vehicles, you’ll need a heavy vehicle licence in Australia. These licences are divided into several classes, each allowing you to drive progressively larger and heavier vehicles:

Light Rigid (LR) Licence

With an LR licence, you are allowed to drive vehicles with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes but up to 8 tonnes GVM at the maximum, as well as vehicles with more than 12 seats, including the driver.

Examples of vehicles operated with an LR licence are small buses and medium-sized trucks.

Medium Rigid (MR) Licence

With an MR licence, you are allowed to drive vehicles with 2 axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes.

Examples of vehicles are larger delivery trucks and some rigid-body trucks.

Heavy Rigid (HR) Licence

An HR licence allows you to drive vehicles, such as a bus or truck with 3 or more axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes. Examples of vehicles are large rigid trucks and some buses.

Heavy Combination (HC) Licence

An HC licence allows you to drive heavy combination vehicles, such as prime movers with a semi-trailer. Examples of vehicles are semi-trailers and articulated vehicles with three or more axles.

Multi-Combination (MC) Licence

The MC licence is the highest class of heavy vehicle licences and allows drivers to drive the largest vehicles on the road, such as multi-combination vehicles, road trains, B-doubles and prime mover, low loader dolly and low loader trailer combinations.

Trucks You Can Drive On An Australian Car Licence

If you’re in Australia and only hold a car licence (Class C), you are allowed to drive a truck. However, as explained above, there are certain limits. First and foremost, the key is to stick to vehicles that fall within the 4.5-tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) limit. This is the maximum weight allowed for car licence holders.

Among these options, the 3-tonne truck stands out as the ideal choice for most drivers for four reasons:

• Eligibility: With a GVM of 3 tonnes, these trucks are well within the 4.5-tonne limit but still give you 20 cubic meters of storage space. This makes them fully compliant for car licence holders, without sacrificing space.
• Ease of Use: Designed for simplicity, 3-tonne trucks are easy to manoeuvre, even for first-time truck drivers. They handle similarly to larger vans, making them a comfortable transition for those used to driving cars.
• Versatility: These trucks are perfect for a wide range of tasks, from moving house to transporting furniture, appliances, or work equipment.
• Availability: Most major rental companies, such as Mobile Truck Rental, offer 3-tonne trucks, ensuring you can easily find one near you or better yet, have it delivered right to your door.

While the 3-tonne truck is the most popular choice, there are other smaller trucks and vans available for rent that also fall within the 4.5-tonne GVM limit. These include:

• 2-tonne trucks: Smaller and more compact, ideal for lighter loads.
• 4.5-tonne trucks: The largest option for car licence holders, suitable for heavier loads but may require more confidence to drive.
• Read our full guide on Truck Rental Sizes here to learn more about your options.

In summary, if you’re on a car licence in Australia and need to rent a truck, the 3-tonne truck is your best bet. It’s easy to drive, readily available, and perfectly suited for a variety of tasks.

Top Australian Rental Companies for 3-Tonne Trucks

When it comes to choosing the right truck for your move, Mobile Truck Rental has taken the guesswork out of the equation. We’ve carefully curated our fleet to offer you the perfect solution: our versatile 3-tonne Pantech trucks. Let’s dive into why these trucks have become the go-to choice for movers across Australia’s East Coast.

Our 3-tonne Pantech trucks offer an impressive 20 cubic meters of storage space – and that’s exactly as spacious as it sounds. You could fit the entire contents of a three-bedroom apartment or townhouse in one trip. We’ve found this size hits the sweet spot for most moves, whether you’re relocating your home or transporting business equipment.

You won’t need a special licence to drive them – a standard car licence is all you need. We’ve specifically chosen these vehicles because they offer professional-grade moving capacity without feeling overwhelming to drive.

Let’s talk about the practical details. While our trucks are designed for ease of use, there are some important requirements to keep in mind. Drivers need to be at least 21 years old (with a small daily surcharge for those between 21-24), and you’ll need a current open driver’s licence – sorry, no P or L plates. The trucks run on diesel fuel only, which helps provide the efficient power needed for moving heavy loads.

You might wonder why we focus on a single truck size instead of offering multiple options. The answer is simple: expertise and reliability. By specialising in these 3-tonne Pantechs, we’ve become experts in maximising their potential. We know exactly how to help you make the most of the space, how to load efficiently, and how to ensure your move goes smoothly. This focused approach means we can maintain the highest standards across our entire fleet.

Our trucks have moved everything from family homes to office equipment, from delicate antiques to robust business inventory. They’ve proven themselves time and again as the perfect solution for moves big and small. The combination of space, features, and drivability makes them ideal for both first-time movers and experienced transporters alike.

If you’re looking to rent a 3-tonne truck in Australia, contact us today for a free quote!