Can You Drive a Truck on a Car Licence in South Australia?

If you are living in South Australia and are the holder of a standard C licence, you are allowed to drive a small truck. There are some rules regarding the type of truck and its weight (or Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) – more on that later). Generally speaking, however, small trucks, panel vans, or light delivery vans are all vehicles that your standard licence entitles you to drive. This is ideal for all those who would like to rent a truck for transporting goods, moving house or tackling a big project. Even better: Many truck rental companies offer smaller trucks and vehicles that fall within the legal weight and size limits for car licence holders in South Australia (SA)!

In this blog post, we’ll explore the truck rental options available to South 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 your area. Let’s dive in and find the perfect truck for your needs!

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Licence Classes in South Australia

Let’s do a quick review of the licence classes in South Australia. In South Australia, there are 9 different licence classes. However, if you passed your standard car licence test in SA, you only hold one of these licence classes: the Car Licence or C licence. Let’s explore this licence first, before speaking about more specialised licenses.

1. Car Licences (Class C)

This is the standard driver’s licence most South Australians hold. As a C Class licence holder, 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. You’re not allowed to drive anything designed to carry more than 12 passengers.
  • Common vehicles like sedans, station wagons, panel vans, utilities, light delivery vans or small moving trucks.
Truck Rental Options with a car licence in South Australia

In summary, if you have an SA 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 a South Australian C-licence, and are delivered to your home, business or job site for extra convenience!

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

  • Drive On A Car Licence
  • Automatic
  • 20m³ Pantech Body (4.2m long x 2.1m wide x 2.1m high)
  • Fits an average 3 Bedroom Unit
  • Latest Model Trucks
  • 750kg Rear Tailgate Lifter
  • Seats 3 Adults
  • Economical Diesel Engines
  • Air Con / CD / MP3 Player 
  • Free Trolley & Rope
  • Free Isuzu Roadside Assist (1800 947 898)

As mentioned earlier, other licence types in South Australia let you drive larger vehicles. Overall, there are 9 licence classes in South Australia. But for most of us, especially those who are planning a DIY move or just need something larger than a typical delivery van, a standard C licence is good enough. With it, you are allowed to drive a small truck, ideal for moving or transporting larger items.

The main differences between a car licence and the heavy vehicle licences introduced below are 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. If you’d like to delve even deeper into Gross Vehicle Mass beyond our explainer right below, read our blog post on truck sizes here.

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 South 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, a 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 South Australia, you’ll need to upgrade to the appropriate heavy vehicle licence.

2. Heavy Vehicle Licences

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

Light Rigid (LR) Licence

In South Australia, an LR (Light Rigid) licence allows drivers to operate vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) between 4.5 and 8 tonnes, including trucks, vans, tippers, special purpose vehicles, and buses designed to carry 13 or more passengers, as well as buses under 8 tonnes GVM.

LR licence holders may also tow a single trailer within prescribed mass limits, including farm implements, provided the combined mass doesn’t exceed the vehicle’s gross combination mass (GCM).

Applicants must have held a Class C (car) licence for at least one year before upgrading to an LR licence, and drivers must carry their physical or digital licence when operating vehicles over 4.5 tonnes GVM. This licence class maintains the authorization to drive all vehicle types permitted by lower-grade licences.

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 in South Australia. You can also drive a special-purpose vehicle with 2 axles and a GVM greater than 8 tonnes, or 3 or more axles and a GVM not greater than 15 tonnes. As with the LR licence, you must have held a class C licence for at least one year to be eligible for an MR licence.

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 more than 2 axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes. Examples of vehicles are large, rigid trucks and some buses.

The requirements to get an HR licence are stricter than those for LR or MR licences: you must have held a class C for at least 2 years or a class LR or MR for at least one year to be eligible for an HR licence.

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. To apply for an HC licence, drivers must have held a class MR or HR for at least one year.

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. To apply for an MC licence, drivers must have held a class HR or HC for at least one year.

Trucks You Can Drive On A SA Car Licence

If you are an South Australian car licence holder (Class C), you are allowed to drive a truck. However, as explained above, there are limits you need to pay attention to. 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.

Mobile Truck Rental - 3-Tonne Pantech Truck

So, what are your options? In all likelihood, you’re looking to rent rather than buy a truck. Our recommendation is to go for a 3-tonne Pantech truck. Here are four reasons why this is a popular choice for South Australian drivers:

  • 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 and you get plenty of cargo space to pack all your belongings. Visit our truck info page to learn more about the dimensions of the cargo 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:

In summary, if you’re on a car licence in South 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 South Australian Rental Companies for 3-Tonne Trucks

Renting a truck can seem like a difficult and time-consuming experience. Most of us only rent a truck once or twice in our lives, so understanding the rental process can seem daunting. At Mobile Truck Rental, we simplify this process for you.

First, our fleet consists of standard 3-tonne Pantech trucks and all come with 24/7 roadside assistance for extra peace of mind.

Second, we deliver the truck to you and pick it up from you again. We even support one-way truck hire, meaning you can have a truck delivered to your old address, and we pick up from your new address. For example, you can move from Adelaide to Melbourne with one of our trucks and never visit a rental site. As long as you provide us with the necessary details, we will take care of the logistics!

Third, when we hand over the truck to you, our friendly staff will introduce the vehicle and its controls to you. You can take as much time as you need: we make sure you are comfortable driving our vehicle during the handover process.

Last, 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 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.

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 South Australia (or even for an interstate move), contact us today for a free quote!