On 1 November 1998 South Australia adopted the nationally agreed common licence classes and condition codes developed by the National Road Transport Commission. Licence classes and condition codes now mean the same in all States and Territories of Australia.

More information and definitions are available at national common licence classes & condition codes.

The number of licence classes has been reduced from 12 to 8

Class: C (previous class: Car) the holder may drive

• any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) not exceeding 4500 kg (but not including buses designed to carry more than 12 seated persons, motor bikes and motor trikes)
  eg sedans, station wagons, panel vans, utilities, light delivery vans, small trucks, special purpose vehicles (eg. farm machines, small tractors, forklifts or other like machinery)
  
• small articulated vehicles provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 4500 kg.
  eg small truck towing a horse float, trailer or caravan.

• trailer, horse float, caravan or farm implement
  

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 4500 kg
  
• buses designed to carry more than 12 seated persons
  
• motor bikes or motor trikes
  

• 16 years 6 months

Class: LR (previous class: SB) the holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class C
  
• any motor vehicle with a GVM exceeding 4500 kg but not exceeding 8000 kg.
  
• eg trucks, vans, tippers, special purpose vehicles and buses designed to carry 13 or more seated persons.
  
• medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg.

• any farm implement or any trailer, provided the overall mass is within the gross combination mass (GCM) of the towing vehicle

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 8000 kg
  
• the combination of a vehicle and trailer where the laden mass of the combination exceeds the GCM of the towing vehicle
  
• motor bikes or motor trikes

• must have held a class C Driver’s Licence for at least one year

Class: MR (previous classes: LT, LB) the holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class LR
  
• any motor vehicle with 2 axles and a GVM greater than 8000 kg
  eg 2 axle trucks, tippers and buses.
  
• 3 axle motor vehicles, but only where the GVM is 8000 kg or less
  
• any special purpose vehicle with two or more axles and an unladen mass not exceeding 15000 kg
  
• medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg

• any farm implement or any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9000 kg, provided it is within the GCM of the towing vehicle

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 8000 kg
  
• the combination of a vehicle and trailer where the GVM of the trailer exceeds 9000 kg
  
• motor bikes or motor trikes

• must have held a class C Driver’s Licence for at least one year
  
Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8000 kg GVM.

Class: HR (previous classes: HT, HB) the holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class MR
  
• any motor vehicle with 3 or more axles
  eg trucks and tippers.
  
• any special purpose vehicle
  
• medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg
  
• any bus (including articulated buses)

• any farm implement or any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9000 kg, provided it is within the GCM of the towing vehicle

• an articulated motor vehicle where the GVM of the towing vehicle exceeds 8000 kg
  
• the combination of a vehicle and trailer where the GVM of the trailer exceeds 9000 kg
  
• motor bikes or motor trikes

• must have held a class C Driver’s Licence for at least two years
  
• or a class LR or MR Driver’s Licence for at least one year
  Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8000 kg GVM.

Class: HC (previous class: HA) the holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class HR
  
• a prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer (whether or not any unladen convertor dolly is also attached)
  
• a rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a single trailer with a GVM greater than 9000 kg (whether or not any unladen convertor dolly is also attached)

• B doubles
  
• Road Trains
  
motor bikes or motor trikes

• must have held a class MR or HR Driver’s Licence for at least one year
  
Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8 tonne GVM.

Class: HC (with condition X- restricted to 24000 kg GCM) (previous class: LA)
Same as HC above, but the holder is only authorised to drive a combination of a prime mover and semi-trailer, and a combination of a rigid truck and trailer, provided the GCM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 24000 kg

Class: MC (previous classes: DA, RT) the holder may drive

• any motor vehicle covered by class HC
  
• B doubles
  
• Road Trains

• motor bikes or motor trikes

• must have held a class HC or HR Driver’s Licence for at least one year
  
Driver’s Licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 8 tonne GVM.

Class: R-DATE*(previous class: BIKE-DATE) the holder may drive any motor bike or motor trike the engine capacity up to 660ml with a power-to-weight ratio of 150kw/t

*The holder of a Driver’s Licence endorsed R-DATE remains restricted to a motor bike or motor trike the engine capacity of which does not exceed 660ml with a power-to-weight ratio of 150kw/t until he or she is granted a licence endorsed R, despite the fact that the date included on the classification has passed.

may not drive

• motor vehicles covered by any other class.

• 16 years 6 months

Class: R (previous class: BIKE) the holder may drive

• any motor bike or motor trike

• motor vehicles covered by any other class (except R-Date)

Minimum age/driving experience

• must have held a class R-Date Driver's Licence for at least one year.
  

NB: The holder of any class of Driver's Licence is authorised to ride a 'moped' (provided the moped is compliant with the Australian Design Rules and is registered and insured). A 'moped' is defined as a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle (other than a power-assisted pedal cycle) that:

• Is propelled by an internal combustion engine with a capacity not exceeding 50 millilitres; or a motor other than an internal combustion engine; and
• Is capable of a speed not exceeding 50 kilometres per hour.

The holder of a learner's permit cannot ride a 'moped' on the learner's permit, unless the permit is for class R-DATE or R.