RIDER (R)
- Any motorcycle or motor trike.
- See the RTA website on special restrictions for learner and provisional P1 rider licence holders.
CAR (C)
- Any motor vehicle no more than 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), which carries up to 12 adults including the driver.
- Any implement or tractor or a car-based motor trike. (To find out if a vehicle qualifies as a car-based motor trike, contact the RTA)
- See the RTA website on special restrictions for provisional P1and P2 drivers.
LIGHT RIGID (LR)
- Any motor vehicle more than 4.5 tonnes GVM but no more than 8 tonnes GVM.
- Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes GVM.
- Also includes any vehicle with a GVM of no more than 8 tonnes which carries more than 12 adults including the driver.
- Also includes vehicles in Class C.
*To upgrade to this class you must have held a Class C licence (not a learner) for at least one year.
MEDIUM RIGID (MR)
- Any motor vehicle with two axles and more than 8 tonnes GVM.
- Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes GVM.
- Also includes vehicles in Class LR.
*To upgrade to this class you must have held a Class C licence (not a learner) for at least one year.
HEAVY RIGID (HR)
- Any rigid vehicle with three or more axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes.
- Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes GVM.
- Also includes articulated buses and vehicles in Class MR.
*To upgrade to this class you must have held a Class C, LR or MR licence (not a learner) for periods totalling at least two years.
HEAVY COMBINATION (HC)
- Any prime mover attached to a semi-trailer or a rigid vehicle towing a trailer with a GVM of more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly.
- Also includes vehicles in Class HR.
MULTI COMBINATION (MC)
- Any B-Double or road train.
- Also includes vehicles in Class HC.
*To upgrade to this class you must have held a Class HR or HC licence for at least one year. P2 licence holders cannot upgrade to this class.
*Provisional P1 Class C drivers cannot practise driving for a higher licence class or upgrade to a higher class.
Diagrams and text courtesy of the Roads and Traffic Authority May 06