Car or Truck license

lesk1946 · Member

Car or Truck license

Happywanderer · The Master

I know one of the ladies on here who drives a bus said she only needs a car license. Hope that helps.

Sheba · Guru

What size bus is it Marj. I think a Coaster is OK on a car licence, but for anything bigger, I think you need a bus licence.

If I'm wrong some-one will let us know.

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Thursday 8th of December 2011 10:10:11 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

It was Norma (shadyandme) I asked her when we were at Greens Lake when she was showing me around the bus. I thought it was a bit bigger than a coaster, I could be wrong. Maybe being yellow makes it look bigger. lol

Yuglamron · Guru

I am not absolutely sure but once the vehicle was converted it would have to have a new compliance plate to be able to operate on the roads of Oz.

The vehicle could be driven on a car licence only if it is 4500 Kgs or under.

Over 4500 Kgs and it's a truck licence I believe.

Mine is 8300 Kgs so it's a truck licence for me.

You should talk to the RTA in your state or a recognised conversion specialist should be able to give you a definitive answer and the legal ramifications.

Sheba · Guru

I thought you were meaning Norma Marj. I think hers is a Coaster, or the equivalent Mazda. Can't remember which. It's been a while since I saw it.

I'm sure she or Jules will put me right if I'm wrong.

Cheers,

Sheba.

PeterD · Guru

lesk1946 wrote:
if i buy a bus with a gvm of 5000kgs unregistered and then refit it as a motorhome with new weight [from w/bridge] under 4500kgs can it then be legally driven on a car license

If a manufacturer has given a motor vehicle a 5,000 kg GVM it does not matter what you build into it that the GVM of that vehicle remains 5,000 kg. Putting the vehicle over a weigh bridge just gives you the new unladen weight and nothing else.

There have been cases where 5th wheelers have been imported with ATMs over 4.500 kg. If these have electric brakes then they have to be retrofitted with air brakes. Some unscruplious importers were rerating these vehicles at less than 4,500 kg and have come unstuck.

Regarding Coasters, there are a few different models. Some of the short wheel base models are under the magic GVM figure.

jimricho · Guru

I vaguely recall Dawn Fraser being "pinged" for driving a motorhome without the appropriate licence. I think she was doing a promotion for a motorhome company at the time.

The appropriate RTA/RMA/DMR website should have info on this.

spice · Senior Member

jimricho wrote:
I vaguely recall Dawn Fraser being "pinged" for driving a motorhome without the appropriate licence. I think she was doing a promotion for a motorhome company at the time.

The appropriate RTA/RMA/DMR website should have info on this.

If I remember right Dawn was pinged for not entering a weight station as the motorhome she was driving was about 8 tonne and was required to enter when directed,Rod

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

It is possible to have the GVM reduced to 4495kg. If that is done it can then be driven on a car license.

Cheers,
Peter

milo · Guru

when we bought the tardis (motor home) we were told anything over 25 ft had
have a truck licence

jimricho · Guru

spice wrote:
jimricho wrote:
I vaguely recall Dawn Fraser being "pinged" for driving a motorhome without the appropriate licence. I think she was doing a promotion for a motorhome company at the time.

The appropriate RTA/RMA/DMR website should have info on this.
If I remember right Dawn was pinged for not entering a weight station as the motorhome she was driving was about 8 tonne and was required to enter when directed,Rod

That's probably correct, I can't recall the details.

Another thing to think about if going for something over 4500 kg GVM (if that's the magic figure?)

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 10th of December 2011 07:00:14 AM

Yuglamron · Guru

I don't know about other states but in Qld if you are over 4500 Kgs and under 16500 Kgs you have to have an overpit inspection every year.Did mine in Sept.cost $99.

One thing though, it 'should' pick up any problems since the last service.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

milo wrote:
when we bought the tardis (motor home) we were told anything over 25 ft had
have a truck licence

You were misinformed Milo.

Cheers,

Peter

milo · Guru

you go to dealers and they say "this can be driven on normal car liscence "
darn sales people.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

milo, they are only interested in making a sale

Ian and Shaz · Member

Hi Everyone
Peter Smith of Camden would be able to advise you,i know that with trucks we could raise the GMV by fitting larger tyres we never down sized but i suspect that if one can go up then one can go down in tyre size e.g. if your bus or truck is fitted with say 8.25 X 16 tyres and you retrofit 7.50 X 16 tyres then your GVM is reduced. my Wife use to drive a Hiace when the new one came along and it carried one extra person she had to upgrade to a LR licence,our 20 seater SWB coaster since being reclassified as a motorhome or personal use can be driven on a car licence and on 3 tonne roads according to the RTA
Thanks
Ian and Shaz

Dunco · Senior Member

You must also understand that it isn't a TRUCK licence, but a Bus licence, they are very different....once you sort out your weights

PeterD · Guru

Drivers license classes are now uniform throughout all the states. Here are some examples.

NSW Qld South Oz

At the bottom of the SA one there is the following details of what is required for a bus:

Driving a bus

There are no specific licence classes to drive a bus. The authority to drive a bus is included in the three rigid vehicle licence classes LR, MR and HR. Holders of a licence class MC or HC are also authorised to drive buses.

The size of bus that you are authorised to drive is limited by the licence class appearing on your driver's licence.

Driving a bus for hire, fare or reward

You must be accredited to drive a bus for hire, fare or reward. For more information see driving a bus or passenger vehicle.

PeterD · Guru

Brochure: National Driver Licence Classes

Ian and Shaz · Member

Hi Everyone
It is only a bus for commercial reasons once converted and engineered it is reclassified to a motorhome
Thanks
Ian and Shaza

Ian and Shaz · Member

Hi Everyone
There is no such thing as a bus licence in NSW that phased out a number of years ago now one has to have the appropriate truck licence plus a NSW bus drivers authority.It may work out cheaper simply to ugrade your licence to a LR a very easy licence to get and can be done in one day through a driving school under the accreditation scheme.If your bus has a syncromesh gearbox then get your licence in one of those if it is automatic then the same however if your bus has a crash or nonsyncromech gearbox then you must do your upgrade in one of those if you obtain a non syncro licence then you can drive a syncr gearbox or auto but you cannot drive a nonsyncro gearbox on the lesser gearboxes
Thanks
Ian and Shaz

milo · Guru

would a motor home be classed as a truck,
ours is about the size of those big harvey norman delivery trucks

Happywanderer · The Master

Wouldn't have thought so milo. Those with coasters as seen in Ian and Shaz avatar photo only need a car license.

PeterD · Guru

Milo, there is a wide variation in the weight of motorhomes. Different weights of motorhomes require different licences to drive them. See this link to see what is required This covers most of them but there are some motorhomes under 4.5 tonnes that can be driven with a car licence.