Heavy vehicle driver licence class HC

HC Licence Cost, Length and Providers

An HC licence is the driver licence class for heavy combination vehicles. Across 12 providers, published course prices run $1,177 to $2,800, usually 1 to 3 days. You generally need an MR or HR licence held for 1 year first, and WA also asks for a car licence held 3 years. Check what each price includes.

Last checked 10 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm with the regulator or provider before you book.

Key facts

Unit code: TLIC3005
Price range: $1,177 to $2,800 (9 published prices)
Typical length: Usually 1 to 3 days. Quoted training runs from about 4 to 19 hours depending on the provider and gearbox, and non-synchromesh or Road Ranger courses take longer.
Expiry: Set by each state. NSW offers 1, 3 or 5 year terms ($74, $172 or $234 on the NSW fees page). Check WA, QLD, SA and NT terms with the regulator.
Providers compared: 12
Last checked: 10 October 2026

Compare HC licence providers

How much does a HC licence course cost?

Published prices run $1,177 to $2,800 across 9 of the 12 providers we compared. Each figure comes from the provider’s own course page on 10 October 2026. See every provider, sorted cheapest first.

What are the rules for HC licence?

Unit TLIC3005 Drive Heavy Combination Vehicle is shown on the Mega Truck Training HC page and in the Central Regional TAFE skill set. We could not read the training.gov.au record directly, so the unit code is taken from provider pages.
Source: megatrucktraining.com.au
Central Regional TAFE (WA) lists TLIC3005 in its heavy vehicle driving operations skill set. HC and MC are delivered at Geraldton only, and tuition is fee-free for eligible WA residents.
Source: centralregionaltafe.wa.edu.au
Western Australia: to apply for HC you must have held a C class licence for 3 or more years and an MR or HR licence for 1 or more years.
Source: transport.wa.gov.au
Western Australia fees: HC class application $337.20 when assessed by the Department of Transport, and $63.50 with an authorised RTO. A supplementary practical driving assessment or class restriction removal with the Department is $300.50. The RTO charges its own assessment fee.
Source: transport.wa.gov.au
Queensland: HC needs an MR or HR licence held for 1 year, and a practical test with Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
Source: www.qld.gov.au
Queensland provider The Driving School lists a TMR practical test booking fee of $80. This is provider-stated, so check the current TMR fee schedule.
Source: www.thedrivingschool.com.au
New South Wales: HC needs an MR or HR licence held for 1 or more years. You complete a heavy vehicle competency based assessment (HVCBA) through a registered training organisation.
Source: www.nsw.gov.au
NSW fees page lists, for heavy vehicle licensing: Knowledge Test $58 each attempt, upgrade $34, heavy vehicle competency based assessment (HVCBA) scheme participation $36, driving test $72, log book $11. Licence renewal is $74 for 1 year, $172 for 3 years or $234 for 5 years. Training providers set their own course fees.
Source: www.nsw.gov.au
Sutton Road Training Centre (NSW and ACT RTO) states that an HC licence allows you to drive a rigid vehicle attached to a trailer with a gross vehicle mass over 9 tonnes, and that an unrestricted HC licence comes from completing the course in a non-synchromesh vehicle.
Source: suttonroad.com.au
South Australia: HC needs you to be 19 or over, and to hold an MR or HR licence for 1 or more years. HC is obtained through competency based training and assessment (CBT&A) only.
Source: mylicence.sa.gov.au
Northern Territory: HC needs an MR or HR licence held for 1 or more years.
Source: nt.gov.au
Northern Territory: HC and MC need a course with an approved training provider, then a final competency practical assessment with an authorised examiner. The statement of attainment and test sheet must be used at an MVR office within 12 months, or you need reassessment. An upgrade fee applies.
Source: nt.gov.au
The NT lists six approved heavy vehicle training providers: Charles Darwin University, Logic Transport Training, Northern Territory Training Services, Advanced Industry Training, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and Responsive Training. All are listed for HR, HC and MC. Advanced Industry Training is not listed for LR.
Source: nt.gov.au

HC licence questions answered

What is the HC licence unit code?

TLIC3005, Drive heavy combination vehicle. It is shown on the Mega Truck Training HC page and in the Central Regional TAFE skill set. We could not read the training.gov.au record directly, so confirm the code with your provider. Your state transport authority issues the licence.

How much does an HC licence cost?

Across 12 providers, published course prices run $1,177 to $2,800, as listed on each provider's own page and last checked 10 October 2026. Some providers quote a one-day restricted course and others a longer unrestricted course, so compare what is included. Fee-free TAFE places are not counted in that range.

Do I need an HR licence before HC?

No. WA, QLD, NSW, SA and the NT each accept an MR or HR licence held for 1 year (or more) for HC. WA also requires a C class licence held for 3 years. SA sets a minimum age of 19. Check your state's page for the current rule.

Do I sit a test with the regulator?

It depends on the state. In WA the practical assessment is with the Department of Transport or an authorised RTO. QLD needs a practical test with TMR. NSW uses a heavy vehicle competency based assessment (HVCBA) through an RTO, and SA uses competency based training and assessment only. The NT needs an approved-provider course then a final practical assessment.

What do the regulator fees cost?

In WA an HC class application is $337.20 when assessed by the Department of Transport and $63.50 with an authorised RTO, plus the RTO's own assessment fee. NSW lists a Knowledge Test at $58 and a driving test at $72. A QLD provider lists an $80 TMR test booking fee. Confirm current fees with the regulator.

What does an HC licence let me drive?

Sutton Road Training Centre in NSW says HC covers a rigid vehicle attached to a trailer with a gross vehicle mass over 9 tonnes. It also says an unrestricted licence comes from completing the course in a non-synchromesh vehicle. Check the class definition with your state regulator.

Does HC training use a different gearbox price?

Yes. Providers price automatic, synchromesh and Road Ranger courses separately. The price shown for each provider is its cheapest advertised option, which is often an automatic or restricted course. A restricted licence limits which gearbox types you can drive.

Want the full walkthrough? Read our HC licence guide.