Change use of heavy vehicle

All heavy vehicles have a nominated heavy vehicle use category (NHVC). This page provides the guidelines on how to change the use of a heavy vehicle.

  Nominated heavy vehicle category (NHVC)

All heavy vehicles have a nominated heavy vehicle use category (NHVC). The NHVC is determined by aggregate weight and/or axle combinations and the number of trailers towed. A vehicle may operate in any combination equal to or less than its nominated category.

Axle limits apply to buses, trucks and trailers and will vary, depending on the configuration of the vehicle and any trailers being towed.The number of axles in a group (i.e. single, tandem or tri-axle) and the number of the tyres in an axle set will also affect how much weight can be placed on the axle.

Information relating to axle limits for heavy vehicles can be found in r. 164 of the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 (WA).

If you require an Oversize Over-mass Permit, refer to the Main Roads Western Australia website.

Licence fees imposed on heavy vehicles are dependent upon the NHVC in which they will be used.

  How to nominate a change in heavy vehicle use

You must inform the Department of Transport (DoT) of the configuration in which you intend to use the vehicle by choosing a Nominated Heavy Vehicle Category (NHVC).

You or your representative may change the NHVC of the vehicle as often as you wish. Changes to the NHVC are valid from the date (and time) recorded for notification of each new nomination.

Where advising of an increase in NHVC for a portion of a day, the whole of the nominated day will be charged at the higher rate.

A NHVC can be changed through your DoTDirect account or via the Change in heavy vehicle use (Form VL184).

DoTDirect online

Heavy vehicle use can be changed quickly and easily through your DoTDirect account.

Note: Heavy vehicle use for vehicles with a body type code of 'MULTI' cannot be updated using the DoTDirect self-service facility.

Change in heavy vehicle use (Form VL184)

You may also complete the Change in heavy vehicle use (Form VL184) below. The NHVC must be changed prior to the journey. Penalties will apply if a heavy vehicle uses more trailers than the towing vehicle is registered to haul.

Certificate of variation

Every time a change in NHVC has been actioned by DoT, a certificate of variation is sent to the licence holder.

Lodge the completed change in heavy vehicle use form as follows;

Street address Postal address Telephone Fax Email
At your nearest Driver and Vehicle Services centre, regional DoT office or agent     1300 223 239 Email

  Heavy vehicle licence renewals

Vehicle licence renewal notices are mailed to owners up to 5 weeks prior to the expiry date. Renewals are calculated at the currently nominated NHVC and include accumulated overcharges and undercharges.

Heavy vehicles may be registered for 3, 6 or 12 month periods.

  Heavy vehicle licence (registration) fees (2024/2025)

Vehicle owners must also pay motor injury insurance (MII) insurance. Visit the Motor Injury Insurance (MII) page for fees and more information.

Heavy vehicle licence: Administration fee

Fee type Fee
Standard heavy vehicle licence administration recording fee $8.25

Heavy vehicle licence: Buses, seating capacity over 12, Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) exceeding 4,500 kg fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: Buses with 2 axles not exceeding 12,000 kg (1B2 class) $559.00
Vehicle licence: Buses with 2 axles exceeding 12,000 kg (2B2 class) $559.00
Vehicle licence: Buses with 3 axles (2B3 class) $3,088.00
Vehicle licence: Articulated Buses with 3 axles (AB3 class) $559.00

Heavy vehicle licence: HC and MC class fees

Multi Combination (MC class) and Heavy Combination (HC class) restriction removal: Suitable Heavy Rigid (HR class) vehicles can also be used to demonstrate gearbox skills for the removal of A (automatic) and B (synchromesh) class restrictions from Heavy Combination (HC class) and Multi Combination (MC class) vehicles. The class restriction removal fee is applied when this option is used.
Fee type Fee
Multi Combination (MC class) assessment by authorised providers
MC driver's licence class application $60.30
MC driver's licence class restriction removal $60.30
Heavy Combination: (HC class) assessment by the Department of Transport/Police
HC driver's licence class application $320.50
HC driver's licence class application: no driving test (e.g. transfer of class) $60.30
HC driver's licence supplementary Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) $285.60
HC driver's licence class restriction removal $285.60
Heavy Rigid (HR class) and Heavy Combination (HC class) assessment by authorised providers
HR/HC driver's licence class application $60.30
HR/HC driver's licence class restriction removal $60.30

Heavy vehicle licence: Prime mover, towing one trailer fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 2 axles towing 1 semi-trailer (SP2 class) $1,478.00
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 3 axles towing 1 semi-trailer (SP3 class) $5,817.00
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 4 axles towing 1 semi-trailer (SP4 class) $6,400.00
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 5 axles towing 1 semi-trailer (SP5 class) $6,400.00

Heavy vehicle licence: Prime mover, towing two or more trailers fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 2 axles towing 2 or more trailers (MC2 class) $10,442.00
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 3 axles towing 2 or more trailers (MC3 class) $10,442.00
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 4 axles towing 2 or more trailers (MC4 class) $11,486.00
Vehicle licence: Prime mover with 5 axles towing 2 or more trailers (MC5 class) $11,486.00

Heavy vehicle licence: Rigid truck, Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) exceeding 4,500 kg (no trailer) fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 2 axles not exceeding 12,000 kg GVM (1R2 class) $559.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 2 axles exceeding 12,000 kg GVM (2R2 class) $961.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 3 axles not exceeding 16,500 kg GVM (1R3 class) $961.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 3 axles exceeding 16,500 kg GVM (2R3 class) $1,267.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 4 axles not exceeding 20,000 kg (1R4 class) $961.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 5 axles not exceeding 20,000 kg (1R5 class) $961.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 4 axles exceeding 20,000 kg (2R4 class) $1,267.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 5 axles exceeding 20,000 kg (2R5 class) $1,267.00

Heavy vehicle licence: Rigid truck, towing one trailer, maximum 6 axles in the combination fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 2 axles towing 1 trailer (SR2 class) $961.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 3 axles towing 1 trailer (SR3 class) $1,267.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 4 axles towing 1 trailer (SR4 class) $2,356.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 5 axles towing 1 trailer (SR5 class) $2,356.00

Heavy vehicle licence: Rigid truck, towing one trailer, more than 6 axles in the combination fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 2 axles towing 1 trailer (MR2 class) $8,630.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 3 axles towing 1 trailer (MR3 class) $8,630.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 4 axles towing 1 trailer (MR4 class) $9,320.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 5 axles towing 1 trailer (MR5 class) $9,320.00

Heavy vehicle licence: Rigid truck, towing two or more trailers fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 2 axles towing 2 trailers (LR2 class) $11,901.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 3 axles towing 2 trailers (LR3 class) $11,901.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 4 axles towing 2 trailers (LR4 class) $11,901.00
Vehicle licence: Rigid truck with 5 axles towing 2 trailers (LR5 class) $11,901.00

Heavy vehicle licence: Rigid truck, Trailers, including dollies fees

Fee type Fee
Vehicle licence: 1 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT1 class) $559.00
Vehicle licence: 2 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT2 class) $1,118.00
Vehicle licence: 3 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT3 class) $1,677.00
Vehicle licence: 4 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT4 class) $2,236.00
Vehicle licence: 5 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT5 class) $2,795.00
Vehicle licence: 6 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT6 class) $3,354.00
Vehicle licence: 7 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT7 class) $3,319.00
Vehicle licence: 8 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT8 class) $4,472.00
Vehicle licence: 9 axle trailer/semi-trailer (HT9 class) $5,031.00

  Penalties

The NHVC must be changed prior to the journey. Penalties will apply if a heavy vehicle uses more trailers than the towing vehicle is registered to haul.

Page last updated: Wed Jun 26 2024 4:05:05 PM