Farm vehicles present unique safety risks when travelling on public roads. Their size, shape and the speeds at which they travel can be an issue for other road users. There are legal requirements you must follow when using these vehicles on the road to ensure your safety and that of others on the road.
Many vehicles constructed for use on the farm also need to use the road - for example, a rural contractor wanting to move machinery from one farm to another.
An agricultural motor vehicle is a vehicle that is designed, constructed or adapted for agricultural purposes.
More information about different types of farm vehicles
The class of licence you need to have to drive an agricultural vehicle will depend on the weight of the vehicle and the speed at which it is being driven.
|
Vehicle |
Licence requirements |
Speed restrictions |
|---|---|---|
|
Any tractor not exceeding 4500kg |
Any class 1 licence |
Posted speed limit |
|
Any tractor/trailer combination not exceeding 4500kg |
Any class 1 licence |
Posted speed limit |
|
Any tractor not exceeding 6000kg |
Full class 1 licence |
Posted speed limit |
|
Agricultural tractor not exceeding 18,000kg |
Restricted class 1 licence |
40km/h |
|
Agricultural tractor of more than 6000kg but not more than 18,000kg |
Full class 1 licence |
40km/h |
|
Full class 1 licence and any one of the F, R, T or W endorsements |
Posted speed limit |
|
|
Any tractor of more than 6000kg but not more than 18,000kg |
Any class 2 licence |
Posted speed limit |
|
Non-agricultural tractor of more than 6000kg but not more than 18,000kg |
Full class 1 licence |
30km/h |
|
Agricultural tractor/trailer combination not exceeding 25,000kg |
Restricted class 1 licence |
40km/h |
|
Full class 1 licence |
40km/h |
|
|
Full class 1 licence and any one of the F, R, T or W endorsements |
Posted speed limit |
|
|
Non-agricultural tractor/trailer combination not exceeding 25,000kg if being used in non-agricultural land management operations |
Full class 1 licence |
30km/h |
|
Any special-type vehicle that runs on wheels not exceeding 6000kg |
Full class 1 licence and a W endorsement |
Posted speed limit |
|
An agricultural special-type vehicle that runs on wheels, more than 6000kg but not more than 18,000kg |
Full class 1 licence and a W endorsement |
40km/h |
|
Full class 2 licence |
40km/h |
|
|
A non-agricultural special-type vehicle that runs on wheels, more than 6000kg but not more than 18,000kg |
Full class 1 licence and a W endorsement |
30km/h |
|
Any special-type vehicle that runs on wheels exceeding 18,000kg |
Full class 2 licence and a W endorsement |
30km/h |
|
Any special-type vehicle that runs on wheels exceeding 18,000kg |
Full class 4 licence and a W endorsement |
Posted speed limit |
Find out more about driver licence classes
Find out more about special-type (RTW) vehicle endorsements
