Features of your driver licence

Design and security features of your NT driver licence

The Northern Territory (NT) driver licence has details about you, the type of vehicles you can drive, and any specific conditions that apply.

You must carry it with you when you are driving.

Changes to driver licences

In November 2020, changes were made to NT driver licences.

The layout of the card is aligned with international standards, to make it more recognisable nationally and internationally.

As a form of photo ID, or a verifiable identity credential, the driver licence card  has enhanced security features that are:

  • tamper resistant
  • aimed at preventing unauthorised reproduction.

This helps to protect licence holders against identity theft.

Your driver licence information is the same as the previous licence card, just presented differently.

The new driver licence card has a table on the back describing each of the data elements that are printed at locations 1-13.

Check your details

When you receive your new driver licence card, check that your details are correct.

If any details are incorrect, you must contact MVR as soon as possible.

Below is a sample of the new design.

New driver licence - front view design New driver licence - back view design

Front view

The front of your licence includes your photo and the following details:

  1. Surname.
  2. Given name including any middle names.
  3. Licence number.
  4. Licence class - this shows your highest vehicle licence class with your motorcycle licence class printed directly below (if applicable). An (L) for learner or (P) for provisional will be printed next to your class if applicable.
  5. Residential address.
  6. Signature strip - you must sign your licence.
  7. Date of birth.
  8. Expiry date - if you have more than one class of licence with different expiry dates, the class with the longest expiry date will appear. Check individual class expiry dates at location 10 in the table on the back of your licence.

Back view

The back of your licence includes the following details:

  1. Licence class - lists all available licence classes a person can hold with an icon showing what type of vehicle the licence class relates to.
  2. Licence expiry date - the expiry date of each licence class you hold.
  3. Provisional expiry date - if your licence class is provisional.
  4. Condition codes - if you are subject to any conditions - read more about driver licence conditions. This column will also be shaded yellow if the licence class is a learner or red if the class is provisional.
  5. Card number - this is a unique number that is used to verify your identity when your driver licence is presented as an Identity Credential. A  new card number is assigned every time a replacement card is issued, with only the last issued card number verifiable via the Commonwealth Document Verification Service.

A line will appear in any column of the table that doesn't apply to you.

Receiving a new or replacement card

Your driver licence card will be posted to your nominated postal address.

You can still drive using your driver licence receipt while your card is sent to you.

Driver licence classes and conditions

Your Northern Territory (NT) licence has information about you, which vehicles you can drive and the conditions you must follow while driving.

Find out more about the design and security features of your NT driver licence.

Licence classes

The class on your licence shows the types of vehicle you're allowed to drive.

You can check if your licence class is current.

If you have a class C licence, you can drive a vehicle that:

  • has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) up to 4.5 tonnes
  • is a construction or agricultural vehicle*
    • check if you need to hold a high-risk work licence or other certification before operating - go to the NT WorkSafe website

*These include tractors, harvesters, front end loaders, bull dozers, road rollers, forklifts and graders.

You can't drive construction and agricultural vehicles on a class C learner licence.

Find out how to get your driver licence.

A heavy vehicle has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes.

Each heavy vehicle type requires a specific driver licence class. Read about heavy vehicle licence classes and conditions.

Find out how to get your heavy vehicle licence.

If you have an R licence, you may ride a motorcycle.

This includes a:

  • motorcycle that has a side car attached to it supported by a third wheel or
  • motor vehicle that has 3 wheels and is designed to be ridden the same as a motorcycle.

Find out how to get your motorcycle licence.

Licence conditions

You must obey any conditions listed on your licence at all times while driving.

A - Drive automatic vehicle only

You must only drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

B - Synchromesh transmission (heavy vehicle)

This is a condition for heavy vehicle licences only.

Read heavy vehicle licence classes and conditions.

I - Alcohol ignition lock

You may only drive a motor vehicle that is fitted with an approved alcohol ignition lock.

R - LAMS Learner Approved Motorcycle restriction

You may only ride a Learner Approved Motorcycle that has:

  • a power to weight ratio not exceeding 150 kilowatts per tonne
  • an engine capacity not exceeding 660 cubic centimetres (cc).

S - Vision aids required

You must:

  • wear corrective lenses at all times while driving or
  • be receiving treatment as prescribed by an eye care professional.

Z - Zero % blood alcohol when you drive

You must observe zero blood alcohol concentration restriction.

If you've been issued with a V condition, you may only drive a motor vehicle fitted with any of the following specified driver aids or modification as directed in writing by the Registrar of Motor Vehicle.

VA - Steering spinner knob - left

You may only drive vehicles fitted with a left-hand spinner knob.

VB - Steering spinner knob - right

You may only drive vehicles fitted with a right-hand spinner knob.

VC - Power steering only

You may only drive vehicles fitted with power steering.

VD - Automatic vehicle only

You may only drive vehicles fitted with an automatic transmission.

VE - Modified indicator arm - left

You may only drive vehicles fitted with an extended indicator arm - left.

VF - Modified indicator arm - right

You may only drive vehicles fitted with an extended indicator arm - right.

VG - Head operated indicators

You may only drive a vehicle fitted with indicators operated by head movements.

VH - Accelerator left of brake

You may only drive a vehicle with an accelerator pedal fitted to the left of the brake pedal.

VI - Hand operated foot controls

You may only drive a vehicle fitted with hand-operated controls for brakes and accelerator.

VJ - External mirrors left and right

You may only drive vehicles fitted with external mirrors to the left and right-hand side of the vehicle.

Where necessary or if recommended by a health professional, auxiliary or fish eye mirrors must be attached to the external mirrors.

VK - Wide-angle interior mirror

You may only drive vehicle fitted with a wide-angle interior rear view mirror.

VL - Electronic embedded steering spinner knob

You may only drive a vehicle fitted with an electronic embedded steering spinner knob.

VM - Moped restriction

This is applied when your class R licence is restricted to mopeds.
A moped is a small two or three wheeled motorcycle that has:

  • a piston engine with a maximum engine capacity of 50ml
  • a maximum speed of 50km/h.

If you've been issued with an X condition, you are subject to any of the following conditions or limitations.

XA - Periodic medical review required

Your licence is subject to a periodic medical review.

XB - Annual criminal history check

Your licence is subject to an annual criminal history check.

XC - For training and assessment only

Your licence is for training and assessment purposes only.

This is usually issued if you need a driving test or rehabilitation assessment before your licence renewal or re-licensing after a medical suspension.

XD - No driving between sunset and sunrise

You must not drive between sunset and sunrise.

XF - Licence class area restricted

Your licence is only valid in a specific area.

XG - Drive in company of rehabilitation service

You can only drive when accompanied by an instructor experienced in rehabilitation training.

This is applied if you are suffering from a medical condition and require training prior to re-applying for your driver licence.

XH - In company of full licence holder

You may only drive when accompanied by a person holding a full licence for the class of vehicle being driven.

XI - Not to exceed 80 km/h in car

You must not drive a motor vehicle, not including a motorcycle, at a speed of more than 80km/h.

XJ - Zero % BAC

You must observe zero blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

XK - Zero % BAC when riding a motorcycle

You must observe zero blood alcohol concentration while riding a motorcycle.

XM - Not to exceed 80km/h on a motorcycle

You must not exceed 80km/h while riding a motorcycle.

XN - No pillion on a motorcycle

You must not carry a pillion passenger while riding a motorcycle.

XP - Must wear approved helmet

You must wear approved motorcycle rider's helmet.

XQ - Refer to driver's instrument

You may only drive subject to specific conditions other than those listed.

XR - Visual aids required to drive a heavy vehicle or commercially

You require vision aids when:

  • driving a heavy vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of over 8 tonnes
  • operating as a driving instructor
  • driving a commercial passenger vehicle.

XS - LAMS approved motorcycles only

You may only ride a LAMS approved motorcycle.

XU - Automatic transmission (heavy vehicle)

This is a condition for heavy vehicle licences only.

Read heavy vehicle licence classes and conditions.

XV - Instructor for class R only

You (the instructor) may only teach a person to ride a motorcycle for fee or reward.

XW - DriveSafe NT remote instructor only

You (the instructor) may only teach participants of the DriveSafe NT remote program.

Heavy vehicle licence classes and conditions

Your Northern Territory (NT) heavy vehicle driver licence has information about you, which heavy vehicles you can drive, and the conditions you must follow while driving.

A heavy vehicle has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes.

Licence classes

Below is a list of heavy vehicle driver licence classes - from lowest to highest.

If you have the higher licence class, you can drive any type of vehicle for a lower class. This does not include motorcycles.

For example, if you have a multi-combination (MC) licence, you can drive any type of vehicle except motorcycles.

If you have an LR licence, you can drive a vehicle that has a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes and up to 8 tonnes.

Find out how to apply for an LR licence.

If you have an MR licence, you can drive a vehicle that has:

  • 2 axles
  • a GVM of more than 8 tonnes.

Find out how to apply for an MR licence.

If you have an HR licence, you can drive a vehicle that has:

  • 3 or more axles
  • a GVM of more than 8 tonnes.

Find out how to apply for an HR licence.

If you have an HC licence, you can drive a:

  • prime mover with a single semi-trailer that has:
    • a GVM of more than 9 tonnes
    • plus any unladen converter dolly
  • rigid motor vehicle that is towing a trailer, that has:
    • a GVM of more than 9 tonnes
    • plus any unladen converter dolly.

Find out how to apply for an HC licence.

If you have an MC licence, you can drive:

  • vehicles towing 2 or more trailers including B-doubles
  • triple road trains
  • quad road trains.

Find out how to apply for an MC licence.

Licence conditions

If you apply for an HR, HC or MC licence, you'll get a condition added to your licence.

Below are 3 common types of heavy vehicle transmissions and the conditions you'll get.

This depends on the transmission type of the vehicle you used in your assessment and the conditions of your previous heavy vehicle licence.

Heavy vehicles with an automatic transmission work in the same way as an automatic car. Gear changes happen automatically.

An HR, HC or MC licence with an XU condition means you can only drive a heavy vehicle fitted with an automatic transmission.

Similar to a manual gearbox found in a car, a heavy vehicle with a synchromesh transmission has:

  • synchro rings that match the road speed and
  • engine revs to make it easier to choose a higher or lower gear.

An HR, HC or MC licence with a B condition means you can only drive a heavy vehicle that is fitted with:

  • an automatic transmission or
  • a synchromesh transmission.

A non-synchromesh transmission is also called a constant mesh or crash box.

It requires a technique known as ‘double clutch’ to match the engine speed (RPM) to the road speed when changing to a higher or lower gear.

If you passed your assessment in a vehicle with a constant mesh transmission, you'll get a licence without a condition.

This means you can drive heavy vehicles with all transmission types.

Change or remove XU or B condition

If you have an HR, HC or MC licence, you can change or remove the transmission condition on your existing class. You must pass a competency test in a vehicle fitted with another transmission type.

If you have an HC or MC licence, you can have your XU or B condition changed or removed if you pass a class HR competency test in a heavy rigid vehicle.

Upgrade your HR or HC licence

When you upgrade your HR or HC licence, the transmission condition on your licence may change.

To find out what condition you'll have after you upgrade your licence, answer the questions below.