It seems straightforward — you've got a licence, you can drive a van. But the reality is more complicated than that, and getting it wrong has serious consequences. Driving a vehicle your licence doesn't cover means you're uninsured, unlicensed for that class, and if you have an accident, you're personally liable for everything. Here's what you can legally drive in each major market.
🇦🇺 Australia
C Class (Car): Vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass). This covers most delivery vans — Transit, HiAce, Sprinter, and similar. If you're doing parcel delivery, your standard car licence is usually sufficient.
LR (Light Rigid): Vehicles over 4.5 tonnes up to 8 tonnes GVM. This is where larger vans and small trucks fall — Pantech trucks, furniture delivery trucks, and some larger Sprinters. You need to upgrade to LR, which requires a separate test. Details at Queensland Transport heavy vehicle licensing.
MR (Medium Rigid): Vehicles over 8 tonnes with two axles. This covers most urban delivery trucks — the kind used for bulk freight and wholesale deliveries.
Watch out: Some vans are closer to the 4.5t limit than you think, especially when loaded. A Mercedes Sprinter 519 has a GVM of 5.5t — you need an LR, not a C class. Always check the GVM plate on the vehicle, not just the model name. Your company should tell you, but verify for yourself.
🇺🇸 United States
Standard Driver's License: Vehicles under 26,001 lbs (11,793 kg) GVWR. This covers virtually all delivery vans and most box trucks used for courier work.
CDL (Commercial Driver's License): Required for vehicles over 26,001 lbs GVWR, vehicles towing trailers over 10,000 lbs, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials. CDL has three classes — A, B, and C — with various endorsements.
Watch out: Requirements vary by state. Some states require a special endorsement even for vehicles under the CDL threshold if they're used commercially. Amazon DSPs, FedEx contractors, and UPS all have their own additional requirements beyond the legal minimum.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category B: Vehicles up to 3,500 kg MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass). Most delivery vans fall here — Transit, Sprinter, etc.
Category C1: Vehicles between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg. Larger vans and small trucks. If you passed your test before 1 January 1997, you may already have C1 on your licence — check.
Watch out: Post-1997 licence holders do NOT automatically get C1. If you need to drive anything over 3.5t, you'll need to take an additional test. This catches out a lot of new drivers who assume their standard licence covers all vans.
🇨🇦 Canada
Class 5 (or G in Ontario): Standard passenger vehicles and light trucks. Covers most delivery vans up to 11,000 kg in most provinces.
Class 3 / Class D: Required for larger single vehicles. Thresholds vary by province — always check your provincial requirements.
Watch out: Licence classes and thresholds differ between provinces. What's covered by a Class 5 in BC might need a different class in Ontario. If you're moving provinces or driving across provincial lines for work, verify your licence covers the vehicle in each jurisdiction.