Road access for agricultural vehicles

You do not require a Class 1 agricultural vehicle permit, as long as moving the vehicle complies with all requirements and travel conditions outlined in a Notice or Ministerial Order.

If a Class 1 agricultural vehicle does not comply with the mass or dimension limits set out in a Notice or Ministerial Order, you must apply for an access permit from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

There are multiple access arrangements for different classes of vehicle. Generally the bigger and/or heavier the vehicle, the greater the safety risk and the more restricted the access. This is outlined in the Agricultural vehicles – Access in NSW fact sheet (PDF, 233.56 KB).

Agricultural vehicle definitions

An agricultural vehicle is an agricultural implement or agricultural machine, as defined under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Class 1 agricultural vehicle

An agricultural vehicle is considered a Class 1 restricted access heavy vehicle if it, together with its load, does not comply with a prescribed mass or prescribed dimension requirement.

Examples of agricultural vehicles include harvesters, tractors, augers and conveyors.

Agricultural machine

A vehicle with its own automotive power, built to perform agricultural tasks. Examples include a harvester or tractor.

Agricultural implement

A vehicle without its own automotive power, built to perform agricultural tasks, and includes an agricultural trailer. Examples include conveyor, auger, field bin, harvester front, irrigating equipment or machinery.

Agricultural vehicle

An agricultural implement of agricultural machine.

Agricultural trailer

A trailer designed to carry a load and used only to perform agricultural tasks. Does not include a semitrailer.

Agricultural task

A task carried out in agriculture. Examples include cultivating land, growing and harvesting crops or rearing livestock.

Find out more about registering agricultural vehicles under the conditional registration scheme.

Disclaimer

These definitions are provided for general purposes only. Reference may need to be made to the Heavy Vehicle National Law or the Road Transport Act or other relevant legislation, depending on the specific issue.

Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice

The National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Exemption Notice 2020 (No1) commenced on 13 March 2020. This notice provides access for agricultural vehicles and agricultural combinations which include a heavy vehicle.

This Notice operates in conjunction with the National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide and the Agricultural Heavy Vehicle Map that are maintained and published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. The Guide and Map contains important specified information under this Notice, such as approved networks and access conditions.

Further information on the Notice is available on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

Oversize light vehicles and light combinations that exceed prescribed dimension limits may be eligible to travel on the NSW road network under the NSW Light Vehicle Agricultural and Load Exemption Ministerial Order 2019 (PDF, 228.41 KB) if they meet the requirements of the Order.

See Light vehicle road access for more information.

Transporting oversize baled agricultural commodities

The New South Wales Class 3 Baled Commodities Dimension Exemption Notice 2017, allows vehicles carrying loads of baled hay, straw, wool and cotton may exceed the statutory width limit of 2.5 metres to a maximum of 2.7 metres.

Go to Oversize loads of baled agricultural commodities to find out more.

Cotton transportation during Easter

The New South Wales Class 1 Agricultural Cotton Vehicle Exemption For Permitted Heavy Vehicles (Notice) 2016 (No.1) exempts class 1 vehicles transporting an Agricultural Cotton Vehicle from stated prescribed mass or dimension requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, when travelling on stated routes in this Notice on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.