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How to Get a Dangerous Goods Licence in Australia

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Published: July 04, 2026

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Section 1 - Intro and Snippet

In Victoria, a Dangerous Goods (DG) driver licence is issued by WorkSafe Victoria. You need it to legally haul bulk dangerous goods by road - things like petrol, LPG, chemicals, and corrosives. It is not about the type of load, it is about the size of it. The licence costs $97 to apply for, and the two-day training course (TLILIC0001) costs $530 at an approved RTO.

How to Get a Dangerous Goods Licence in Australia

  1. Check if you actually need it - you need the licence if you are hauling DG in a tank or drum bigger than 500 litres, a load heavier than 500 kg, or IBCs totalling more than 3,000 litres on the truck.
  2. Book and complete TLILIC0001 training - 2 full days, $530 at TDT. You get a statement of attainment at the end. This is valid for 6 months, so do not sit on it.
  3. Get a commercial medical done by a GP - not a standard check-up, a full commercial driver health assessment. Book a double appointment.
  4. Get your 5-year driving history from VicRoads - this is your demerit point record and any court matters. You buy it online from VicRoads.
  5. Verify your ID online through your myWorkSafe account - a selfie with your licence is all it takes.
  6. Apply through myWorkSafe and pay the $97 fee - do this within 60 days of finishing your course or your statement of attainment expires.
  7. Wait for approval - WorkSafe takes up to 28 days. Your digital licence shows up in myWorkSafe straight away. The physical card takes 20 to 25 working days to arrive.
Section 2 - What Is a DG Licence

What Is a Dangerous Goods Licence?

A DG licence is your legal authority to drive a truck carrying regulated hazardous loads. It is a separate licence from your HC or HR - your heavy vehicle licence covers the truck, the DG licence covers what is in it.

In Victoria, WorkSafe issues the DG licence under the Dangerous Goods Act 1985. The training course you need to complete is called TLILIC0001. Not every driver hauling something hazardous needs one - it only kicks in when you hit certain load sizes.

truck with flamable liquid
Section 3 - When Is It Required

When Do You Need a Dangerous Goods Licence?

The trigger is load size, not load type. Most drivers do not realise the DG licence only applies once you hit a certain volume or weight. Here is when you need one:

Tank or drum over 500 litres

A single tank, drum, or container holding more than 500 litres of DG. This covers fuel tankers, chemical tanks, and most bulk liquid runs.

Load over 500 kg

Any single container of DG that weighs more than 500 kg. Weight-based trigger mostly applies to Class 4, 5, and 8 solid or semi-solid goods.

IBCs totalling over 3,000 litres

If you are running multiple IBCs on the truck and the combined DG volume adds up to more than 3,000 litres, you need the licence.

Empty tankers still count

You still need the licence to drive an empty tank unless it has been cleaned out to the standard set in the ADG Code. An empty fuel tanker is still a licensed vehicle.
Do You Need a DG Licence to Haul Diesel?
No. Diesel on its own is not classified as a dangerous good under the ADG Code, so you do not need a DG licence for a diesel-only run. However, if your tanker has multiple compartments and one of them carries petrol or another Class 3 flammable liquid alongside diesel, the whole load gets classified differently and you will need the licence.
Section 4 - DG Classes

What Loads Does the DG Licence Cover?

The DG licence covers most of the hazardous loads you will see on the road. The classes come from the ADG Code, which WorkSafe Victoria uses to set the rules. Here is what your licence will cover once you have it:

ClassWhat It IsWhat You Will Be Hauling
Class 2GasesLPG, propane, compressed natural gas
Class 3Flammable liquidsPetrol, kerosene, turpentine, flammable paints
Class 4Flammable solidsSulphur, materials that self-ignite or react with water
Class 5Oxidising agentsAmmonium nitrate - also needs a separate HCDG permit on top
Class 6.1Toxic substancesPesticides, herbicides, industrial chemicals
Class 8CorrosivesHydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid
Class 9MiscellaneousBitumen, lithium batteries, dry ice
Class 1 - NOT includedExplosivesNeeds a separate Driver Transporting Explosives licence - not covered by TLILIC0001
Section 5 - Application Process

How to Apply for a Dangerous Goods Licence in Victoria

You need four things sorted before you can lodge your application online. Everything must be less than 6 months old when you submit. Do not sit on your course certificate - you have 60 days to get the application in after you finish training.

1
Do the TLILIC0001 course at a WorkSafe-approved RTO
Two full days of hands-on and classroom training. At the end you get a statement of attainment that lists your DG classes. It is valid for 6 months. Get your application in within 60 days of finishing or you are starting again.
2
Get a commercial medical done by a GP
This is not a standard check-up. You need the WorkSafe commercial driver health assessment form completed and signed. Book a double appointment - GPs need more time for this than a regular visit. Must be less than 6 months old when you apply.
3
Order your 5-year driving history from VicRoads
This is your full demerit point record and any court matters over the last 5 years. You buy it online through the VicRoads website. Must also be less than 6 months old.
4
Lodge your application through myWorkSafe and pay the $97 fee
Log in at worksafe.vic.gov.au, upload your documents, take a selfie holding your driver licence for the ID check, and pay the $97 fee by card. WorkSafe will get back to you within 28 days.
5
Get your licence
If approved, your digital licence shows up in myWorkSafe straight away. The physical card arrives in the mail within 20 to 25 working days.
danger sign
Section 6 - Costs

How Much Does a Dangerous Goods Licence Cost?

DG
$530
TLILIC0001 course at TDT
2 full days
WS
$97.00
WorkSafe licence fee
paid when you apply
Med
$100 - $200
Commercial medical
GP double appointment
VR
~$35
VicRoads driving
history report
WorkSafe fees confirmed July 2025. Renewal fee is $92.30. Your licence is valid for up to 5 years.
Section 7 - Renewal

How to Renew Your Dangerous Goods Licence

Log in to myWorkSafe and find your DDR licence under "My licences." You can kick off the renewal before your current licence expires. You will need a fresh medical and an updated driving history - same rules as the original application, both must be less than 6 months old.

The renewal fee is $92.30. If you already hold a current DG licence from another state, you can legally haul DG in Victoria under mutual recognition - you do not need to apply for a Victorian licence on top of it.

Section 8 - What It Does Not Cover

What the DG Licence Does Not Cover

  • Explosives (Class 1) - the DG licence does not cover explosives. You need a separate Driver Transporting Explosives licence from WorkSafe for that work.
  • Loading at fuel terminals - the DG licence gets you on the road, but it does not get you into a fuel terminal to load your tanker. For that you also need a Safe Load Program (SLP) accreditation. TDT runs the SLP as a separate 3.5-hour course for $400, valid for 2 years.
  • Ammonium nitrate and HCDG loads - hauling ammonium nitrate or high-concentration fertiliser mixes also needs a High Consequence Dangerous Goods (HCDG) permit from WorkSafe, on top of your DG licence.
  • Small loads under the threshold - if your load is under 500 litres or 500 kg, the DG licence is not legally required. But you are still responsible for safe handling, correct placards, and load restraint under the ADG Code. Under-threshold does not mean no rules.
Section 9 - Who Needs It

Who Needs to Do the TLILIC0001 Course?

  • Fuel tanker drivers - running petrol, LPG, or aviation fuel in bulk tanks
  • Chemical tanker drivers - carrying acids, corrosives, toxic liquids, or oxidising agents above the size threshold
  • Gas delivery drivers - LPG cylinders or bulk gas in tanks over 500 litres
  • HC or MC drivers moving into tanker work - your heavy vehicle licence covers the truck, the DG licence covers the load
  • Agricultural transport drivers - hauling pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers in bulk quantities
  • Mining transport drivers - carrying chemicals, reagents, or explosive precursors to site
DG Work Pays More
Drivers with a current DG licence earn more than standard HC drivers on the same hours. Tanker and fuel delivery work in Victoria regularly advertises $45 to $60 per hour - because not many drivers have the HC licence, the DG accreditation, and the SLP certification all at once.
safety sign
Section 10 - FAQ and Related

Frequently Asked Questions

In Victoria you need one if you are hauling DG in a single tank or drum bigger than 500 litres, a load heavier than 500 kg, or multiple IBCs that add up to more than 3,000 litres total on the truck. If you are under those sizes you do not legally need the licence, but safe handling rules still apply.
The TLILIC0001 course at TDT costs $530 for two days. The WorkSafe application fee is $97. You also need a commercial medical ($100 to $200 depending on your GP) and a 5-year driving history from VicRoads (around $35). All up you are looking at roughly $760 to $860.
No. Diesel on its own is not classed as a dangerous good under the ADG Code. You do not need the licence for diesel-only runs. But if your tanker is also carrying petrol or another Class 3 flammable in the same load, the rules change and you will need it.
When your load hits the size threshold - a single tank or drum over 500 litres, a load over 500 kg, or IBCs totalling more than 3,000 litres on the truck. It applies to Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, and 9. Explosives (Class 1) need a separate licence entirely.
Do the TLILIC0001 course, get a commercial medical from a GP, and order your 5-year driving history from VicRoads. Then lodge everything through your myWorkSafe account at worksafe.vic.gov.au and pay the $97 fee. Submit within 60 days of finishing your course. WorkSafe takes up to 28 days to decide.
Log into myWorkSafe and find your licence under "My licences." You can renew before it expires. You will need a fresh medical and an updated driving history. The renewal fee is $92.30.
Explosives need a separate Driver Transporting Explosives licence. Loading at fuel terminals also needs a Safe Load Program (SLP) accreditation on top of the DG licence. And hauling ammonium nitrate requires an extra HCDG permit from WorkSafe.

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Chris Davis

Head of Sales & Business Development

Chris writes about trucking, logistics, and transport industry trends.

truck with flamable sign

How to Get a Dangerous Goods Licence in Australia

In Victoria, you need a Dangerous Goods (DG) licence to legally haul bulk hazardous loads like petrol, LPG, and chemicals by road. WorkSafe Victoria issues the licence after you complete two days of training – it costs $97 to apply and the whole process takes around four to six weeks.

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