Buying an excavator in Western Australia (WA) means planning transport under WA's own road rules, setting the machine up for heat and dust, and putting a trained operator on it. No licence is needed to dig with an excavator in WA. Using one as a crane to lift a suspended load is a different matter, and WA has its own rule for that.
Choosing the excavator size for WA work
A 1-2 t mini excavator suits Perth backyards, landscaping, retic and cable trenches, and it travels behind a ute. A 5-6 t machine suits house sites, farm drains and dams in the Wheatbelt and South West, and rural blocks with heavier digging. Choose the smallest machine that reaches your deepest trench with some margin.
| Model | Operating weight | Dig depth | Typical WA work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuchai E12 and YC10 | 1,000 kg | About 1.4-1.5 m | Retic and cable trenches, post holes, garden and landscaping work |
| Yuchai U18 | 1,880 kg | 2,295 mm | Footings, drainage, pool and backyard jobs, small farm work |
| Yuchai YC60 | 5,700 kg | 3,720 mm | House sites, farm drains and dams, rural block clearing |
Check gates and sheds before you buy: the U18 narrows to 1,080 mm with its tracks retracted, while the YC60 is 1,920 mm wide. Weigh up tail swing, tracks and auxiliary hydraulics too, using the checklist in how to choose an excavator.
Moving an excavator in WA
WA runs its own heavy vehicle rules rather than the national NHVR scheme, so Main Roads WA and the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure are the agencies that matter. Tracked excavators are moved on a trailer, not driven on public roads. A load wider than 2.5 m, higher than 4.3 m or longer than 19 m as a combination needs a Main Roads permit, and the Yuchai range sits well inside the width limit on a suitable trailer.
The loaded trailer must stay within the lower of the vehicle maker's towing capacity and the towbar or towball rating, and within the towball download limit. WA trailer rules:
- Up to 750 kg gross trailer mass: no brakes needed
- 751-2,000 kg: brakes on at least one axle
- Over 2,000 kg: brakes on all wheels, operated from the driver's seat, and a breakaway system that applies the brakes if the trailer comes off
- Over 2,500 kg ATM: two safety chains
In practice, a 1 t E12 or YC10 on a light plant trailer fits behind most utes. A U18 plus trailer usually goes over 2,000 kg, so the trailer needs electric brakes on all wheels and a breakaway system. The 5.7 t YC60 is beyond a ute's towing limit and needs a truck, tag trailer or float, so check the licence class for that vehicle with the Department of Transport.
Setting up an excavator for WA heat and dust
WA's hottest recorded temperature is 50.7°C, at Onslow in January 2022, and summers in the Wheatbelt and the north regularly pass 40°C. Heat and fine dust shorten an excavator's life faster than hours do. Ask what ambient temperature the cooling system is rated for before you buy.
Blow out the radiator and oil cooler cores often in dusty work, and check the air filter more often than the book interval when it's dry. Choose a cab with air conditioning or a canopy with good shade for long summer days, and drain the fuel water separator as part of the daily check.
Do you need an excavator licence in WA?
No high risk work licence is needed to dig with an excavator in WA, but the business must make sure the operator is trained and competent. WA's Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and its 2022 regulations apply, and WorkSafe WA is the regulator. The national excavator unit is RIIMPO320 (Conduct civil construction excavator operations), and many civil sites ask for it or a verification of competency.
Anyone working on a construction site also needs a White Card. Plant must be maintained, inspected and repaired in line with the manufacturer's recommendations, which is what daily pre-start checks and scheduled services cover.
Using an excavator as a crane in WA
Since 10 August 2025, WA has required a high risk work licence to use earthmoving machinery as a crane. It applies when the machine is fitted with lifting equipment, suspends a load and has a safe working load over 3 t. An excavator slews, so the licence class is C2 (slewing mobile crane), not the CN class that applies to non-slewing machines such as wheel loaders. An operator can instead hold a dogging licence plus the unit SLELIC301 (Conduct safe lifting with excavators).
The machine must be designed for lifting, used within the maker's limits, and shown by a risk assessment to be the safest option. Excavators of 1-6 t are usually rated well under 3 t, but check the machine's lifting chart. Read the WorkSafe WA guidance on earthmoving machinery used as a crane before any lifting work.
Quick hitches and digging safely in WA
A quick hitch saves time between buckets, but buckets have fallen and injured workers when the safety pin was skipped. Choose a fully automatic hitch, or refit the safety pin after every change on a semi-automatic one, and check the hitch is locked before lifting the attachment. The current Australian Standard for quick couplers is AS 13031:2023.
Before digging, lodge a free enquiry with Before You Dig Australia at least two business days ahead. Plans are not permission to dig, not every asset owner is a member, and private lines on farms aren't shown, so locate services by hand near anything marked.
In Perth suburbs, construction noise is allowed from 7am to 7pm on days that aren't Sundays or public holidays, as long as the quietest reasonably available equipment is used. Work outside those hours needs a noise management plan approved by the local council.
Prices and buying a used excavator in WA
Perth listings in October 2026 showed new value-brand mini excavators of 1.8-2.5 t at about $22,700 to $31,800 +GST, and 5.5-6 t machines at about $52,900 to $67,400 +GST. Japanese and premium brands cost noticeably more. Used 1-6 t machines with WA locations mostly listed between about $24,000 and $50,000 +GST, depending on age, hours and brand.
Before buying a used machine, do a cold start and cycle every function under load. Check for cracks or welds on the boom and arm, and look at track tension and rubber track cuts. Search the serial number on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) for money owing, which costs $2 online. Ranges for every size are in excavator prices by size.
Buying an excavator from Bayswater
DJJ Equipment's Perth branch in Bayswater, about 8 km from the CBD via Tonkin Highway, sells the Yuchai range and has a workshop. It covers the Perth metropolitan area, with regional WA delivery quoted per job. The team can match a machine, buckets, an auger or a hydraulic breaker to your jobs and your tow vehicle.
Good service, great loader and excavator!
haoxiang s., Perth branch customer
That story comes from a public Google review, where you can read the full Google reviews of the Perth branch.
On warranty, the E12 carries 1 year or 1,000 hours, and the YC10, U18 and YC60 carry 2 years or 2,000 hours. Filters, bucket teeth and track parts are kept at the branch, so common wear items don't have to come from interstate.
Match the machine to your tow vehicle and WA's trailer rules, set it up for heat and dust, and check the lifting rule before using it as a crane. DJJ sells Yuchai mini excavators from Bayswater. Call 1800 355 388 with your jobs and where in WA the machine will work, or compare the range of mini excavators for sale.
