The time has come, you’ve convinced yourself, or you have finally convinced your family, and you are en route to buy a Class A RV and join the community of camping and travel enthusiasts.
We’re happy to say that you have definitely made the right choice to buy a recreational vehicle and enjoy the open road! And we’re here to help make that transition easier.
You may or may not already know this, but each state has its own set of laws when it come to Class A RV’s (and RV’s in general) and there may be some extra hoops to go through if you live in a state that requires special license.
What Is A Special License For RV?
Any license other than the standard one for operating a passenger vehicle is considered a “special” license. A wide variety of licenses fall within this category, from commercial to motorcycle to chauffeur to restricted.
You should contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to find out what kinds of licenses are available in your area. However, we will also cover this a bit more in detail below!
Some jurisdictions have differing regulations for automobiles above 26,000 pounds, as you’ll later in this post. Thankfully, most recreational vehicles are under the weight restriction and may not require a new license.
Do You Need a Special License to Drive an RV?
RVs weighing more than 26,000 pounds must adhere to the regulations of certain states. It’s possible that only a standard driver’s license will suffice, given this is the weight threshold below which most Class A RVs fall.
Nonetheless, if your RV is heavier than 10,000 pounds, you’ll likely require either a CDL or a non-commercial driver’s license (NCDL).
So most likely, you will not have to get a special license to drive your Class A RV.
Can You Drive a Class A RV with a Regular Car License?
To help provide clarity, it is possible to operate a Class A RV with just a standard driver’s license, however this will vary by state and RV weight. Although a Class A RV license is not necessary in many states, each one has its own set of regulations. It is best to check your home states requirements before hitting the road.
RVs under 26,000 pounds in weight, or those being towed by a vehicle under 10,000 pounds, do not require a special license in the majority of states. Special permits are typically required for vehicles that can seat more than 16 people (so don’t take a literal school bus on a camping trip).
The average RV weighs significantly less than 26,000, but there are different types and classes of RVs so it is important to consider which types you are driving. Class B RVs normally weigh between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds, whereas Class C RVs average between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds in weight. There is a wide weight range for vehicles classified as Class A, from 13,000 to 30,000 pounds. That is to say, you won’t require any sort of permit to operate a standard recreational vehicle or a camper.
Types Of Special Licenses For A Class A RV
You may require a special license to register, own, and drive your RV, towing vehicles, or motorhome in certain states if they exceed the maximum length or weight. The two types of license could be a CDL or a Class B license to drive the recreational vehicle.
Some states require a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for RV drivers if the RV weighs more than a specific threshold or if it is carrying more than 16 passengers (including the driver) at a time.
An RV Driver’s licenses can be categorized into commercial and non-commercial types. A typical American driver receives a Non-Commercial Class C license when they complete their driving test.
If you’re considering driving a Class A RV, then you may need to head back to the DMV and look into getting a Commercial License (CDL). You may need one to drive an RV legally in your state.
Commercial Driver’s Licenses
Helpful tip: Don’t get the different classes of Texas driver’s licenses mixed up with the different “classes” of recreational vehicles. While they have the same initial letters—A, B, and C—they are completely unrelated.
Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
In order to operate a commercial vehicle with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more and the towed vehicle must weigh more than 10,000 pounds than the driver must have a Class A CDL.
Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
A Class B commercial driver’s license is required to operate any single commercial vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or to tow any commercial vehicle having a GVWR of less than 10,000 pounds.
Class C Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
This is a special kind of commercial driver’s license that is needed to operate a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 26,001 pounds, a towed vehicle with a GVWR of less than 10,000 pounds, or a vehicle carrying 16 or more passengers.
Non-Commercial Driver’s License
This is your standard drivers license, the one you get excited about at 16 years old. You can receive a regular driver’s license to operate any kind of vehicle if you don’t need to operate a business/commercial vehicle.
A non-commercial driver’s license can be obtained after one demonstrates legal driving age and successfully completes a written and driving exam.
The United States mandates this license for all drivers, whether for business or pleasure. Taxi drivers, food delivery drivers, and drivers of smaller trucks normally just need this kind of license too.
Driver’s License Endorsements
If you want to breeze through the DMV process without any hiccups, it will help to have a firm grasp on the distinction between an endorsement and a special class license.
An endorsement is a notation on a driver’s license, such as a sticker or a separate section of the license, that specifies the types of vehicles for which the holder is authorized to operate.
For example a driver with a standard license could receive an endorsement for motorcycle driving.
A combination of special license circumstances, endorsements and personal lives as well as the states policies make each driver’s license unique to their lifestyle.
Class A RV Driver’s License Requirements
The good news is that in all 50 states, you don’t need a special license to drive a car that weighs less than 26,000 pounds. And that’s how the vast majority of RVs are.
But if your rig weighs more than that, you may need a different license. So, most of the time, you won’t have to worry about fancy RV or motorhome license requirements. However, there are times when you will have to. Along with the places and situations where you need a special license, there are also two types of licenses to think about: commercial and non-commercial.
Which States Require A Special License To Drive An RV?
The rules are different in each state and may change, so always check with your state’s DMV to find out what you need to do. As a general rule, no state needs a special license for a vehicle with a single gross weight or combined gross weight of less than 26,000 pounds. This is also true for RVs that can be pulled behind a car, so most of the time you won’t need a special license to pull a fifth wheel, travel trailer, or toy hauler.
States That Require a Commercial Driver’s License
- Arkansas:
- When operating vehicles over 26,000 pounds.
- Connecticut:
- Class B License required when operating a single vehicle over 26,000 lb
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles with combined weight over 26,000 lb
- Hawaii
- Class B License required when operating RVs over 26,000 pounds
- Class A License required multiple vehicles over 26,000 pounds gross weight.
- Kansas:
- Class B License required when operating RVs over 26,000 pounds
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles over 26,000 pounds gross weight.
- New Mexico:
- Class B License required when operating RVs over 26,000 pounds
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles over 26,000 pounds gross weight.
- Washington DC:
- Class B License required when operating RVs over 26,000 pounds
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles over 26,000 pounds gross weight.
- Wyoming:
- When operating RVs over 26,000 pounds or towing over 10,000 pounds.
- Wisconsin :
- When operating vehicles over 45 feet in length.
States That Require a Non-Commercial Special Driver’s License
If you plan to drive a single or combined rig that weighs more than 26,000 pounds, you may need a different license class in the following states, but not a Commercial Drivers License. Check with the DMV for more information, since rules can change over time.
- California
- Class B License required when operating motorhomes over 40 feet or over 26,000 pounds
- Class A License required for pulling trailers weighing over 10,000 pounds or fifth wheels weighing over 15,000 pounds.
- Maryland:
- Class B License required when operating vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds.
- Nevada:
- Class B License required for single vehicle over 26,000 lb
- Class A License required for multiple vehicles with combined weight over 26,000 lb
- “J” Endorsement required to tow a vehicle over 10,000 lb (if the combined weight is less than 26,000 lb)
- North Carolina:
- Class B License required when operating single vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles with a combined vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
- Pennsylvania:
- Class B License required when operating single or gross combined vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
- South Carolina:
- Class B License required when operating single vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles with a combined vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
- Texas:
- Class B License required when operating single vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles with a combined vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
- Wyoming:
- Class B License required when operating single vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds and towing under 10,000 pounds.
- Class A License required when operating multiple vehicles with a combined vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds and towing over 10,000 pounds.
States That Require Special Driver’s License Endorsements
- Michigan
- Recreational Double “R” Endorsement required to tow a fifth wheel plus a trailer (it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need this)
- Nevada:
- Class B License required for single vehicle over 26,000 lb
- Class A required for multiple vehicles with combined weight over 26,000 lb
- “J” Endorsement required to tow a vehicle over 10,000 lb (if the combined weight is less than 26,000 lb)
- New York:
- Recreational Vehicle or “R” endorsement required for vehicles over 26,000 lb
States That Do Not Require A Special Driver’s License
In the states below, you don’t need a special license to drive an RV. Always check with your local dmv before hitting the road though.
- Alabama § 32-6-49.7, Ala. Code
- Alaska § 28.90.990, AS
- Arizona § 28-3102, Ark. Code
- Colorado § 42-2-402, Colo. Rev. Stat.
- Delaware § 2213, Del. Admin. Code tit. 2
- Florida § 332.53, Fla. Stat.
- Georgia § 40-5-142, OCGA
- Idaho § 49-302, I.C.
- Illinois § 5/6-500, 625 ILCS
- Indiana CDL Manual
- Iowa § 321.176A, Iowa Code
- Kentucky § 281A-050, KRS and CDL Manual
- Louisiana § 32:408, LSA-RS
- Maine § 1252, 29A M.R.S and CDL Manual
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota § 169.011, Minn. Stat. or Driver’s Manual
- Mississippi § 63-1-203, Miss. Code
- Missouri § 302.775, MO Rev Stat
- Montana § 61-1-101, MCA
- Nebraska § 60-465, Neb. Rev. Stat.
- New Hampshire § Saf-C 1801.02, N.H.
- New Jersey § 39:3-10.11, N.J. Rev. Stat
- North Dakota § 39-06.2-06, N.D.C.C.
- Ohio § 4506.3, Ohio Rev. Code
- Oklahoma § 1-107.4, 47 O.S.
- Oregon § 801.208, Or. Rev. Stat
- Rhode Island § 10.3-16, 31 R.I. Gen. Laws
- South Dakota § 32-9-3, S.D. Codified Laws
- Tennessee § 55-50-102, T.C.A
- Utah § 53-3-102, Utah Code
- Vermont § 39-4103, 23 V.S.A
- Virginia § 46.2-341.4, Code
- Washington § 46 25-050, RCW
- West Virginia § 17E-1, W. Va. Code
How to Obtain a Special License
The DMV in your state is where you go to apply for a driver’s license, as well as any endorsements you might need. Check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to be sure you’re following the right procedure for applying.
Getting A Commercial Driver’s License For Your RV
A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) will be issued to you once you have successfully completed all required testing. If you are a veteran and can provide evidence of prior experience driving military trucks, you may be exempt from taking the written exam.
Getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL) sometimes necessitates passing a vision test and a written exam at your local DMV office. Once the required amount of time has passed, a driving test can be scheduled.
In most cases, a Class B license is sufficient for operating a Class A motorhome, and a Class C license is sufficient for operating a Class B or Class C motorhome. A Class A license will be required for the operation of several large fifth-wheel trailers, which are not classified as RVs.
Getting A Non-Commercial Driver’s License For Your RV
If you already have a standard driver’s license then you’re in luck. Applying for a regular driver’s license is fairly similar to applying for a non-commercial license.
All you need to do is schedule a visit to the local DMV office for a vision test, written exam, and driving test. Once passed, you are all set! Contrast that with the time required to apply for a CDL, and you’ll see how fast this goes.
Getting A Driver’s License Endorsement For Your RV
In the states where they require it, getting a license endorsement can be very simple and, thankfully, very fast.
The process often involves filling out an application, paying a nominal fee, and passing either a written knowledge exam or a driving exam administered by the state.
You can check the states DMV office for more information.
Costs of Special Licenses
Each state has different fees associated with their special license process. You will need to refer to your local DMV for accurate prices and fees.
What will happen if you don’t have the right class of license?
You could get a ticket for driving without a license if you don’t have the right kind of license for the RV you’re driving. In other words, if you have the wrong type of license for what you’re driving, you’re treated the same as if you didn’t have a license at all.
What About a Special License to Drive an RV in Canada?
Many US citizens contemplating a road trip across Canada in an RV wonder if they need a Canadian driver’s license or an international license.
To put it succinctly, the answer is no.
To rent or drive an RV through Canada, all you need is a driver’s license that is still valid in your home country.
Final Thoughts
Finding out what rules and regulations apply to driving an RV doesn’t have to be difficult, or complex.
Of course, there are a lot of moving parts, but if you know what you’re doing or where to call, it’s a very simple process!
Keep in mind the general rule of thumb that states any rig under the 26,000 lbs is good to go with just a standard legal driver’s license, while those over 26,000 lbs may need additional documentation.
Selecting a smaller RV, like a class B or C, will help you avoid any licensing ambiguity. If you are unsure of the legislation in your state, it is best practice that you contact the DMV first.
Stick to these guidelines, and you’ll be on your way to a relaxing road trip in no time!
Happy RVing!
