Forum Discussion

Gonzo42's avatar
Gonzo42
Explorer
Feb 22, 2018

CA licensing

Does the People's Republic of Kalifornia offer or require a license to drive bigger RV's?


If so, is there a driver's educational course available in KA that someone can recommend?

26 Replies

  • Dutch_12078 wrote:
    mowermech wrote:
    More information, please.
    At what point (size, length, weight?) does that Non-Com Class A license become required?
    Is there any RV that requires a Class A CDL?
    Statutory references?


    The non-com requirements start on page 2.

    Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook

    I found no references that would require a CDL for private use non-commercial operation of an RV in CA.


    I don't think a CDL is required to operate an RV for personal, non-commercial use anywhere in the US (some online charts claiming otherwise notwithstanding). A "commercial motor vehicle," along with the requirements for what sort of a CDL is required for each, is determined at the federal level and RVs are specifically exempted from being commercial motor vehicles, regardless of their weight that would otherwise make them included.

    Actual CDLs carry with them a good bit of bureaucratic overhead, including annual medical examinations, periodic drug testing, logging of (and restrictions on) hours driven, etc.

    Several states do have non-commercial licenses for (some) RVs and other large non-commercial vehicles that parallel the classes and requirements of CDLs. Others have various non-commercial license classes that would apply to some RVs but follow a different pattern, and some don't bother with any sort of special license classes at all for RVs.
  • Gonzo42 wrote:
    Does the People's Republic of Kalifornia offer or require a license to drive bigger RV's?


    If so, is there a driver's educational course available in KA that someone can recommend?


    Only if you have one's of their licenses.
  • RV over 40 feet requires class B non commercial. There are plenty of threads on that.

    Over a certain weight for 5th wheels needs a different license. It should be in the handbook posted.
  • mowermech wrote:
    More information, please.
    At what point (size, length, weight?) does that Non-Com Class A license become required?
    Is there any RV that requires a Class A CDL?
    Statutory references?


    The non-com requirements start on page 2.

    Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook

    I found no references that would require a CDL for private use non-commercial operation of an RV in CA.
  • More information, please.
    At what point (size, length, weight?) does that Non-Com Class A license become required?
    Is there any RV that requires a Class A CDL?
    Statutory references?
  • You'll need a non-commercial Class A license.

    Lessons can be had from: https://www.rvschool.com/school-locations/