How does RV Insurance work? How to get around my Catch-22?

When I needed to take the road test for my non-commercial class B license, I gave an off duty fireman with a class B license $50 to ride with me to the DMV.

Fwiw Id go to a Profesional truck driving school to get whatever licence you need.
May cost you more $ but good school will also teach you lots more about safety and other things related to driving then some budy friend.

MarkTwain wrote:
Getting a Class A commercial lic. is a much more difficult test to pass and has to be renewed every yr. or so and requires a physical health exam from a Doctor and cost more money.

That's for a commercial license, or CDL. Some states do require a CDL to drive an RV, but California and Texas are not among them. Both states have just an "enhanced" version of a regular license (in Texas, it's a non-commercial Class A or non-commercial Class B, depending on the vehicle(s)). This type of license doesn't require the onerous CDL test, more frequent renewal, or getting a physical. Once you pass the test, the "enhanced" license is yours to keep, and you do nothing different to maintain it. Just like if you had a motorcycle endorsement on your car driver's license.

ReneeG wrote:
I didn't think you needed a special RV license to drive one, but I found this guide online.

Beware. It says New York requires a commercial license, but that's not true. It requires an R endorsement. So we know they got that one wrong, and may have others wrong, too--I didn't check.

There are several guides like this out there, and I've found errors on every one I've seen. Major errors like this one, where it gets a state's requirements completely wrong, even though it might give a citation to support it and therefore look reliable.

SinanEmRV wrote:
I ran into a cyclical problem when I thought about trying to attain RV insurance and RV license. I can't buy or drive my RV without first getting RV insurance. I can't get RV insurance unless I have my RV license (I think??). And I can't get my RV license without first having an RV.

You can get an RV license without having an RV. Same as you can get a regular driver's license without having a car, or a motorcycle license without having a motorcycle. You just borrow one for the test.

You can get RV insurance without having the proper license to drive the RV (if your state requires something other than a regular "car" driver's license). People will say that if you don't have the proper license, then the insurance company will reject any claim you have, but no one has ever been able to give a citation to a law that says that or a case that held that.

I'm licensed and insured in a state that requires an "enhanced" license for my RV, and no insurance company has ever asked for anything other than my driver's license number. If having the proper license is a requirement for having the policy issued, they have the information to determine whether I meet it.

SinanEmRV wrote:
This is helpful, we will look into a truck driving school near us. I wonder if this is what most large fifth wheel drivers do to accomplish this licensing requirement, though? It certainly is a large amount of time and expense.

No, I think most people buy the RV, get insurance on it, practice driving it, and then get the license. Or do all that and don't bother to get the license--there are thousands of people out there who don't have the proper license for the RV they're driving.

The tricky part is getting the RV to the testing site. Fortunately, in Texas it appears to be a don't-ask-don't-tell situation, or maybe it doesn't even occur to them to wonder how it got there. In contrast, in New York, the person getting the license has to be accompanied by someone who's properly licensed for the vehicle (who presumably either drove it or rode along with someone with the learner's permit that New York has).

Well I have heard of special licenses being needed for Vehicles over xxxxxxx pounds combined vehicle weight that includes many RV trailers.

BUT.. The "Special RV insurance" policy is on the VEHICLE.. and covers all drivers operating the vehicle.

The license covers the Driver.. the O/P is over thinking
You need not have an RV insurance policy or even an RV to get the license
And you do not even need a driver's license let alone a special one to insure the vehicle.

Why is this: You can hire a professional driver to move the RV (I know why?) but legally you can. I know folks who've done it.

And you can be said professional driver (That takes an even higher class of license however) and deliver other people's RV's.

Thus the License does not require an insured vehicle.

There may. however. be discounts on the insurance depending on your license endorsements.

Well Sinan if I was closer we’d plan to meet and you would get all practiced up driving around with me and it would cost you breakfasts and or burgers and beer. But I am in a whole another country so we can’t ...

Suggest contacting the Escapee’s office in Livingston TX and see if they know someone who will do some training with you and provide a rig for your exam.

ItsyRV wrote:

SinanEmRV wrote:
Hello, Hopefully there is a simple answer for this but I am scratching my head right now. I ran into a cyclical problem when I thought about trying to attain RV insurance and RV license. I can't buy or drive my RV without first getting RV insurance. I can't get RV insurance unless I have my RV license (I think??). And I can't get my RV license without first having an RV.

if you're in a state that has an additional license/endorsement for that type of vehicle (yes, they exist even if many have never heard of it), there are usually services that provide vehicles for the test.

If the license/endorsement is based on weight, truck drivings schools may have setups that can be used for that classification. It's often doesn't have to be a RV, just a vehicle with a trailer that meets the weight or length or whatever classification. Some RV dealers may also allow you to borrow the trailer you have purchased along with their driver with the license/endorsement to accompany you and have it covered by their dealer's insurance for the test.

It's all based on the requirement for that license/endorsement so don't focus only on an RV, but what meets the requirements for the test.

Thank you ItsyRV. This is helpful, we will look into a truck driving school near us. I wonder if this is what most large fifth wheel drivers do to accomplish this licensing requirement, though? It certainly is a large amount of time and expense.

BB_TX wrote:

bikendan wrote:

.......
Never heard of needing a RV license to pull a 5th wheel.:h
Not even in California.
Who told you that you needed a "RV" license?

In Texas, and many other states, it is not an RV license, it is a license to operate a vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs. And that includes many RVs, both driveables and towables.

Yes - thank you. I editted my original question to be more clear. This is exactly what I meant.

Hey everyone - Sorry I should have clarified this. In many states (incl CA and TX), they require a Class A noncommercial license to drive anything with certain weight requirements. In TX, that requirement is if you drive a combination of vehicles with GCWR over 26000 pounds or towing a vehicle with GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds. We are buying a 42' fifth wheel and it will hit this weight requirement.

My mistake for simplifying that to "RV License", was just a word I kept using in my head; I realize that doesn't make sense at all in hindsight.

SinanEmRV wrote:
Hello, Hopefully there is a simple answer for this but I am scratching my head right now. I ran into a cyclical problem when I thought about trying to attain RV insurance and RV license. I can't buy or drive my RV without first getting RV insurance. I can't get RV insurance unless I have my RV license (I think??). And I can't get my RV license without first having an RV.

if you're in a state that has an additional license/endorsement for that type of vehicle (yes, they exist even if many have never heard of it), there are usually services that provide vehicles for the test.

If the license/endorsement is based on weight, truck drivings schools may have setups that can be used for that classification. It's often doesn't have to be a RV, just a vehicle with a trailer that meets the weight or length or whatever classification. Some RV dealers may also allow you to borrow the trailer you have purchased along with their driver with the license/endorsement to accompany you and have it covered by their dealer's insurance for the test.

It's all based on the requirement for that license/endorsement so don't focus only on an RV, but what meets the requirements for the test.

whats an RV license?