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. With a car, it was easy to rent or borrow someone else's vehicle to practice and pass the driving test. With an RV, it doesn't seem like there are many services that let you rent and practice a 42' fifth wheeler... What is the order that people usually accomplish this? Am I missing some part of this equation? (Relevant only to those with RV license requirements in specific states & weight restrictions). EDIT::: As I was using incorrect wording - I am referring to the "Class A Noncommercial License". In TX, that license is needed if you drive a combined GCWR more than 26,000 pounds or tow anything with GVWR more than 10,000 pounds. The vehicle we're looking at DOES meet those requirements. I kept calling it "RV License" in my head but obviously that doesn't make sense. Sorry for confusion!**One more clarification: I don't know how to change my profile tag that shows myself in "CA", but we are in TX and subject to TX requirements. Thanks!

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. With a car, it was easy to rent or borrow someone else's vehicle to practice and pass the driving test. With an RV, it doesn't seem like there are many services that let you rent and practice a 42' fifth wheeler... What is the order that people usually accomplish this? Am I missing some part of this equation? (Relevant only to those with RV license requirements in specific states & weight restrictions). FYI - this isn't related to financing requirements, we are buying cash. But we definitely don't want to drive around without insurance coverage either. Thanks!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?

bikendan 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. With a car, it was easy to rent or borrow someone else's vehicle to practice and pass the driving test. With an RV, it doesn't seem like there are many services that let you rent and practice a 42' fifth wheeler... What is the order that people usually accomplish this? Am I missing some part of this equation? (Relevant only to those with RV license requirements in specific states & weight restrictions). FYI - this isn't related to financing requirements, we are buying cash. But we definitely don't want to drive around without insurance coverage either. Thanks!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?Personally, I would find the 5th wheel I wanted to buy, get all the specific information i.e. model,yr. lic. #, Vin # which is stamped on towing hitch for a 5th. wheel, then call your insurance company and tell them when you want the insurance to start. Then hook up your 5th. wheel and practice. The RV license you are referencing to is called a Class A commercial Lic. that 18 wheeler truckers are required to have. I personally would not bother with the Class A Lic. just use your regular car license. Ask your insurance Company if your regular lic. is ok to drive your 5th wheel. You could also call your local DMV office for a final clarification. I have a 35' 5th. wheel weighing 20 K when loaded and I just have a regular car License. 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. To register your 5th wheel, you have to drive your 5th wheel to the DMV office just so they visually check the Vin number. I would avoid getting a Class A license if at all possible. Just my 2 cents from Calif.

I haven't heard of needing an RV license anywhere!

dodge guy wrote:I haven't heard of needing an RV license anywhere!Ignorance of the law is no excuse said the Judge. Many states have higher class licenses for non-commercial vehicles. I'm in Texas & it's based on the combined GVWR and if over 26000 lbs you need a class A or B NON-COmMERCIAL license.I have the A . I don'tt know or care about Ca specifics but have read several threads on this & Ca does have an endorsement/license requirement for larger RV's .

Assuming Calicrazy has such a thing, you might call up a truck driving school and see if they have something that might be applicable. Obviously, commercial truck drivers have the same issue.In most states, your standard drivers license is acceptable to drive just about any RV.

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

23 Replies

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Aug 06, 2020
I haven't heard of needing an RV license anywhere!
MarkTwain
Explorer
Aug 06, 2020
bikendan 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.

With a car, it was easy to rent or borrow someone else's vehicle to practice and pass the driving test. With an RV, it doesn't seem like there are many services that let you rent and practice a 42' fifth wheeler... What is the order that people usually accomplish this? Am I missing some part of this equation?

(Relevant only to those with RV license requirements in specific states & weight restrictions). FYI - this isn't related to financing requirements, we are buying cash. But we definitely don't want to drive around without insurance coverage either.

Thanks!

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?

Personally, I would find the 5th wheel I wanted to buy, get all the specific information i.e. model,yr. lic. #, Vin # which is stamped on towing hitch for a 5th. wheel, then call your insurance company and tell them when you want the insurance to start. Then hook up your 5th. wheel and practice. The RV license you are referencing to is called a Class A commercial Lic. that 18 wheeler truckers are required to have. I personally would not bother with the Class A Lic. just use your regular car license. Ask your insurance Company if your regular lic. is ok to drive your 5th wheel. You could also call your local DMV office for a final clarification. I have a 35' 5th. wheel weighing 20 K when loaded and I just have a regular car License. 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. To register your 5th wheel, you have to drive your 5th wheel to the DMV office just so they visually check the Vin number. I would avoid getting a Class A license if at all possible. Just my 2 cents from Calif.
bikendan
Explorer
Aug 06, 2020
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.

With a car, it was easy to rent or borrow someone else's vehicle to practice and pass the driving test. With an RV, it doesn't seem like there are many services that let you rent and practice a 42' fifth wheeler... What is the order that people usually accomplish this? Am I missing some part of this equation?

(Relevant only to those with RV license requirements in specific states & weight restrictions). FYI - this isn't related to financing requirements, we are buying cash. But we definitely don't want to drive around without insurance coverage either.

Thanks!

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?

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

23 Replies

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