Practical advice on complying with commercial license laws

If diving a RV for recreational uses a CDL is not required anywhere in the country. Furthermore, if you are driving a RV but conducting commerce, buying/selling items for profit as you drive around, you are a commercial vehicle and shall be registered as such and use a CDL if you meet the requirements.

The laws of each state you are in must be followed, not the state you are from. For the most part, the laws are very similar, and as others mentioned if you do not act like a fool you are fine.

I was a transit coach driver for a couple of years and so needed a "real" CDL with air-brake and passenger endorsements. Our MH isn't big enough to need a special license.

If you do need a CDL in your home state, rather than a "heavy RV licence", there's one little "gotcha" to look out for that almost derailed my brief bus driver career.

My first licence, after I passed the test, was of one-year duration instead of the usual 2-years, because I was already taking BP meds. My BP was within the state's limits, which were 160/100. At renewal, my BP was about the same (144/83) and I was surprised when denied a full renewal. I got a 3-month probationary and had to get my BP below new state limits of 140/80. I was able to achieve it with a calcium channel blocker on top of the alpha-phase inhibitor I was already taking.

My GP tried beta blockers initially, but I was allergic (nasal response) to every one we tried. One time during the trials, I even had to get dispatch to let me go to a fire station on my route for oxygen therapy. Fortunately it was very close to the turn-round point and there were no passengers on board.

Unless you are running a business commercial laws do not affect your RV.

Some states do have legal requirements for RVs above a certain size but they are still not commercial laws.

One comment on Montana.. The Montana LLC trick is to avoid paying taxes. it is Illegal in 49 of the fifty states (If you need help figuring out which state it is legal in.. If you live and are licensed in Montana.. It's legal to use the "Montana LLC" trick.. Else, you may be in for a nasty surprise.)

Several states have gone after RV owners who "Cheated the tax man" using this trick.. Several more either are looking or have looked into it.. We get to read about the lucky lotto loosers every once in a while. but the only states I'm sure of are.. Ca and Co have prosecuted.. MI has considered, and I think there are two or 3 others who have prosecuted as well but I'm not sure on them.

Born in CA. Grew up in MI, and CO was the state that nailed them first. The penalties can be many times the cost of the tax you avoided.

Some states require RESIDENTS to obtain an upgraded license to drive an RV.. Michigan is not one of them UNLESS.... you get paid to drive it.

ALL states respect your home state license... So if I am in Mi, or SC, or GA, or TX or anything in between (Tx is one of the upgrade states) My MI operators... Is all I need.

RoyB wrote:
There is one state up north maybe MONTANA that most on-the road RV'ers use to register their RV so they don't have to mess with the other state laws...


Now you are hearing if your traileer is over a certain weight you have to have a CDL license.

I think you'll find the Montana registration is to avoid the massive annual fees in some other states where the amount you pay is based on what the vehicle is worth.

While the category of your license may or may not allow you to drive a certain type of vehicle, I think you'll find you need a CDL if you're being paid to drive. You may need a higher class of license, but a non-commercial one.

I'm sure the categories vary from State to State also.

Here in Ontario for example they just brought in a new class of license intended almost exclusively for RV'ers pulling very large trailers.

Actually with a CDL my experience was that I had to follow Federal rules and regs then it came down to State level and thier interpretation of and likewise with local, Glad I got out of that circus, however with an RV it will vary state by state but you will be required to follow your states rules and regs in which your license was issued...Now the interesting part is that while traveling through another state you are required to observe thier laws as well.
Geez all this is confusing, as it is meant to be, so that the states will be able to collar some unlucky soul and generate revenue for themeselves.

Good Luck

Just like your home state or any other state, if you're not acting a fool, or driving like a maniac, you'll probably never get stopped.

There is one state up north maybe MONTANA that most on-the road RV'ers use to register their RV so they don't have to mess with the other state laws...

I always thought the trailer license and state of residence you are from with your drivers license had to be from the same state but apparently not...

I have a feeling with my good luck if both my trailer and drivers license wasn't from the same state they would be hauling both of us off haha...

Here in Virginia we have yearly RV Inspections complete with sticker attached to the trailer frame. Some folks I talk to have never heard of such a thing for the RV trailers...

Now you are hearing if your traileer is over a certain weight you have to have a CDL license.

Gotta know how to play the ropes I reckon and where to register things

Roy Ken

past-MIdirector wrote:
Unless Florida requires a CDL you do not need one for towing your RV. Whatever the law in the state you're license is issued from is accepted in all states. You do not have to comply with CA unless you're a resident and are license in that State.

thanks. This is the answer I was hoping for. I was unable to get my message to post correctly, so I killed the thread rather than create confusion. Thanks for your reply.

As I understand these state type of administrative rules and regulations, other states are legally bound to accept the license requirements of your home state as long as you remain a legal resident of say FL. This doesn't apply to say gun laws for instance as that falls under a totally different type of laws.

In essence just follow FL rules re: DMV and you'll be fine travelling in other states.