If the calls we’re receiving so far this year are any indication of what’s happening in the RV Industry, 2020 is going to be the year of the Big RV and Trailer!

Who needs a non-commercial license?

• In California if you’ve purchased a motor home that is over 40 feet
  in length, you DO require a non-com Class B license.
• If you have a 5th wheel trailer that weights more than 15,000 lbs or a bumper tow trailer that weights more than 10,000 lbs, you DO require a non-com Class A license. The good news is that for the majority of RVers, you do NOT require a special license!Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming require a non-commercial license for an RV weight over 26,000 lbs.
• Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, Washington D.C or Wisconsin, check with your local DMV because if your vehicle is over 26,000 lbs you require a Commercial Driver’s License! For the rest of the country and if you’re traveling to Canada, you are good to go!

How you’ll be tested:

In California the testing procedure is as follows; the examiner will inspect your registration papers, your insurance papers and your interim license, all must be current. He/she will then make sure all of the lights and turn signals are working on the RV and if applicable, they will explain the Air Brakes to you and check to make sure there are no air leaks. (In California you do NOT require an Air Brake Endorsement). Then the examiner will have you do three of the four basic driving skills, straight-line backing, off-set backing and 90 degree dockside backing, no parallel parking. To pass the skills test, you must have no more than 12 errors overall. You are allowed to have two “Looks” and three pull-ups for the dockside backing.

Once you have passed the drive skills test it is out on the road to do your road test. The road test is no different than what every commercial driver experiences. To pass the road portion, you must have no more than 30 errors and no marks in the automatic failure section. You will then have your noncommercial Class A or Class B license.

Remember the non-commercial license is just that, NON COMMERCIAL so do NOT try to get one if you’re being paid to drive! If you receive compensation to drive, you MUST have a full CDL.

This in a nutshell is what the non-commercial is all about. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you! Gary