RV License Requirements by State

Are You Ready For Your RV Road Trip?

Do you know what Licenses and Endorsements Are Necessary?

The perfect family vacation takes lots of time, and careful planning for everything goes without a hitch. From the time you leave home until you return, your vacation becomes a magical time of making lifelong memories, bonding with family, and ensuring that your family enjoys not only the destination but all the stops between destinations. Unfortunately, if your trip involves airports, bus, or train stations, there is a chance that you'll gain more than memories. You will likely experience overcrowding, delays, and sometimes, poor customer service. That is why you see more families road tripping in the comfort of recreational vehicles these days.

Settle in and continue reading to learn more about RVs, what type of driver's license they require, and what endorsements are needed to cruise in the comfort of an RV.

Different RV Classifications

There are three classifications of RVs which you should know when deciding to travel in one. They are Class A, Class B, or Class C motorhomes. The differences are:

Class A
The big kahuna of RVs, Class A, are the most expensive and luxurious of RVs. They have every amenity necessary and can even include things like recliners, television, and workspace. They are built on commercial truck chassis or buses and run on gas or diesel. A class A RV may require time and instruction (lessons) on driving.

Class A RVs have amenities that would fully accommodate a family living in them. It is considered a house on the road, and the larger ones can sleep up to eight people. Class A RVs have a bathroom and shower facility and are typically 21 to 45 feet long. They average 13,000 to 30,000 pounds.

Class B
Class B RVs are the smallest of the RVs. They are conversion or campervans and are often selected because of their great price, versatility, and ease of operation.

Class B RVs typically have a small refrigerator, a heating unit, cooking facilities, folding beds, but limited living space. Their small size makes them perfect for couples with young children going on a weekend camping trip. Class B RVs are 17 to 19 feet long and weigh 6,000 to 11,000 pounds. They are great for when you plan to spend a lot of time outside, enjoying nature.

Class C
The middle-sized RV is a Class C that is built on a van cutaway chassis or truck. This site operates on a gas engine. This one is likely to have a slide-out option in the back of it for sleeping space, which is typically one to eight people.

Class C RVs also have cooking facilities, a toilet, refrigerator, and cooking. This middle-sized RV is perfect for a quick getaway or a long family road trip. They are 20-31 feet and usually weigh between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds.

Some things to consider when deciding what your family needs in an RV are:
The size limitations or requirements on RVs for campgrounds or National Parks.
How many people will be traveling in your RV?
What are your storage options when not traveling in your RV?
What are you comfortable driving?
How much energy does it take to drive?
Will you spend more time inside or out of your RV?
Do you have a truck to pull or tow a fifth wheel?
What fits into your budget.

What Driver's Licenses Are Required to Drive an RV?

As you can see, there are RVs to accommodate nearly every need a family may have on a road trip. However, a question asked when deciding on an RV is, "Will I need a commercial driver's license to drive it?" The answer to that will depend on the class RV, the weight you want, and your state rules. Continue reading to see the state-by-state requirements.

What is a Regular Drivers License
When individuals have passed all passenger vehicle requirements and tests, they typically get a Class D driver's license (in most states). Class D licenses are often referred to as regular licenses and allow individuals to drive a regular-sized car or vehicles like a pick-up truck, SUV, mini or standard van, sedan, limousine, or other vehicles as long as they are under a certain weight. Where there is no special license required for an RV in your state, drivers can operate one with their regular driver's license.

What is a Commercial Driver's License
A commercial driver's license (CDL) is a particular driver's license for large, heavy vehicles that weigh a certain number of pounds. That typically includes buses, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers, flatbed trucks, tractor-trailers, and more.

Getting a CDL driver's license involves school, classes, and testing. The test is based on skills handling large vehicles and trailer combinations on your test and knowledge that you'll need on the road.

Endorsements
Many states also require what is known as an endorsement for certain vehicles. Endorsements are special tags added to drivers' licenses in those states which means the driver can operate certain vehicles. Some examples of endorsements are:

Class "A" endorsement is required for multiple vehicles that have a total combined weight that is over 26,000 pounds.

Class "B" non-commercial driver's license endorsement is required for anyone vehicle that weighs more than 26,000 pounds.

Class "E" non-commercial driver’s license is required for a single vehicle that has a weight of over 26,000 pounds.

Class "F" endorsement is required for multiple vehicles that have a combined weight exceeding 26,000 pounds.

Class "J” endorsement is required if you plan to tow an additional vehicle that weighs more than 10,000 pounds.

Recreational Double "R" driver's license endorsement is necessary if you plan to tow a fifth-wheel camper or trailer.

There are practice tests for CDLs and endorsements so that you are prepared and ready when it is time to hit the road for vacation. Some of the information on a CDL and endorsements tests are:

General knowledge
Passenger transport
Combination vehicles skills
hazardous materials
Air Brakes
Doubles/Triples

While many states don't have special requirements for driving an RV, it is crucial to know and comply with your state laws. As long as you abide by the rules in your domicile state (the state where you live), you won't have issues with law enforcement. The conditions that require a special license do so based on the weight and size of the RV.

State by state license and endorsement requirements are:

Alabama - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Alaska - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Arizona - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Arkansas - A CDL license is required if your vehicle is over 26,000 pounds gross weight.
California - Class B non-commercial or special license is necessary if you are driving a truck and have a trailer weighing over 10,000 pounds, or a motorhome that is over 40 feet long, or fifth wheels weighing over 15,000 pounds.
Colorado - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Connecticut - CDL license required for vehicles over 26,000 pounds gross weight.
Delaware - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Florida - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Georgia - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Hawaii - CDL license required for RVs over 26,000 pounds.
Illinois - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Indiana - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Iowa - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Kansas - CDL license required for RVs over 26,000 pounds.
Kentucky - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Louisiana - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
New Mexico - CDL license required for RVs over 26,000.
New York - special license required for RVs with a gross combined vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds.
North Carolina - Class B or special license is required for a single vehicle or multiple vehicles with a gross combined vehicle weight over 26,000.
Maine - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Maryland - A Class B non-commercial or special license is required for you if your vehicle weighs more than 26,000 pounds.
Massachusetts - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Michigan - no special license required. You also need a recreational double “R” endorsement is necessary on your license if you plan to tow a fifth wheel plus a trailer.
Minnesota - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Mississippi - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Montana - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Nebraska - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Nevada - Class B or special driver's license required for your vehicles if they weigh more than 26,000 pounds. “J” endorsements are required if you plan to tow a vehicle over 10,000 pounds.
New Hampshire - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
New Jersey - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
New Mexico - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
New York - no special driver's license required. Recreational Vehicle or “R” type endorsement is required for your vehicle if it is over 26,000 pounds.
North Carolina - no special license required.
North Dakota - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Ohio - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Oklahoma - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Oregon - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Pennsylvania - A Class B or special driver's license is required for your single or gross total combined vehicles that weigh over 26,000 pounds.
Rhode Island - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
South Carolina - Class E or special driver's license tag is required for your vehicle if it weighs over 26,000 pounds. Class F license endorsement tag is required for multiple vehicles with a combined total weight of over 26,000.
South Dakota - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Tennessee - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Texas - A Class B non-commercial endorsement tag or special license is required for a single vehicle or gross combined total vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds. Class A non-commercial license endorsement is required for vehicles with a combined total weight of over 26,000 pounds.
Utah - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Vermont - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Virginia - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Washington - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Washington DC - A CDL license is required for RVs that weigh over 26,000 pounds.
West Virginia - No special license required. No special endorsement is necessary.
Wisconsin - CDL license required for RVs over 26,000 pounds.
Wyoming - a Class B non-commercial endorsement or special license required for RVs over 26,000 pounds. Class A non-commercial license is required for vehicles that weigh over 26,000 pounds and you are towing over 10,000 pounds.