40 foot + CA Drivers license

[Stuart W]

Originally Posted by sheridany

Driving Test is January 16th at 1:30pm in the Modesto, CA Office. This should be interesting.

Good luck!🤞🏻

[sheridany]

Well I passed. i would not call it a slam dunk. Maybe a layup in basketball terms.

We waited over almost 2 hours before an examiner appeared at the rig clipboard and tape measure in hand. She said, I want to measure your RV because if it is not over 40 ft you dont need to take the test. After two measurements that lacked any kind of precision, she determined that I should take the test.

We started with the safety check first lights, hazards, turns, horn etc and then did an airbrake check. Its not a test per se but part of the safety check. You do need to know how to do a COLA check and be able to verbalize what you are doing as you do the steps.

From there, I volunteered to verbalize how I do pre-drive inspection and she waved me off and said you don't need to do that. That is only for commercial license testing. Start the engine and start driving.

We drove over to a parking lot where they do the skills testing. We did a straight line backup, a left offset backup and a alley dock. She was irritated with where I stopped the rig on the left offset backup where the front of the coach was relative to the cones. She wanted within 2 feet. I was off probably by 1/2 a foot. Note you are allowed to do a get out and look and or a pull up 1-2 times depending on the skill being tested.

After skills, we did the road test. We got on the freeway changed lanes, exited and on the exit she asked did you notice the height of the overpass as we came around to get back on the freeway. I had to guess it was 15 feet and got marked down for that.

We started to head back to DMV and we did a lot of left and right turns in traffic through the local streets. Pretty standard driving around city streets.
We ended up back at DMV and she said you passed without any explanation of what I got marked down for. I'll take it at this point. End of Story.

I think the experience can be different from office to office and if you go somewhat prepared it will be fine. Also bring your registration and insurance card in with you. I left mine out in the rig and had to back and get it and get back in line (a very short line).

[Stuart W]

Originally Posted by sheridany

Well I passed. i would not call it a slam dunk. Maybe a layup in basketball terms.



We waited over almost 2 hours before an examiner appeared at the rig clipboard and tape measure in hand. She said, I want to measure your RV because if it is not over 40 ft you dont need to take the test. After two measurements that lacked any kind of precision, she determined that I should take the test.



We started with the safety check first lights, hazards, turns, horn etc and then did an airbrake check. Its not a test per se but part of the safety check. You do need to know how to do a COLA check and be able to verbalize what you are doing as you do the steps.



From there, I volunteered to verbalize how I do pre-drive inspection and she waved me off and said you don't need to do that. That is only for commercial license testing. Start the engine and start driving.



We drove over to a parking lot where they do the skills testing. We did a straight line backup, a left offset backup and a alley dock. She was irritated with where I stopped the rig on the left offset backup where the front of the coach was relative to the cones. She wanted within 2 feet. I was off probably by 1/2 a foot. Note you are allowed to do a get out and look and or a pull up 1-2 times depending on the skill being tested.



After skills, we did the road test. We got on the freeway changed lanes, exited and on the exit she asked did you notice the height of the overpass as we came around to get back on the freeway. I had to guess it was 15 feet and got marked down for that.



We started to head back to DMV and we did a lot of left and right turns in traffic through the local streets. Pretty standard driving around city streets.

We ended up back at DMV and she said you passed without any explanation of what I got marked down for. I'll take it at this point. End of Story.



I think the experience can be different from office to office and if you go somewhat prepared it will be fine. Also bring your registration and insurance card in with you. I left mine out in the rig and had to back and get it and get back in line (a very short line).

Congratulations! Did you need to have a qualified driver with you?

[sheridany]

Originally Posted by Stuart W

Congratulations! Did you need to have a qualified driver with you?

Yes, you need to show up with driver who has a class a or b license that drives the coach there and goes in with you to the window. They have to produce their license for the dmv employee doing the check in.

[HavingABlast]

Congratulations on passing Sheridany! I've been following this thread mostly to read about the experiences of those that had to satisfy the motor vehicle requirements in their home states. It appears that across the nation, DMV offices are ignorant of just how to license RV drivers. This is unfortunate. We are just trying to comply with the law, and to travel safely in our rigs.

Our rig is just 36' 8" long, so a non-commercial Class B is not required for me in California. I however had to get a commercial class B with P and S endorsements in order to drive a school bus as a substitute (my retirement gig when we are back at the S&B). I had a very similar experience at the DMV. Very frustrating for me, and for the 5 people at the DMV office that got pulled into licensing me. I don't fault any of them. I do fault those higher in the administration who do not train their clerks in this area.

As a side note, I learned much more about the air brakes on my RV having taken this test. Not a bad thing to know.

Did you have difficulty in finding a qualified person to accompany you to take your test? How did you find this person? RV club, friend, ??

[sheridany]

He's a great friend of mine who is retired from driving a cement mixer for 30+ years and had a Newmar at one point while he has kept his commercial license current. I owe him big time for helping me out. There aren't too many people I would let drive my coach but I would let him.

[Benicia Tom]

Took my test today at the West Sacramento commercial DMV and passed. Pretty much the same story as everyone else. I owe J House a huge thank you for taking time to meet with us and explain what he went through and for going with us to the DMV as our licensed driver. I am will to pay it forward to anyone in our area who needs a licensed driver to go to the DMV with them.

[HavingABlast]

Originally Posted by Benicia Tom

Took my test today at the West Sacramento commercial DMV and passed. Pretty much the same story as everyone else. I owe J House a huge thank you for taking time to meet with us and explain what he went through and for going with us to the DMV as our licensed driver. I am will to pay it forward to anyone in our area who needs a licensed driver to go to the DMV with them.

I guess that this is sort of where I was heading with this. There apparently is a nationwide need by forum members to have a qualified person to drive a motorhome to the testing facility. There are qualified forum member/drivers out there that do not know of the need but are willing to assist. Is there a way that the forum could broker such a meeting while at the same time protecting the privacy of each party until they agree to meet. Sort of like a dating service ... without privileges.

[J House]

Originally Posted by Benicia Tom

Took my test today at the West Sacramento commercial DMV and passed. Pretty much the same story as everyone else. I owe J House a huge thank you for taking time to meet with us and explain what he went through and for going with us to the DMV as our licensed driver. I am will to pay it forward to anyone in our area who needs a licensed driver to go to the DMV with them.

Congratulations to both Tom and Dorry for each passing their "checkride." Now go have some Legal fun!

[Olroache]

Originally Posted by Rojaco

Looking at 37' Dutch Stars and Ventanas. Might have to bump up to 40'. CA DMV requires a special license to drive over 40 footer. As you know Newmar 40 footers are over 40 feet. I'm wondering how many people actually go through the hassle of getting the special license especially on "40" footers that technically spec out slightly over 40 feet.



Been driving RV's for 15 years and haven't had a meet and greet with a man in blue yet. Might come up if pulled over but can't imagine a random check.

I have a 2009 DADP 44ft. I went through this process June 2017. I “chose” to obtain the non commercial class A. Unfortunately I had to educate the dmv employees as they had no idea this license existed for RV drivers in CA. Unless you are doing something ultra stupid the chances of this being an issue are slim to none. I just wanted to see if I could pass the written and road test. It was a challenge to find another class A licensed driver to come with me for the road test but luckily an acquaintance unbeknownst to me drove cement trucks for a living and he helped me out. The license doesn’t say non commercial it just says class A. Tremendous amount of confusion in the dmv throughout the state with this license requirement. I had to take the motorcycle, class C and class A written exams plus vision. It certainly doesn’t help that the dmv booklet on RVs tends to use motorhome and Housecar interchangeably thereby confusing people on whether they only need a class B with air brakes vs a non commercial class A, which the DMV says they never heard of. I actually thought I was issued the last one in the state due to all the hand wringing and head shaking going on. Glad to hear that others are pushing through the frustrating bureaucratic incompetence and obtaining their licenses! Note: if you have a valid permit you can drive your coach to the road test as long as you have a validly licensed person with you possessing the license you’re pursuing.

[ccusa]

Is there anyone with a Non Commercial Class B or higher in Kern County area willing to drive my Motorhome to the DMV for my driving test.

[gravelroad]

Originally Posted by Belgique

Because many other states have the same rule. This thread caused me to look into NC. Yep, gotta have a non-commercial Class B. I have another thread on this here and it requires a written test that is full blown CDL and a driving test (and you have to get there with Class A or B passenger.

A commercial drivers license (CDL) for a non-commercial rig. Makes no sense but it does make me wonder about driving through or staying in some of these states with the special requirements. We live in a state with no such requirements.

[AISTQM]

Did they allow you to drive away?

[AISTQM]

Originally Posted by ScottyA

Ok, FWIW, brought our motorhome into Texas without an inspection sticker and got pulled over by the Texas State Troopers. I had 48 hours upon arrival to Texas to get the inspection - but the trooper had no way to know I just arrived. I got a ticket for driving w/o a non-commercial Class A or B license due to weight, not length. Onto the Texas Department of Safety for my written and driving test. Oh well, all legal now.

Did they allow you to drive away?