Community Forums

Rcadventures · 01-16-2020, 08:32 PM

Hi All,

We were just about to pull the trigger on a 40' and one inch, Class A but we live in California. This would require a non-commercial Class B drivers license, that requires tests and a medical certificate.

Does anyone have recommendations on getting through this process. It seems that I need to have my doctor sign that I am Physically Able to drive a Class A over 40'. Kaiser Permanente doctors, in my experience, do not want to sign anything like that. So I would have to go find another doctor. Unfortunately I have high blood pressure, a past (fixed!) heart condition, use a cpap, and have used insulin.

Reading between the lines on the form the doctor has to sign, it seems like these have a high likelihood of disqualifying me. It seems like a doctor who has not treated me in the past would have a hard time, and take a long time, to say I am able. Since I could not find much about this non-commercial license I read some posts about commercial license and medical certificates and it did not leave me warm and fuzy.

I am also a bit confused, frusterated. I have seen numerous seniors that appear far more frail than I driving a motor home that is over 40 feet. Are they all from another state? Is this the time to change my domicile?

Falling in love with this heavy long motor home seems more treaturous than I had ever imagined.

Any advice or direction? Thanks for all your help and wisdom,

Cindy

Arch Hoagland · 01-16-2020, 09:17 PM

I know a few people in California with 45 foot coaches and they have a regular license.

40 feet and one inch? Where did you get those specifications?

Rcadventures · 01-16-2020, 09:47 PM

Well, the stats say 40 feet however the real deal breaker is the weight over 26,000, actually I found a few places that state 32K.

https://familyrvingmag.com/2008/01/0...l-rv-pacifica/

I feel confident that I do need this type of license and it will require a medical.

Thanks for the help and support,

Cindy

Earl II · 01-16-2020, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadventures

Hi All,

We were just about to pull the trigger on a 40' and one inch, Class A but we live in California. This would require a non-commercial Class B drivers license, that requires tests and a medical certificate.

Does anyone have recommendations on getting through this process. It seems that I need to have my doctor sign that I am Physically Able to drive a Class A over 40'. Kaiser Permanente doctors, in my experience, do not want to sign anything like that. So I would have to go find another doctor. Unfortunately I have high blood pressure, a past (fixed!) heart condition, use a cpap, and have used insulin.

Reading between the lines on the form the doctor has to sign, it seems like these have a high likelihood of disqualifying me. It seems like a doctor who has not treated me in the past would have a hard time, and take a long time, to say I am able. Since I could not find much about this non-commercial license I read some posts about commercial license and medical certificates and it did not leave me warm and fuzy.

I am also a bit confused, frusterated. I have seen numerous seniors that appear far more frail than I driving a motor home that is over 40 feet. Are they all from another state? Is this the time to change my domicile?

Falling in love with this heavy long motor home seems more treaturous than I had ever imagined.

Any advice or direction? Thanks for all your help and wisdom,

Cindy

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1...648/dl648pt4_1

Here is the information for the Non-Commercial Class B for under 45' motorhomes. You can see that there is the one form to be signed by your doctor. I wouldn't worry about it if you think you can handle a large motorhome safely.

aether_one · 01-16-2020, 10:07 PM

Do some more research. There is no form the doctor has to sign. There is a medical questionnaire That YOU have to fill out and sign.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/co...=AJPERES&CVID=

Here's the rest you need to know to get the license:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/de...#noncommercial

EDIT: Earl beat me to it!

Rcadventures · 01-16-2020, 10:33 PM

Wow and thank you. I had been given a different form (not from DMV) that did require it completed by a physician but the link/form you provided puts this all in a different light, thank goodness.

Now I need to find a drying instructor and someone that can drive us to the dmv on the day of the driving test.

Thank you Thank you

Cindy

falconman · 01-19-2020, 11:53 PM

At 40 ft 1 inch I think your doing more than needed. Nobody measures them. I have the Class B for my 42 footer but the entire process is a PITA! I took the tests at the south San Jose office where they do commercial licenses and even they screwed up the paperwork. If it’s close to 40ft and not a tag I wouldn’t worry about it. On the driving test day they never asked who drove me there. If they ask, tell them the person left. In light of your past medical status you might be opening up a can of worms!
What happens if you buy this and they decline your license? Maybe doing the medical part first might be better.

Rcadventures · 01-21-2020, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falconman

At 40 ft 1 inch I think your doing more than needed. Nobody measures them. I have the Class B for my 42 footer but the entire process is a PITA! I took the tests at the south San Jose office where they do commercial licenses and even they screwed up the paperwork. If it’s close to 40ft and not a tag I wouldn’t worry about it. On the driving test day they never asked who drove me there. If they ask, tell them the person left. In light of your past medical status you might be opening up a can of worms!
What happens if you buy this and they decline your license? Maybe doing the medical part first might be better.

The one inch was more for humor, it was the 32K weight that threw us into the class b.

I agree with you about it being too much risk, even if we can drive it now will we be sidelined in a couple of years - maybe. With class A's that is too much financial risk. After some soul searching and forum reading we switched our plans to a small TT.

Before anyone says it, yes we are working hard at getting the weight right for our TV.

Now we are trying to find a TT that will be comfortable for my husband, He is 6'10" ish and there are few that handle that height and even then low and narrow door ways can make him feel like he is in a habitrail.

Thank you again for all your help,

Cindy

gpounder · 01-21-2020, 06:08 PM

No No No

Read the DMV rules again. House cars are exempt to 40' There is no weight restriction for a house car.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/de..._htm/lic_chart

Notice there is no mention of weight even with a Class B, it's all about length.

Really 1 inch, are you sure. If your model is 40 something then your 40' as far as everyone is concerned. You might want to dig deeper into the DMV rules as certain things are not counted in measuring the vehicle.

Check out the DMV form the doctor does not sign.

Rcadventures · 01-22-2020, 09:50 AM

The dmv website makes this really confusing. It states it several ways. From this chart it almost seems like it would be a commercial class b due to weight.

With a class c is up to 26k pounds and 40 feet or less

Non commercial class b extends the length to 45 feet

It is not until you get a commercial license that you seem to be allowed over 26k pounds

This just makes feel like it is too much risk.

Thank you for your help,

Cindy

gpounder · 01-22-2020, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadventures

The dmv website makes this really confusing. It states it several ways. From this chart it almost seems like it would be a commercial class b due to weight.

With a class c is up to 26k pounds and 40 feet or less

Non commercial class b extends the length to 45 feet

It is not until you get a commercial license that you seem to be allowed over 26k pounds

This just makes feel like it is too much risk.

Thank you for your help,

Cindy

I think it is very clear providing a list of vehicle you can drive. There is no "and" you added that in your statement. The line item of housecar only has a length as qualifing factor, no weight.

I am not an authority so call your local CHP office and get an official statement.

With a Basic Class C License:
a 2-axle vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less.
a 3-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds gross or less.
a motorized scooter.
any housecar 40 feet or less.
A farmer or employee of a farmer may also drive:
any combination of vehicles with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 26,000 pounds or less if used exclusively in agricultural operations and it is not for hire or compensation.

Here is the statement for the Class B license and no mention of weight either.

With a noncommercial Class B License:
any vehicles under Class C.
any housecar over 40 feet but not over 45 feet, with endorsement.

Glenn and Kathy · 01-22-2020, 11:08 AM

When I got my CA license in 2018 I asked about the house car license for my MH. He showed me in his manual where it said over 26,000 for the license.

Glenn

gpounder · 01-22-2020, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy

When I got my CA license in 2018 I asked about the house car license for my MH. He showed me in his manual where it said over 26,000 for the license.

Glenn

I am not surprised the manual might say such a thing as a number of states do have a weight limitation.

There are all sorts of variations of state laws for all sorts of things but as long as you comply with the state you live in and the vehicle is registered in then you carry that across state lines.