living in Maine with a Maine drivers license, Driving a Texas registered Class A?

[treyguy]

i am currently purchasing my fathers Class A and we are keeping it registered in his name in TX. i will be bringing it up to Maine at least for this next year. Maine has no size/length restrictions, texas does. I am not getting a texas drivers license. Since the vehicle weighs more than 26000 lbs and registered in texas do i need to do something special with a license? ive heard in texas you need a special class B drivers license or non commercial drivers license for big class A motorhomes yet i have a Maine drivers license.

[bentjm]

Since you are leaving it registered in his name in TX, you are not legally purchasing the coach - you are gifting him money.

I am assuming you are doing this because it is financially advantageous to you to do so. There are a lot of ways this can go wrong for you and your father.

One example - registered in TX under his name means insurance in his name. You are putting your father's estate at risk should you have an accident in the RV.

Another example, depending on how much money you are gifting him, it could be considered a taxavle gift by the IRS.

You need to rethink what you are doing here.

[txcpl]

The first words in your post said " I am currently purchasing my father's class A...". If you purchase it, it is yours. Follow the laws of the state for purchasing, titling, registering, and licensing an RV. Failure to do so may cause you unwanted repercussions.

[treyguy]

Originally Posted by bentjm

Since you are leaving it registered in his name in TX, you are not legally purchasing the coach - you are gifting him money.

I am assuming you are doing this because it is financially advantageous to you to do so. There are a lot of ways this can go wrong for you and your father.

One example - registered in TX under his name means insurance in his name. You are putting your father's estate at risk should you have an accident in the RV.

Another example, depending on how much money you are gifting him, it could be considered a taxavle gift by the IRS.

You need to rethink what you are doing here.

thanks for the heads up. for now we are gonna leave it in TX registration (i dont own it) and im not "buying it" until the registration is up in TX.

so to rephrase the question. I will be driving my fathers TX registered Class A with a Maine license (i will also have my own insurance policy)

[treyguy]

Originally Posted by txcpl

The first words in your post said " I am currently purchasing my father's class A...". If you purchase it, it is yours. Follow the laws of the state for purchasing, titling, registering, and licensing an RV. Failure to do so may cause you unwanted repercussions.

let me rephrase that.

I will be purchasing it when the TX registration is near expiration. for now i will be driving around his Class A registered in TX with a Maine Drivers license and my own insurance policy (he will also have his own insurance in place).

[bentjm]

Originally Posted by treyguy

thanks for the heads up. for now we are gonna leave it in TX registration (i dont own it) and im not "buying it" until the registration is up in TX.

so to rephrase the question. I will be driving my fathers TX registered Class A with a Maine license (i will also have my own insurance policy)

How can you have your own insurance policy on a vehicle you do not own?

[jaydee325]

Father still owns the rig and it is registered in his name. Son is driving it and have his own insurance policy.

In the event of an accident, ambulance chasers will eat your lunch as they will not only come after son, but father too. Talk to your insurance underwriter. At a minimum, I'd want father to carry some kind of liability policy to protect his estate.

In my home state of Michigan, if I want to take possession of a family members vehicle all is required is the family member sign off title, take title to DMV, they make the transfer and there is no tax liability at all. Just a small title transfer fee. See if Texas has the same arrangement.

[treyguy]

Originally Posted by bentjm

How can you have your own insurance policy on a vehicle you do not own?

that doesnt matter. you dont need to own a vehicle to take out an insurance carrier on it. ;-)

[TXiceman]

Why don't you see about a lease arrangement from your father, and both get insurance to cover it as needed.

The class B license in Texas is not all that hard to get. A 30 guestion test and then drive the coach at a license center. Very frankly, if you can't pass the test, you should not be driving the rig. Are you going to eventually domicile in Texas?

The big problem I see is domicile and trying to avoid taxes in Maine. Your official domicile is still main.

Ken

[BirchyBoy]

How much are you saving? Is it worth the potential issue? I’m a sucker and follow the laws when it comes to registration and insurance. It suck to pay money but I’m also enjoying freedoms that others don’t have.

[Bigceasar]

No problem unless you have a big problem. Get stopped for speeding, have a fender bender, or park in a no parking zone nothing is going to happen out of the ordinary. Drive the wrong way on the interstate and crash into a school bus full of grade schoolers big problems. Lawyers for the insurance companies that insure you and your father are both going to claim fraud and try to deny coverage. The school kids lawyers are going to be able to go after both you and your father. Lots of downside, especially when there isn’t any apparent upside. What do you expect to gain by meeely delaying the purchase and registration?

[bentjm]

Originally Posted by treyguy

that doesnt matter. you dont need to own a vehicle to take out an insurance carrier on it. ;-)

Never heard of it. I did look it up - Non-owner Car Insurance.

Learn something everyday.

[VanK]

In SC and I understand in most states if your vehicle is over 26,000lbs you need to upgrade your license. DMV here does a written and driving test. I drove my coach 32,000lbs to the DMV to take the driving test and they never asked how I got it there.

Good travels,
Van
40' Newmar Ventana DP with no toad

[treyguy]

Originally Posted by VanK

In SC and I understand in most states if your vehicle is over 26,000lbs you need to upgrade your license. DMV here does a written and driving test. I drove my coach 32,000lbs to the DMV to take the driving test and they never asked how I got it there.

Good travels,
Van
40' Newmar Ventana DP with no toad

New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, there is no restriction