Yahoo Message Number: 61862 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/61862)
Periodically, someone asks if they need a special license for a motorhome. Having just spent a couple of weeks chasing down the requirements and obtaining a license, I would like to provide the following information for those drivers that are registered in Texas. Look at your registration receipt ? if the GVWR as listed on the receipt is over 26,000 pounds, you DO need a special license. A regular automobile license is Class C. For a motorhome over 26,000 pounds, you need to have a Class B exempt license. I now have one and the process was: Go to the Texas Department of Public Safety website and download the CDL Handbook. While the whole manual is pretty long, you only need to study Section 14 ? the test far a Class B license only has questions on that section (I read it one day, re-read it the next morning and then took and passed the test that afternoon). Once you start the process, you have 3 months from the date of the written test to complete the driving test. Once you pass the written test you come in on any morning and sign up to take the driving test later in the day. The driving test was really very simple ? if you can put your coach in a back-in spot in a campground, you can pass the test. You have to demonstrate that you have control of the coach and can turn corners without running over the curb, as well as back up the coach using the mirrors. My test was; (1) drive down a short dead-end street, come to a smooth stop, back the coach in a straight line about 50 feet, pull forward next to the curb (with the curb on the right) and stop, pull back into the center of the traffic lane, back the coach over to the curb and pull forward so I was parked next to the curb (standard parallel parking moves) but with no restrictions in front of or behind the coach or restriction on where you finally stopped, (2) drive down residential width streets to the main highway, merge into the traffic on the highway and drive at highway speed for about 5 miles, exit the highway, and return to the drivers license office. I now have a Class B license and am finally a `legal' driver. Cost to complete the process for me was a whopping $34.00 ? it would be cheaper to get the license if you are over 1 year from your license renewal date. In my case, I was less than a year from renewal, so I paid a little more and now I don't have to worry about renewing my license next year ? I am good until 2017.
In a nutshell, I worried and fretted about whether to get the license or not ? for peace of mind only, I am glad I did.
Regards,
John and Linda Walton
`06 Inspire DaVinci #51905