The short answer is probably not, but it depends on which state you live in.
There are two factors that determine which type of drivers license you need: the registered weight of your unit (GVWR) and which state you register your RV with. The first is pretty simple. If your GVWR is less than 26,000 pounds, you’re good to go. Many class A diesel motorhomes are well over this amount, so read on.
Our 2015 Newmar Dutch Star has a GVWR of 44,600 pounds. You can easily find this number online for a newer model, or, by law, it must be printed in every vehicle. Here is ours:
If you’re over that magic 26,000 number, you now turn to your state’s regulations to see if they require a license beyond a regular one. By the way, a “regular” drivers license is also called a Class C license. In the two states we’ve registered RVs, Virginia and Colorado, a class C license is sufficient. Isn’t this amazing? You can drive a 44,600 pound vehicle with air brakes right out of the dealers lot with that same license you got at age 16.
A few states, such as Texas and California, require what is called a non-commercial class B license for GVWR over 26,000 lb. This requires studying appropriate sections of your state’s driver license handbook and taking a road test. It even gets more confusing if you tow a trailer over 10,000 pounds. Some states then require you to have a non-commercial class A license. The best website I found to help decode regulations by state is Changing Gears RV Drivers License Requirements.
I personally think class B licenses should be required to operate such a large vehicle. So let’s say you want to be a good citizen and get a non-commercial class B license in a state that does not require it. Guess what? You can’t! I checked in both VA and CO and they only offer commercial licenses above class C, which is not what you want (CDLs are expensive to get and focus on many topics not applicable to RVers).
A little research turned up this non-commercial drivers license study guide for the state of Nevada, which I read exactly as if I had to take the test. If you have air brakes, which most of our diesel big rigs do, you have another section to read: section 3. I highly recommend you read such a guide even if your state does not require it. Piloting such a large vehicle is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.
