In most cases you don’t need a CDL to drive a converted Bus, Shuttle, or Box-Van, however, there are certain circumstances in which you Do. It is important that you understand where and when you can drive a School Bus without a CDL, and why and when you don’t need one. For example, once your Title has been Converted, the seats have been taken out, the Build is complete, and all Commercial Markings have been removed you are typically in the clear. - Getting the Rig home after you purchase it, however, is another question entirely, and certain states have special licensing requirements for certain vehicles, even if they are Non-Commercial. See the sections below.
If you live in a state with no special requirements, you don’t have to meet the laws of another state just to drive through. – You may still need to explain it to someone on the side of The Road, but ultimately, the regulations of your “home state” will prevail in a court of law. (Another reason Full-Timers take advantage of Choosing A Domicile State. Click for more info.)
The Commercial Driver's License Law went into effect in 1992, and was designed to create a National Standard for Commercial Motor Vehicle Operating Laws. However, many locales still enforce the laws differently and there is a great deal of confusion, even among Police Officers and DMV Employees, when it comes to Skoolies, RVs, Converted Shuttles, or Box Vans.
There are 3 Main Classes of CDL. Here is the breakdown:
Class A: – Tractor/Trailers with a combined weight rating (GVW, GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or any rig towing a trailer in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Class B: – Any single vehicle with a GVWR/GVW of 26,001 pounds or more, not towing a trailer in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR/GVW.
Class C: – Any single vehicle that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or carrying hazardous materials. (Some states will Classify “Class C” as Class B / Passenger, or Class B / HazMat.)
National CDL Laws are enforced by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). According to their regulations anyone not involved in Commercial Activity is not subject to these laws. – This is why you often hear, “Non-Commercial = No CDL.” – That being said, certain states still choose to impose their own regulations and licensing requirements regarding Non- Commercial Activities (RV, Skoolie, Farm Vehicle, etc.). Typically these apply only to vehicles over 26,000 lbs or longer than 40’, and Trailers over 10,000 lbs.
Most of the states listed below require a Non-Commercial License or Endorsement for certain RVs. It usually doesn’t require a Road Test, and is relatively easy to obtain. A few states, however, actually require a CDL, even for Non-Commercial use.
If you Live or Domicile in one of the following states, and your vehicle meets the requirements of the CDL section above, you will be required to have some sort of Special License or Endoresement: CA, D.C., HI, KS, MD, NV, NM, NY, NC, PA, SC, TX, WI, WY. Click here for details and links.
Additionally, if you reside in AR, CT, or MN you will find conflicting information on various websites. Contact your local DMV and ask questions. You may still not get clear answers, but our advice, honestly, is to err on the side of caution.
When you Do Not Need a CDL (regardless of where you live): If your Rig has a GVWR less than 26,001lbs, wasn't deigned to haul 16 passengers, and you are Not towing a trailer over 10,000lbs You do not need a CDL. - If you are converting a smaller Box Van or 14 Passenger Shuttle Bus, you are good to go! You would only need a CDL to operate this vehicle if you were using it for Commercial Purposes, typically across state lines. - The GVWR is usually listed on a sticker, inside the driver’s door. *Please Note that you Still need to meet the “Non-Commercial” requirements listed in the section below.
Do I need a CDL to get my Bus home?: This is where most people run into trouble. - You purchased your Vehicle at an an auction, from a dealer, or somewhere out of state and you need to get it home. - By the letter of the law, if your Rig designed for 16 passengers or more, or is rated over 26,001 pounds, and does not have an RV Registration, Yes. You Do need a CDL, even if you’re just moving the Bus across town and live in a state with no special licensing requirements. Until you meet the “Non-Commercial” requirements listed in the section below, you are driving a Commercial Vehicle, even if you are doing so for Non-Commercial Activities.
But everyone says I can just jump in and “go for it”: True, many people choose to take their chances and drive the Bus home without a CDL, and honestly, pretty much everyone gets away with it.
We’re not going to advise you to do that, but if you decide to take the risk, here are some considerations to minimize the likelihood of getting “busted”.
If you cover the Commercial Markings and have a valid tag or temporary permit, you might not get pulled over in the first place. Additionally, there is language in the FMCSA Regulations that says, “...on the highway...” so sticking to surface streets and back roads will make it less likely.
If you do get stopped (and aren't breaking any other laws), you must have your Proof Of Insurance and Bill Of Sale with you. - If you (politely) explain to the officer that you just bought the rig and are going straight home, plan to convert it to an RV, etc., it might result in nothing more than a stern warning. Many law enforcement officials interpret “Non-Commercial Activity” as exemption enough. There’s a good chance that the judge will dismiss the ticket if you do happen get one but, strictly speaking, it could hold up in court.
The Federal fine for this is “up to $2500”. Additionally, the officer can “shut you down”, forcing you to either have the rig towed or find someone with a CDL to drive it the rest of the way. - Again, we’ve never personally met anyone that this actually happened to, but it is possible.
The bigger questions to ask are: “Do you feel comfortable driving a vehicle of this size?” “Would you be putting yourself and others at risk?”
If you're even a little uncertain, or don't want to risk the ticket, fines, or expenses above you should have a friend, or hire someone to, move the vehicle home for you (next section). You can then take your time and practice driving it in an empty parking lot or open field. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it, but please make sure you are properly trained and confident in your abilities before you hit The Road.
Who can I hire to Drive my School Bus home?: If you have a friend or family member who is a CDL Driver, check with them first. Pay them for their time if they choose to help you. There are also several “Drive-Away” or “RV / Truck Transport” companies” that will move vehicles for a fee, and can even do so under the coverage of their own Insurance. – This could actually pay for itself, especially if you would need to purchase Commercial Liability Insurance to get your Rig home (see Tutorial).
“Auto Driveaway” is one example of a national company that provides this service. Click here to get an idea of what it will cost. - A quick Google should give you several hits in your local area that you can contact for quotes as well. - Be sure to get written confirmation of their legality, liability, and proof of Commercial Insurance.
How do I make my Rig “Non-Commercial”?: While these laws also vary slightly by state, you need to do the following for your Rig to be considered Non-Commercial, and not fall under the jurisdiction of The FMCSA:
1. Remove or cover any and all references to Commercial Activity, “School”, or “Church”, Company Names, DOT Numbers, Interstate Commerce Stickers, etc.
2. Remove (at least) enough seats so that the vehicle cannot carry 16 Passengers, including the driver.
3. Swing Arm Stop Sign: While some states don’t require you to remove these, you may want to do so anyway, just to be safe. At very least, you need to repaint it.
4. Flashing Lights: If you want to keep the lights and the “look” of a bus, check with your DMV. Many states don’t require their removal as long as there are no Red lights anywhere on the vehicle, except in the back. (You can trade the Yellow lenses from the back with the Red ones in the front if your bus happens to have them.) **If you do keep your Flashing Lights or the Swing Arm you can never use them on a public thoroughfare. -That's a ticket you will not get out of.
5. Certain states have an issue with “School Bus Yellow” as a color, so it's a good idea to paint. The Color Law is also pursuant to the state where the vehicle is registered but, “better safe than sorry”.
6. Convert the Title to RV or Motorhome. (See the Tutorial here.)
Ironically, certain States (California, Washington, and Arizona, among others), might pull you over, especially in a Box Van, for the very reason that you are operating a Commercial “Style” vehicle without any commercial markings (“Ghosting”). Again, a flash of the RV registration and explanation of your purposes should resolve this.
Do I Need an Air Brake Endorsement?: - No. This applies specifically to Commercially Operated Vehicles, but be prepared in extreme (very rare) cases to explain it to a judge. - If you are not familiar with the use of Air Brakes, you should definitely take the time and do the research. there are several videos out there, but this book contains a lot of good info as well.
Do I Need to Stop at Weigh Stations: - No. You are Non-Commercial, and in most states School Buses are exempt anyway. A very large box van might draw additional attention, but, as above, it should be easily explained away.
What about Vehicle Height?: - Unless you are converting a Double-Decker Bus, or building a very large Roof Deck, this shouldn't be an issue. Once your total height gets up to around 13 feet, you will start to draw attention. For most states 13’6” is the legal, Non-Commercial, maximum.
As Skoolies and other Converted Vehicles become more and more popular, legal questions become less and less common. There is always a chance that you will run into a cop on a bad day, but we've only met a few people who said they had to pay a fine. - Follow the instructions above and see our blog about Registering as an RV and you should have no worries.
In the end, there is a legitimate argument to just go ahead and get a Class B CDL. It should cover whatever you drive (not a Semi Truck), it isn't that expensive, and it takes all the guesswork out of your day to day life. More importantly, you’ll never have to worry about that conversation with the judge. This book will get you going.
Please understand that this Tutorial is strictly intended to discuss the Legal Licensing Requirements one might face when driving a Converted Bus, Shuttle, or Box Van. - We are not suggesting that you dodge or evade any laws or regulations ,and we don’t wish to imply that Safety is anything less than Paramount!
If you are unfamiliar with the type or size of vehicle you are purchasing, please get the appropriate training. Air Brakes, Long Vehicles, Tail Swing, Wide Turns, Stopping Distance, and many other factors will be different than what you might be used to, and you owe it to yourself and the safety of others to understand and be trained on how to properly operate the Rig.
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Start The Engine - Establishing a Budget - Making a Living on The Road - Choosing a Rig - Do I Need A CDL? - Designing a Skoolie Build - Step By Step Build Order - Skoolie Toolbox - Doing a Build On The Cheap - 10 Tips to Save Power and Money - Skoolie Build Ideas - Solar 101 - “Inverter/Charger/Switch” or 3 Separate Devices - Simple Solar - Solar Cheat Sheet - Step by Step Solar - Water Setup - Propane Setup - Skoolie, Van, & RV Air Conditioning DE_Mystified! - Skoolie Heating - Insulation - Digital Nomad Connectivity - Choosing a Domicile State - Converting a Commercial Title - Van, Skoolie, and RV Insurance - Camping Clubs, Subscriptions, and Passes - Road-Skool / Home-School - The Simple Skoolie Kitchen
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