How To License A Semi Truck As An RV

‍A lot of truck drivers want to use their vehicles privately for recreation and leisure, but how do you license a semi-truck as an RV?

If you have a semi-truck that you want to drive for personal use, licensing the vehicle as an RV is one of the most straightforward ways of getting around without dealing with legal complications. However, while licensing a semi-truck as an RV is possible, you should be aware that the legal process of doing so can vary depending on where you live.

To license a semi-truck as an RV you need to make the vehicle livable, which generally includes a designated space for sleeping, as well as a bathroom. In addition, you will need to have proof of ownership of the semi-truck and pass a registration check at your local DMV.

There are so many people who own semi-trucks across the country that like the idea of traveling in their trucks but don’t end up doing so due to legal obscurities and technicalities. Semi-trucks are primarily used for hauling cargo and transporting goods, which results in a commercial classification that prohibits recreational driving. With that said, when you take commercial use out of the picture, you are left with an excellent vehicle that is ideal for traveling around the country - especially if you make it a livable environment. That is why a lot of truck drivers are beginning to license their vehicles as RVs so that they can fully utilize them outside of work. If you have always wanted to use your semi-truck recreationally, legally classifying the vehicle as an RV is going to be the best way to stay on the road without breaking any laws. To help you understand this further, we are going to take a closer look at how to license a semi-truck as an RV in more detail.

After extensively researching state laws for recreational vehicles, I have been able to gather enough information to determine how to license a semi-truck as an RV. My research has indicated that although some licensing requirements are synonymous throughout the country, you should always confirm what your local state dictates, as laws can greatly vary from place to place.

‍Requirements to License a Semi Truck as an RV

Before you can begin using your semi-truck as an RV, you need to ensure that the vehicle has been properly licensed and registered. Given that semi-trucks are used for commercial purposes, you need to be able to prove that the vehicle is only being used recreationally.

While the requirements for licensing a semi-truck as an RV can vary depending on the state that you live in, certain conditions and obligations will be necessary across the board. These are the requirements to license a semi-truck as an RV.

RV Registration

To use your semi-truck as a recreational vehicle, it has to be legally registered as an RV at your local DMV. You will have to schedule an appointment at the DMV so that a representative can inspect your semi-truck and officially register it.

If your semi-truck meets all of the requirements, the DMV will register your vehicle so that you can use it recreationally. However, before you go to the DMV, you should make sure that your semi-truck ticks all of the boxes first, as most will not qualify as RVs without some kind of conversion happening to the design of the vehicle.

Livable Design

The whole point of an RV is that it is supposed to be a livable vehicle. RVs are made for camping, as well as temporary and long-term mobile housing.

For a semi-truck to be licensed as an RV, you will most likely need to redo the design of the vehicle so that it is livable. How you go about this is up to you - just make sure that your design is in line with what your local state considers to be an RV.

Whether you want to pull a fifth wheel, travel trailer, or haul a converted cargo container, there are a lot of different ways that you can approach designing your semi-truck as an RV. The most basic necessity for a livable design is to have a designated shelter and space for sleeping.

Utilities

Basic utilities are often a key requirement that you will need to fulfill if you want to use your semi-truck as an RV.

While design requirements such as a living space are quite clear for RV conversions, utilities can fall into more of a gray area. The most common feature that you will most likely need is a designated bathroom. This will require the installation of the following:

• Black water tank
• Grey water tank

In addition to these, you may want to consider having a fully-powered vehicle with electricity - especially if you are traveling or living in your vehicle. With that said, if you want to skip the installation procedures of these utilities, one of the best ways to avoid them is to simply attach an RV trailer such as a fifth-wheel to your semi-truck so that all of the essentials are already in place.

Proof of Ownership

Once your semi-truck meets the requirements for RV registration, make sure that you have your proof of ownership of the vehicle handy.

This is a key requirement, especially for semi-trucks, given that a lot of truck drivers are operating company vehicles, which they do not legally own. Having legitimate documentation that proves you are the owner of the vehicle will be necessary when you take your semi-truck to the DMV for registration.

Can You Drive a Semi Truck Commercially After Licensing it as an RV?

The short answer is no. Once your semi-truck has been fully converted and legally registered as an RV, you will not be able to use the vehicle for commercial purposes.

The reason for this is that vehicles generally have a single type of registration. If the only intention that you have with your semi-truck is to use it as a recreational vehicle, then this will not be a major issue for you.

However, if you still plan on using your semi-truck commercially, you should consider whether registering the vehicle as an RV is logical. While some people may claim that simply having a ‘not for hire’ sign on a semi-truck is enough to bypass this, local authorities will have you registered based on what the DMV classified your vehicle as and you will technically still be required to get weighed in when driving past scales.

What Kind of Cargo Can You Haul in Semi Truck that is Licensed as an RV?

One of the biggest issues that you can run into when operating a semi-truck that is licensed as an RV is if you are hauling cargo that is not yours. Semi-trucks are primarily used for transporting cargo commercially, which falls under a specific legal classification.

If you are pulled over by authorities, you may be questioned about your payload and the types of goods that you are hauling. Any indication of goods that are being transported commercially will raise some eyebrows from authorities, as this would imply that you are violating the licensing of your RV/semi-truck.

With that said, if you are simply hauling around cargo containing your personal items and not related to any business or commercial use, then you should not run into any issues with authorities and you can drive your semi-truck the same way that you would any other RV.

Do You Need a Special License to Drive a Semi Truck that is Registered as an RV?

The majority of RVs on the road do not require a special license to be driven. RVs are treated as standard vehicles which you can drive with a standard license, so long as they are below a certain weight and length.

Semi-trucks, on the other hand, require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This is a much harder license to obtain and, just as the name implies, it is intended for commercial driving. The type of diver’s license that you need to operate a semi-truck that has been converted to an RV can be a bit obscure.

The main reason for this is that the design of the semi-truck/RV conversion can greatly vary, which will ultimately affect the specs of the vehicle. You need to consider the following factors when determining whether or not you will need a special license to operate your vehicle:

• Vehicle length
• Vehicle weight
• Passenger capacity

Generally speaking, the weight of the vehicle should not exceed 26,000lbs and you cannot have more than 16 passengers on board (including the driver). The length of the vehicle, as well as other requirements, can vary depending on the state you are registering your semi-truck in.

How Do State Laws Affect the Licensing of my Semi Truck?

The biggest obstacle that a lot of people run into when deciding to convert their semi-truck to an RV is that they have to deal with state laws. Each state has a different set of requirements to license a semi-truck as an RV, which can make traveling across the country more complicated than it needs to be.

Naturally, if you are registering your semi-truck as an RV, you are most likely doing so in your home state. Once the semi-truck is legally licensed as an RV in your state, you can drive freely without running into issues.

However, this can become a bit more complicated when your cross state lines. Each state has different requirements for semi-trucks such as weight, length, and other physical specs. If you want to avoid getting into any trouble, I would recommend confirming the local laws of the states that you want to drive through beforehand.

This is particularly important to be aware of if you are planning on driving your semi-truck across the country as an RV travel vehicle. If that is the case, it would be wise to design your semi-truck to fit the standard of most states so that you can avoid legal issues on the road.