Greener Yet

Duane is now the proud owner of a new Class A Texas Drivers' License.  On our way home after his testing we were again trying to work our way through the maze called Texas drivers license endorsements. 

Class D is the basic license which allows the driver to operate all types of motor vehicles registered by the  MVC except motorcycles.  Not said is that the vehicle cannot pull any kind of trailer.

Class A, B, and C are designated as commercial or noncommercial. 

A class C non-cdl license allows a driver to operate a vehicle with a total weight of less than 20,001 lbs. including passenger cars, trucks, vans and SUVs.  This means than if you pull a trailer the total weight of vehicle and trailer must weigh less than 20,001 lbs.,  a transport 23 or less passengers including the driver, or an autocycle  (the side by side 3-wheeled motorcycle which is designated a car in Texas).   

A class B non-cdl license allows the driver to drive a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 lbs. or more, a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of  26,000 lbs. or more that is towing a vehicle with a GVWR that does not exceed 10,000 lbs., or a farm trailer with a GVWR that does not exceed 20,000 lbs., and a bus with a seating capacity of 24 passengers or more including the driver.

A class A  allows a driver to operate a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs. or more, and a combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 lbs. or more provided the GVWE of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 lbs.

Lots full-time rvers select Texas as their domicile state where they conduct all of their legal business and maintain a mailing address.  They often do so because Texas does not collect a personal income tax.  What they don't realize that Texas has a dizzying array of driving licenses, and that all vehicles, including trailers require a yearly safety check before current vehicle licenses are issued.  All vehicles are licensed from date of purchase.  We tried to pay a pro-rated fee on two of our vehicles so that we could get the bike, house, and truck inspected and relicensed all at once when we returned to Texas for doctors' appointments, but were not successful.  RVers who are out of state can get their new vehicle license on time by going on-line and requesting an extension for inspection, but must be inspected as soon as they return to Texas.

No personal income tax may make Texas look as if it has very green grass, but after trying to navigate the vehicle and driving license laws, the grass looks greener in other states.

Fully legal at last,

Louise and Duane