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Last Updated on April 17, 2025 by Paul Clayton
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Is An RV Driving School Worth It?
Congratulations on buying your first RV! The answer can depend on several factors, including your existing driving skills, comfort level with larger vehicles, and the specific requirements of your insurance provider. It’s crucial to weigh the benefits against the cost to make an informed decision.
Key Takeaway
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Skill Boost: RV driving schools teach critical driving skills like handling tight corners, downhill driving, and campsite parking.
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Confidence & Safety: Helps new RV owners gain confidence and reduce road risks through hands-on, real-world training.
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Insurance Perks: Some insurance providers offer discounts for completing certified RV driving courses.
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Legal Compliance: If your RV exceeds certain weight limits, some states require a special license—RV schools can help you prep for it.
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Customized Learning: Best RV schools offer in-person lessons tailored to your specific RV type, often including real trips and campsite drills.
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Cost Range: Depending on course length and whether it’s group or private instruction, expect to pay between $200 and $800.
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Easiest RV to Start With: Class B RVs are the most beginner-friendly—small, nimble, and easy to drive.
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Hopefully, this is the start of an adventurous lifestyle that will see you visiting everywhere you’ve always wanted to visit and see everything you’ve always wanted to see.
However, before you hit the road for your first adventure in your RV, you need to familiarize yourself with driving an RV. After all, most RVs are more prominent and much heavier than standard cars. You also need to understand how to operate RV systems.
The best way to familiarize yourself with driving an RV and to learn how to operate RV systems is to take lessons at an RV driving school.
In this post, I will answer the question: Is an RV driving school worth it? I will also share everything you need to know about RV driving schools.
Let’s begin.
Is an RV Driving School Worth It?
Absolutely! Attending an RV driving school is worth it. This is because by following a good RV driving school, you will learn skills that will make your long RV trips safer and more enjoyable.
Most RV driving schools offer courses that teach learners how to inspect a recreational vehicle to ensure it is ready and safe for a long drive.
RV driving schools also offer courses that teach learners how to maneuver recreational vehicles in various difficult circumstances.
More specifically, RV driving schools teach you how to drive an RV downhill, on a narrow highway, and in heavy traffic.
Almost all RV driving schools also teach learners who take their courses about how to park in both pull-through and back-in campsites.
In other words, if you attend an excellent RV driving school and learn as much as possible, you will be much better prepared to take your RV on a long trip than if you don’t.
If you do not attend an RV driving school, you will not know what to expect on the road and will be unprepared to drive in difficult situations.
This could be frustrating or even dangerous for you and the people you are traveling with.
For example, if you attend an excellent RV driving school, you will be taught how to drive slowly when going downhill while towing a heavy camper.
If you don’t, you could drive at a high speed downhill, and the trailer behind you could gain so much mass that it breaks the hitch and causes a bad accident.
So, instead of just embarking on an adventure straight after buying an RV, you should take RV driving classes to educate yourself on how to drive or tow big RVs and to prepare yourself for challenging situations on the road or when parking or exiting campgrounds.
Do You Need RV Driving Lessons?
Only experienced long bus or truck drivers can be excused from taking RV driving lessons.
This is because such drivers have experience maneuvering and controlling heavy/long vehicles in different situations. Everyone else needs RV driving lessons.
Everyone else needs RV driving lessons because driving/ maneuvering an RV differs significantly from driving an average car.
Furthermore, many recreational vehicles are on the market, and they all have challenges when one drives them.
Therefore, every new RV owner needs to learn how to maneuver and drive the specific type of RV they have purchased or acquired. The best way to do this is by taking RV driving lessons.
You also need RV driving lessons to be safer while on the road, avoid accidents, and protect your RV from damage while parking or exiting a small RV campsite.
This is because most RV driving lessons are practical lessons that teach you how to maneuver an RV out of difficult situations and stay safe while driving a big rig.
You also need RV driving lessons if you do not like embarrassment. Damaging your RV while exiting a campground or jack-knifing your RV is embarrassing.
Maneuvering your RV so that you look like an amateur driver is also embarrassing. To avoid getting embarrassed, you need to learn how to drive an RV like a pro, and you can only do this by attending RV driving classes.
Is Attending An RV Driving School Necessary For Obtaining an RV License?
Generally, you do not need an RV license to drive an RV. This is because most states across the United States do not require a special driving license for those towing campers under 10,000 pounds or motorhomes below 26,000 pounds.
So, if your RV is a camper and is below 10,000 pounds, you do not have to worry about a driving license. If you own a motorhome that is not too heavy, you do not need to worry about a driving license.
However, if your camper exceeds 10,000 pounds in weight or your motorhome exceeds 26,000 pounds, you need a particular RV driving license in many states nationwide.
And attending an RV driving school makes it easier for you to obtain such a license. Therefore, if you have a heavy camper or motorhome, you should attend an RV driving school to make it easier for yourself to obtain a driving license to travel across any state you want to visit.
Which States Require a Special Driving License?
Many states require individuals to have a special driving license to drive an RV on their roads; these states include:
Wyoming, Texas, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Michigan, Maryland, California, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., New Mexico, Kansas, Hawaii, Connecticut, and Arkansas. The states that do not require a special driving license for RV drivers include West Virginia, Washington, and Virginia. Vermont, Utah, Tennessee, South Dakota, Rhode Island, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, Mississippi, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maine, Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, Alaska, and Alabama.
Therefore, when planning the route of your RV trip (something that you will also learn in any good RV school), you should know what routes to take or how to make sure you are always on the right side of the law.
Which Are The Best RV Driving Schools?
The best RV Driving Schools are those that teach RV driving in person. So, if you are looking for an RV driving school, go for a local one that will provide you with hands-on training on how to drive and maneuver RVs like yours.
The best RV driving schools have camps where they take learners and teach them how to drive. Some schools also send professional instructors to instruct learners on how to move their new RVs.
I also know of RV driving schools that take learners on out-of-state camping trips to teach them everything about driving, maneuvering, parking, and maintaining RVs on the highway and in an actual campground.
While driving schools that teach RV driving in person are the best, they are also somewhat pricey compared to driving schools that teach RV operation on video.
Regarding video driving, schools usually require learners to download and watch several hours of videos on how to drive RVs. They are great, especially in recent times when all states are urging people to practice social distancing.
However, the best RV driving schools offer hands-on training for those who want excellent training and to become RV veterans after graduating from RV driving schools.
How Much Does It Cost To Attend An RV Driving School?
RV driving schools that offer hands-on training frequently charge approximately $400 for group lessons and $650 for private lessons.
Short courses usually cost much less to attend (around $200), while long courses with comprehensive RV driving curricula can cost up to $800.
Some of the things you can expect to learn if you choose to attend long RV driving courses include:
- Defensive driving
- How to negotiate tight corners
- Interstate driving
- How to drive downhill
- GPS navigation
- Lane management
- Turning radius
- Backing into a campsite
- Braking and use of towing mirrors or backup cameras
What is the Easiest RV to Drive?
Generally, it’s a class B RV. Ideal for beginners in RVing, Class B RVs offer a comfortable transition due to their compact size. Their length is comparable to a standard pickup truck, which makes them relatively easy to steer and maneuver.
This ease of maneuverability extends to parking lots and gas stations, places where larger RVs might struggle.
Therefore, a class B camper is recommended for those venturing into RV driving for the first time and searching for a smooth introduction.
Final Thoughts
Is an RV Driving School worth it? Absolutely! Enrolling in one provides many benefits that significantly outweigh the initial cost. Firstly, the acquisition of skills and confidence is a significant advantage.
Proper training ensures you grasp the unique dynamics of driving an RV, such as weight distribution, handling, and braking techniques. This knowledge instills confidence in your ability to operate your vehicle safely in various conditions.
Secondly, understanding RV-specific laws is crucial. RV driving schools provide comprehensive knowledge about these laws, ensuring you adhere to all regulations and avoid potential fines or penalties. This understanding extends to the complex world of RV maintenance.
Lastly, one cannot overlook the insurance benefits. Completing a certified course may lead to insurance discounts, making it a financially sound decision in the long run. Furthermore, attending an RV driving school enhances safety for all road users by ensuring you’re well-equipped to handle your vehicle on public roads.
