Getting behind the wheel of an RV can be rather intimidating at first. The vehicle is large, the engine is powerful and driving an RV requires much more thought and awareness than the typical automobile. Before you buy an RV and hop right on the highway, you might want to consider taking an RV driving course. Do you need an RV driving course? Let’s look at how some of these courses work as well as some of the benefits you can reap from taking one.
So, Should You Take an RV Driving Course?
You may have gone to driving school or taken a defensive driving course when you first started getting behind the wheel, and RV driving courses or schools are not too much different. If you’ve been behind the wheel of an RV for a while, you already know that driving an RV is not difficult, but it is much different than handling a typical automobile. RV driving courses are designed to give you the skills, mindset and the proper techniques to be able to handle an RV of any size. So even if you’ve been behind the wheels of an RV for 40 years, it never hurts to try it out.
Some states now require certain certifications to drive RVs of certain lengths, if your state is one of those you should get enrolled in class sooner than later before you pay a steep fine for not having your certification. By taking an RV driving course, you will likely be both obtaining a certification while also learning other techniques, two birds with one stone.
What Will You Learn in an RV Driving Course?
Every institution and class will have its unique way to teach RV driving courses, but many of them will follow a similar pattern. RV driving courses that professional drivers of tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers must take to hold onto to their certification and licenses so most of the time an RV driving course will be designed around thinking big.
This makes sense as many RVs, especially Class A motorhomes, are similar in handling and size when compared to an 18-wheeler. The class will be focused on actual driving techniques such as merging lanes as well as lessons on what you should do before, during and after a long drive to keep your RV both safe and in tip-top shape. They may also focus on RV-oriented laws in your state, so you know everything there is to know while RVing in your home state.
Where Can You Enroll?
There are several RV driving courses and schools scattered throughout the United States. A good place to start is by looking up 18-wheeler schools and finding out if they offer RV-oriented courses as well. The more populous or RV-oriented your state is, the more likely you may be able to find classes for RVers. These courses may be called “RV driving school,” “RV boot camp,” or “RV basic training,” and some institutions may offer different RV classes, so you could take a course on driver safety as well as a course on maintaining a safe RV and others.
You may also find RV driving courses at RV rallies and meetups, so the next time you head to a big RV rally, check the events and activities to see if you can take a course while you’re there.
The Benefits of an RV Driving Course
Not only will enrolling in an RV driving course give you skills and techniques that will keep you and others safe on the road, but they may also help your wallet. Some insurance providers will offer policy discounts if the account holder has taken safety courses so check with your agent to see if you qualify.
Regardless of skill or time spent on the road, every RV driver should take an RV driving course. RV driving courses can teach skills, techniques and other lessons that you may not have thought of before as well as get your insurance discounts. Check the internet or ask someone at a local RV store to find out if there’s an RV driving course near you.