You can drive a van with a car license, but may need a commercial license if you want to do certain types of commercial work with it.
Most car licenses are B or D licenses, you will need either a Class C, B, or D driver’s license to legally drive a van.
C, B and D are specific licenses, so you can drive several vehicle types with them.
Most states will not allow you to drive a van if you only have a learner’s permit.
Some specialty licenses allow you to drive a van, but many are aimed more towards professional van drivers. It requires a certain kind of license to drive a commercial van professionally.
The licenses that we are going to talk about are geared more towards everyday vans that you might want to buy. Vans that are still very large vehicles but aren’t necessarily made for commercial use.
You Can Drive a Van With a Car License
Many licenses that allow you to drive a van are also considered to be standard car licenses. Both Class B and D driver’s licenses are most commonly used for those who drive cars.
This means that you can most likely drive a van with a car license as long as your state doesn’t have any special limitations. Every state is different, so it is a good idea to contact your local DMV, just to be sure.
Class D driver licenses are the most commonly given licenses for car drivers, this is most likely the license that you have, as well. With this license, you can drive a car and a van, as well as a variety of other vehicles.
Class B driver’s licenses are also quite common and cover both vans and cars as well as other vehicle options. A Class C driver’s license, however, is a bit more special and generally covers large vehicles.
With a Class C license you can drive a car and a van, but you can also drive other types of vehicles that other licenses don’t cover.
If you want to drive a van and don’t know if you can legally, you most likely already own a driving license that allows vans. With a little bit of research, you should be able to easily find out if your license covers your vehicle.
The Class D License is the Most Common
When you go to get your driver’s license many people aren’t even aware that there are different kinds. Let alone different qualifications and restrictions according to the license that you get.
The most common license that people get is the Class D license which covers the most desirable vehicles. Depending on where you live, you may get a Class D or Class B license.
This is why most people can drive a van with a car license, not because that license is special but because it covers a number of vehicles. Most licenses cover a variety of vehicles, otherwise they wouldn’t be very useful to most people.
This comes in handy as it means that you most likely don’t have to get a new driver’s license to drive a van. Because you probably already have a license that allows you to own and drive a van legally.
All you need to do is check the kind of license you have to see if vans are allowed. If you still aren’t completely sure, you can call your local DMV as they should know the specifics.
You Have to be 17 to Drive a Van
Being able to operate a van doesn’t have many restrictions at all, it is pretty much just as simple as being able to drive a car. The only limitation besides the license is that you must be 17-years-old.
This is not a big deal as many states require people to be 17 before they can get their driver’s license, some even require you to be 18. Depending on the legal driving age of your state, this age might be different.
To find out the rules for your state, you can either search online or call your local DMV. They will have any necessary information and be able to answer any questions that you might have.
It is so important to be sure that you are of the legal age to drive a van as you do not want to be breaking the law. Every state within the US is going to have slightly different driving rules, so it is important to always be sure you are following them.
It is also important to recognize that most states will not allow you to drive a van if you are only using a learner’s permit. Anyone can get a learner’s permit at 15 years old in most places, which is below the age minimum.
This is another thing that you can check up on with your local DMV.
Anyone Can Drive a Van
Despite the fact that a van is considerably larger than a car, anyone can drive one if they want to. There are no restrictions on who can and can’t own or drive a van.
It really just comes down to owning the right kind of driver’s license as well as being the required age. It is also important to note that there is no age limit on driving a van, you can drive a van at any age as long as you are the minimum age.
The most important part for anyone interested in driving a van is to practice and learn to adjust to how a van works. Many are very similar to how a car drives, but there are key differences to consider.
Like any new vehicle, you will need to practice and become familiar with driving a van before going into any busy areas. You want to be confident driving such a large vehicle before putting yourself in a situation with other vehicles.
A Class C License is the Best Option
Even though there are all kinds of driver’s licenses that allow you to drive a van, there are always going to be ideal options if you can get one. The test for getting one is much harder though.
Though driving a van with a Class D or B license is the most realistic for most, getting a Class C driver’s license is a great option.
All three types of driver’s licenses will allow you to drive a van of your choice.A Class C license covers several more vehicle options such as vehicles that can carry 16 people or more, including the passenger This will allow you the comfort of knowing that no matter what vehicle you later on what to drive, it is more than likely covered by your license.
This is the ideal option if you plan on getting a different kind of vehicle in the future or want to drive a very large van. The Class C license covers most types of van, even very large ones and SUVs.
A Class C Driver’s License Requires a Different Process
In order to get a Class C driver’s license, you will most likely have to jump through more hoops than you would to get a Class B or D license. This is because a Class C license covers more vehicles, thus meaning that you should be more skilled as a driver.
Most areas will require the basics for you to get this kind of license. This would include a written test, driving test, vision test, and physical exam. You will also need all of your documents proving who you are and your age.
You may also be required to take a CDL test or fill out a CDL application. Like any other driver’s license, you will also have to pay a fee to get it, this will vary slightly by state.
Every statue is different, so you may want to call ahead to your DMV and ask them just how you can get a Class C driver’s license.
Commercial Vans Have Different Requirements
If you are a professional van driver, things are going to be considerably different as that is a whole different ballpark. Professionally driving a van is much different than simply driving a van for your everyday use.
Because of this, a special driver’s license may be required, and you might be subject to certain requirements. These are things that driving an ordinary van is not going to require of you as a driver.
Every state is going to have different requirements for commercial van drivers, so you will need to look into your particular state to be sure. If you work for a company, they will most likely have their own set of requirements as well.
So, if you are a commercial van driver, things might be a bit more complicated in your case. That means that it might be best to look into your state’s laws as well as contacting your local DMV for more information.