Where to buy already RV titled bus

Titling Issues

I posted this before I saw the trhead on titling in Vermont. I wanna be able to buy a bus that I can drive without having to have a CDL or special license. I'd like to do all the work myself and get a clean bus in the $5000 to $8000 range but I'm not adverse to getting a partially converted bus or a clean bus that the project has been abandoned.... HELP! Decisions, Decisions.


I found a place in NM where I can park, live and build something....so I'm def doing my homework.
 
I found mine on craigslist. You can find them on craigslist, facebook, and even here on this site. People get burnt out or move on from their skoolies, and you can typically find them for a decent deal compared to what you'd pay for something recently decommissioned and needing gutted. Being already gutted is worth something. I know some on here don't value their time, but I do.
 
Be careful about driving a out of state registered vehicle with a CA drivers licence. Cost my wife a hefty fine. And locked up her ability to get a NM drivers licence until we paid the ********.
 
it is not that the DL must match the tags

Nearly every state has these laws on the books, just that some like CA actually enforces them

once your vehicle has been in the state for X days, it must be registered locally (fees, taxes paid)

same with people and their DL.

Only way around it is to genuinely live full time in the bus as a nomad, do not stay put for over X days.
 
@Abear Adventures


Not sure what you are in the market for, but I am getting ready to put my GMC Giarardin short bus up for sale. It is a 2011, gas engine with just over 80K and with 95% of the inside removed, it offers a clean slate to work with. send me a PM if you're interested.


Clyn
 
Sounds like putting the cart before the horse. The chances of a bus having an RV registration means it is probably converted. A bus that is titled as an RV that isn't converted likely won't be able to be insured as one.
 
s2mikon said:
Be careful about driving a out of state registered vehicle with a CA drivers licence. Cost my wife a hefty fine. And locked up her ability to get a NM drivers licence until we paid the ********.
Click to expand...

What important info was left out of this story. It's certainly not illegal to drive an out of state vehicle with a Ca. DL.:facepalm:
 
o1marc said:
A bus that is titled as an RV that isn't converted likely won't be able to be insured as one.
Click to expand...
All depends on the state and the carrier. And "insuring as an RV" is rarely necessary, during the time it takes to get it qualified.
 
Most states require you to sign an affidavit (under penalty of perjury) stating it is a changed body type and is compliant with the new body type requirements. If I remember in CA you have to fill out a “statement of facts” and sign under penalty of perjury. When I did my first bus in CA it was not complete enough to suit them so the dingbat at DMV said lets just call it a station wagon because the seats can be removed. So I had a 34 foot long station wagon with air brakes. In NM they (MVD) have to inspect it. Not that they know what they are looking at. I was told by one person in Ottero County NM they just asked him what he wanted to do with it and they did it. Then they issue a new title that lists it as an RV. CA also is very strict about older diesels in trucks and buses over 14000 gvw. Motor homes are okay. So the OP needs to be very careful how he does this or he may end up with some hefty fines. Look at this link https://www.chp.ca.gov/PressReleases/Pages/CHP-REVAMPS-REGISTRATION-VIOLATORS-PROGRAM.aspx
The damn place is crazy.
 
Abear Adventures said:
I posted this before I saw the trhead on titling in Vermont.
…
I found a place in NM where I can park, live and build something....so I'm def doing my homework.
Click to expand...
So focus on NM regs & actual reality (two separate things of course).

Post a new thread with NM in the title and do some googling, talk to NM DMV and LEO, State troopers etc

The VT workaround will do the trick for a year if you find out NM is at all fussy. During that time of course you get a NM DL since you are resident.

You do not need to worry in any case in any state about getting a CDL, that is only required for commercial use in most.

Once you get it registered as an RV in NM then you can travel in all the states.

If you want to settle back down in CA become resident there, that is when you need to worry about their requirements.

Buying a vehicle already registered as an RV now will have no bearing on that last issue.
 
I believe TN will allow you to title a bus as an RV. I don't know the process but I've purchased one that was already titled this way.
 
john61ct said:
All depends on the state and the carrier. And "insuring as an RV" is rarely necessary, during the time it takes to get it qualified.
Click to expand...

I'm just pointing out that many people rush to get RV registration because RV insurance is cheaper and most states don't require CDL for driving one. So the rush to get it changed may create issues with insurance when the conversion is not complete.
 
TrailsBy11 said:
I believe TN will allow you to title a bus as an RV. I don't know the process but I've purchased one that was already titled this way.
Click to expand...

Probably a case of slacker employees in the DMV if a conversion has not been completed. DMV is easy to fool, they are government. Insurance will not be fooled as easiy.
 
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