Non-Commercial Drivers License. You've waited sixteen plus years to obtain your freedom. Freedom. Yes. That's what a driver's license means to most teenagers. The freedom to take the family car out on dates, to games, to pizza after the game or to the first job everyday. It also means freedom to start a small business. Perhaps a little pickup or van to deliver newspapers or pizzas to make money while going to school.
A commercial license isn't necessary to be eligible for a commercial auto insurance policy in the State of Oregon if the weight of the vehicle you are driving doesn't exceed 26,000 lbs. What's most important is that you are properly covered. To obtain a non-commercial Class C driver's license in the State of Oregon you need to:
1. Be a resident of the State of Oregon;
2. Be at least 18 years of age (special rules for under 16);
3. Be healthy enough to drive;
4. Have no suspensions in Oregon or another state;
5. Provide proof of your legal name and legal residency;
6. Provide proof of Social Security Number;
7. Provide proof of residence address.
That's all part of the application process. Then, comes the fun part. The TEST! Not just one, but two! A written test and a driving test with an instructor. Make sure you have insurance and your signals and horn work on the day of your driving test. You may have to wait weeks after you take and pass the written test to schedule a drive test. It would be an upsetting thing to wait all that time only to find out that you aren't eligible because you didn't bring proof of insurance with you or that the brake lights don't work. And they check!
Now, once you have your drivers license in hand, you can apply for auto insurance. Best if you have a car. A personal auto policy will do if you just use your car to commute to work or school or for personal activities. Be careful. once you cross the line from personal use to business or commercial use of your automobile, you must buy a commercial auto policy to be properly covered while using your car in that business activity. Don't find out the hard way that your auto insurance claim isn't covered because you weren't aware of the difference between commercial and personal auto insurance. Companies do deny claims if they find out the risk was to great to have been covered under a personal auto policy.
Call us today at 503-693-2852 in Hillsboro, Oregon and 503-489-3143 in Gresham, Oregon to answer any questions you may have about the need for a non-commercial or commercial drivers license in Oregon and which one is necessary when applying for commercial auto insurance. Click here for more information and specifics on applying for a Class C non-commercial automobile operators license in the State of Oregon.