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Can I Drive an SUV With an LMV License

Can I Drive an SUV With an LMV License

Do you have an SUV and wonder if it is legal for you to drive this type of vehicle with an LMV license? Well, find out in this article is this can be done or not, and what you need to do otherwise.

You can drive an SUV with an LMV license if it is under the 7,500-kilogram weight limit. Any SUV heavier than this would no longer be classified as a Light Motor Vehicle, and therefore require an HMV (Heavy Motor Vehicle ) license to operate.

Want to know more about LMV licenses and what you can drive with them? Well, read on to find out everything that you need to know before getting behind the wheel and out onto the road.

What is an LMV License?

Before we discuss more information about the LMV license, we want to have a clear definition of what this means, and what kind of license it is. So, what is an LMV license?

Well, an LMV license, the LMV standing for Light Motor Vehicles, is a driver’s license that allows you to be behind the wheel of certain personal vehicles. This is needed if you will be driving any smaller vehicle.

An LMV license is a common one that is used mainly for compact vehicles, sedans, and light trucks or vans. If you want to drive another type of vehicle, like a large truck or van for deliveries, then you will need an HMV or HTV license that allows for larger vehicles with more cargo or passengers.

The different types of licenses allow certain individuals to drive specific vehicles on the road, and some require separate driving tests from that of the LMV license. However, an LMV license is one of the common for a citizen to have.

Can You Drive an SUV with an LMV License?

Though an LMV license is made for smaller vehicles, that doesn’t mean that it cannot allow you to drive a larger vehicle. The license is made for vehicles that weigh under 7,500 kilograms, so if your SUV is under that weight limit, then you will be able to drive it without obtaining another license.

This means that if you have a transport vehicle that is under that weight limit too, you will be able to get behind the wheel of that one as well. This can be applied to all other types of vehicles that are made for personal use.

However, if your SUV happens to weigh more than that limit, then you will need to get a license that allows for vehicles of that weight class. If not, then you will be driving illegally, without a proper license for the vehicle.

If you are caught driving a vehicle without the correct license, then you risk getting a point on your driving record, but you could face paying a large fine as well. If you collect 12 points against you on your driving record, then you could have your license canceled and be unable to legally get behind the wheel for one year.

Obtaining Other Licenses

If you want to get more advanced types of licenses, you will have to pass the test for the LMV license first. So, if you want to drive a heavier vehicle, you will not be able to immediately opt for taking a driving test for larger vehicles.

You will first have to pass the test for the LMV license so that you can move on to more advanced levels. This is similar in most other nations and serves as a safety measure for those on the road.

You wouldn’t want someone driving a large truck that hasn’t already mastered smaller vehicles. So, for the safety of others, this is deemed necessary.

What Other Vehicles are Considered an LMV?

If you want to know all of the vehicles that are considered an LMV, so that you know when you will need to get another license to drive a certain vehicle, then here is a list of the types of automobiles that qualify as Light Motor Vehicles.

Cars

All types of cars such as two-door and four-door sedans, compact vehicles, and other types of smaller vehicles are considered LMVs.

These are the more common options that are found on the road and are designed to be passenger vehicles for a small number of people, though they will have some space for cargo.

Jeeps

As Jeeps are often tricky to define when it comes to what type of vehicle they can be considered, so they are put into their own category. Jeeps are passenger vehicles that have the same purpose and intention as cars and are classified as such.

So, though they are their classification of vehicles, they are still considered to be an LMV. This is because it is mainly a passenger vehicle and is made to transport lower weight, like other LMVs.

Taxis

Because taxis are passenger vehicles that are used for work, some may assume that this would require a specific license for driving one. However, this is not the case.

A taxi, although it is a vehicle that is used for work like larger delivery vehicles, they are smaller than the weight limit and do not require a license other than that of the LMV.

However, they may require a specific taxi driver’s license for working in the city or state you operate in, so check with your local city ordinances for specifics.

Delivery Vans

When it comes to delivery vans, some can be classified as an LMV, but others that can’t. This is simply determined by the weight of the vehicle as the others are too.

Smaller delivery vans that are mainly used for single-day deliveries will likely be well under the weight limit for an LMV. However, if there are larger vans that are made for multiple deliveries, then they could be passed the weight limit with heavy cargo.

The weight limit, however, is fairly high, and most vehicles other than large trucks with a large amount of cargo will not likely be heavy enough to warrant an HMV license. So, you could be driving a rather large delivery van and still be able to use this common license.

What is the Difference Between LMV and Other Licenses?

If you can drive personal vehicles with an LMV license, then this might make you wonder what types of vehicles are prohibited with this kind of license and the differences between this and other licenses.

Well, certain vehicles are not made for the average driver, and these are the ones that do not qualify as an LMV.

Vehicles that are designed for transporting heavier goods or many passengers are considered Heavy Transport Vehicles and must be driven by a driver with an HTV (Heavy Transport Vehicle) or HPMV (Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle) license.

However, you cannot simply apply for one of these two licenses on their own. For a driver to obtain an HTV or HPMV license, they must first obtain an LMV license as aforementioned.

The difference between these kinds of licenses is that the LMV is a starting point, and is common against the average person. The HTV or HPMV are higher classes of licenses that are not as common for those who do not drive larger goods or passenger vehicles for work.

Also, because they must have an LMV license first, the driver must know how to properly drive a smaller, lighter vehicle before they can learn to drive larger ones. This ensures that the roads are safer since those with much higher levels of licenses must have more driving experience.

What SUVs Don’t Qualify as an LMV?

If you are thinking about purchasing a larger SUV and are wondering if your vehicle is considered an LMV, then you will want to know before you make a purchase or go to get your license. However, many SUVs are well under the weight limit.

The average SUV is around 1,600 kilograms of curb weight, and between 2,000 and 2,500 with cargo and passengers. So, even with this higher weight, it is well under the 7,500-kilogram limit.

So, when you are shopping, you will want to keep this limit in mind before you make your final decision. However, you will not have a hard time finding an SUV that you can drive with an LMV license since many are much lower than the high kilogram limit allowed.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what types of vehicles you are legally able to drive with your LMV license is necessary if you don’t want to break the rules of the road. Having an SUV luckily doesn’t mean that you can’t be on the road with an LMV license.

Just remember to keep the weight limit in mind when you are thinking about a full SUV with passengers and cargo, and you will be able to find a vehicle that fits your needs and will not be too large for your to drive with your current license.

Zach Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of VehicleAnswers.com! Having owned a wide variety of vehicles in my life, I was astounded at how hard it can be to find answers to common automotive questions. Rather than sit idly, I decided to create this website to help others!