License to _____.

September 25, 2009 11:15 PM

"Upgrading" my driver's license—help!

I'd like to have the legal ability to drive all sorts of things. The first that come to mind are a motorcycle license and commercial driver's license. However, I don't want to own or even have access to a motorcycle, a big rig, etc. I'm not exclusively interested in cars, either: forklifts, boats, planes (though I imagine this would be a large and expensive undertaking), whatever.

What sorts of things can I get tacked on to my license, how much would it cost, what would it involve, and how do I start?

I currently live in AZ, but I have a GA license. Also, I'm 19, but if there's anything that I can't do until I'm 21 (or above!) I'd still like to hear about it.

Thank you!

posted by reductiondesign to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

Best answer: -Forklift's a separate license (not DMV regulated).
-Motorcycle - Most states you can (and should) take an MSF course in place of the test, most MSF courses provide a bike. Would cost around $200 (at least here)
-Chauffeurs and 'For Hire' licenses are usually just a few bucks and a quick written test. Here it's $5 a piece or so.
-Boating is also seldom attached to your regular driver's license, but is usually just a quick written test.
posted by piedmont at 11:23 PM on September 25, 2009

The Georgia Department of Driver Services website comes up after a simple google search. All the info you need can be found by following that link.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:25 PM on September 25, 2009

Find a Mororcycle Safety Foundation class. Some states will take successful completion of a MSF class in place of the riding portion of the motorcycle test. This allows you to get your license before you purchase your first motorcycle. Additionally, many insurance companies offer a discount to MSF trained riders. I highly recommend it.

Look to your community college or technical school for forklift certifications. While you're at it take a couple of welding and carpentry classes. Go to the firing range and learn to shoot. May as well be ready for the zombie uprising.
posted by tumble at 11:32 PM on September 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

Getting a pilot's license really is a huge undertaking. This site says $6k-12k, this one suggests $10k. These are both pretty solid estimates, and that's if you're just wanting the basic license. If you want instrument rating, that's another $7-10k along with the cost of 50 hours flight time. Even rental will run you enough to put that in the realm of several thousand dollars more. If you're interested, just throw in Arizona aviation schools into Google, find one with a convenient location. You're looking at devoting quite a lot of time and money, so this goes well beyond getting the license on a whim. You'll have to be genuinely interested in flight. Once you realize that you're not going to invest over $25k in a license that you don't enjoy and use often, you'll probably be pricing private aircraft. $200k for a Cessna 172. The 162 is cheaper, but if you do that, spend the difference on life insurance.

Of course, if you want the widest range of vehicle driving lessons, you'd be looking at military service. I wouldn't say that's a common reason to enlist, but it certainly is a nice potential perk.
posted by Saydur at 12:07 AM on September 26, 2009

AZ MVD:

The minimum age for a commercial driver license is 21. If you are at least 18, you may apply for an intrastate commercial driver license that is valid only in Arizona.

posted by Rhomboid at 12:49 AM on September 26, 2009

You could fly an Ultralight, no license required.
http://www.all-about-ultralights.com/faq.htm#14.
posted by lungtaworld at 3:30 AM on September 26, 2009

Best answer: The term you're looking for is "endorsements" to your license. In Arizona, it they require a CDL (commercial driver's license) as a starting point for all the other commercial vehicles. Then you can add various endorsements like Passenger, School Bus, Hazmat, Tanker, and Doubles/Triples.

The problem: These often require road tests, and they don't give you a truck or bus to use, so going through a school is probably going to be the only way to do it. And the cost of the school will probably be a bit excessive for something you're doing on a lark.
posted by smackfu at 10:10 AM on September 26, 2009

As of 2005, the hazardous materials endorsement requires a federal background check with the Transportation Security Administration, so you might have a bit of delay with that one.
posted by marble at 10:38 AM on September 26, 2009

Best answer: Legal permission to operate a vehicle is very different than actual ability to operate a vehicle, FWIW. I had my motorcycle license for a few years before I got a bike, and had to completely re-learn how to ride once I had a bike. Likewise, I've got clearance/training to operate scissor lifts, boom lifts, and knuckle lifts, but I rarely do so anymore, so I flail pretty hard when I get called upon to operate them.

That being said, MSF is totally worth it. And, in California, at least, it's way cheaper before you're 21.
posted by mollymayhem at 2:17 PM on September 26, 2009

Watch out, some laws are more strict if you have a CDL, even if you aren't driving that rating of a vehicle at the time. I'm pretty sure the DUI threshold turns into .04. There may be others. Might have to pay higher insurance too.
posted by gjc at 9:31 PM on September 26, 2009