questions for california owners

[LowTech]

CVC section 362 defines Housecar:

V C Section 362 House Car

Mike

It defines it, . . . but it doesn't really say what is needed to meet that standard. I could live in it w/o doing anything to it, but them won't buy that

 

[Bad_Carp]

CVC section 362 defines Housecar:

V C Section 362 House Car

Mike

Correct.

There is also 6.040 Misc. Additional Information

There you find the further definitions

Recreational Vehicles

A recreational vehicle is defined as any motorhome or housecar, travel trailer, truck camper, or camp trailer with or without motive power designed for human habitation or other occupancy.

• They must contain less than 320 square feet of internal living room area (excluding built-in equipment and including, but not limited to wardrobe, closets, cabinets, kitchen units or fixtures, bath or toilet rooms) and 400 square feet or less of gross area measured at maximum horizontal projections.
• Recreational vehicles are built on a single chassis and are self-propelled, truck-mounted, or permanently towable on the highways without a permit.

The following vehicles are recreational vehicles:
Recreational Vehicle Definitions

Vehicle
Definition​

Camper (CVC §243)

• A structure designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle and to provide facilities for human habitation or camping purposes.
  • A one axle camper is not considered a vehicle.
• Any canopy or similar structure mounted upon a motor vehicle for purposes of human habitation or camping purposes is considered a camper.

Camp Trailer (CVC §242)A vehicle designed to be used on a highway which is capable of human habitation for camping or recreational purposes and does not exceed 16 feet in overall length from the foremost point of the trailer hitch to the rear extremity of the trailer body or 96 inches in width.

• Camp trailer includes any tent trailer.
• A camp trailer is not a trailer coach.
• Camp trailers are registered under the Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Program.

Park Trailer (H&SC §18009.3)A "park trailer" is a trailer designed for human habitation for recreational or seasonal use only that contains 400 square feet or less of gross floor area.Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer (CVC §324)

• A vehicle designed for recreational purposes to carry persons or property on its own structure and so constructed as to be drawn by a motor vehicle by means of a kingpin connecting device.
• A pickup with a kingpin connecting device for the fifth-wheel travel trailer must be registered as a commercial vehicle.

NOTE: A structure too large to be mounted upon and fully supported by a motor vehicle, independent of the axle attached to the structure, is a trailer coach or camp trailer, depending on the overall length of the vehicle.
Housecar (CVC §362)

• A motor vehicle originally designed, or permanently altered, and equipped for human habitation, or to which a camper has been permanently attached.
• A housecar shall not be deemed to be a motortruck.

IMPORTANT: Truck tractors with living quarters cannot be registered as housecars and horse trailers with an area equipped for human habitation cannot be registered as trailer coaches.
The living quarters are secondary or incidental to the primary function of the vehicle, which is transporting property.

The following vehicles are identified as housecars for registration purposes:
Housecar Vehicle Definitions

Vehicle
Definition​

MotorhomeA vehicle designed to provide temporary living quarters, built as an integral part of, or permanently attached to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis or van and includes a motorhome manufactured by a licensed motorhome manufacturer.Pickup with Camper

• A pickup with a camper (previously defined) permanently attached to the pickup for human habitation or camping purposes.
• A pickup with a camper temporarily attached is not a housecar.

Van CamperA van camper is a complete vehicle purchased from a recognized vehicle manufacturer and converted (usually by the installation of carpet, curtains, additional seating, etc.) for human habitation or camping purposes.

Motorhomes:

Motorhomes must contain permanently-installed independent life support systems which meet the criteria of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) and provide at least four of the following facilities:

• cooking
• refrigeration or ice box
• self-contained toilet
• heating and/or air conditioning
• a portable water supply system including a faucet and sink, separate 110-125 volt electrical power supply
• LP gas supply

Van campers will not contain the permanently-installed independent life support systems identified by the ANSI for motorhomes.
Motorhomes that do not exceed 45 feet (540 inches) in overall length or 8.5 feet (102 inches) in width may be registered in California.