Do I need a special license to drive a 26-foot moving truck?

Usually not. You need a commercial driver's license (CDL) for a vehicle rated at 26,001 pounds or more. The largest consumer rental trucks are rated just under that, at 25,999 pounds.

FMCSA says the federal trucking rules don't apply when you move your own property and aren't paid or doing it for a business. It also tells drivers to check their own state's licensing rules.

Before you sign, read the weight rating (GVWR) on the sticker inside the driver's door.

Whether a rental truck must stop at weigh stations depends on the state. Check each state's DOT website for your route.

Source: FMCSA, Hours of Service FAQs: non-business transportation; Colorado State Patrol, Commercial Driver's License (FMCSR Part 383); rental truck published specs · Checked October 2026