Can I Drive A Motorhome With A Normal Driving Licence?

Can I drive a motorhome on a car licence?

Want to dive into a world of spontaneous travel but are wondering, ‘What licence do I need to drive a motorhome?’. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Today, we’re going to tell you exactly which motorhomes you can drive on a standard car licence. Thankfully, the answer is more straightforward than you might think, with most holders of standard driving licences having the ability to also drive a motorhome.

If you’re looking for a brand new or used motorhome to take on short, impulsive weekend trips or full summer holidays, you can find what you need at Spinney. Stocking a range of new motorhomes from the very best brands, we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your needs using over 50 years of industry experience. Once you’re set to go, we even offer servicing packages to make sure your vehicle is protected for years to come.

But, before we get carried away, let’s delve into exactly what licence you need to actually drive a motorhome.

So, what licence do you need to drive a motorhome?

So we’ll start with the good news, everybody can drive a motorhome on a standard car licence. However, this comes with a few caveats. Indeed, the type of motorhome you can drive on a standard licence depends on:

1. The date you passed your test
2. The weight of your motorhome
3. Your age

In this guide, we’re going to break down each of these three factors and tell you exactly which motorhomes you can drive on a standard car license.

When did you pass your test?

If you passed your test after January 1st, 1997, you can drive a motorhome up to 3,500kg. The standard driving licence issued to a driver passing their test in 2023 covers categories B, B1 and BE, which permits you to drive a motorhome up to 3,500kg. Most new motorhomes in the modern day are built with a Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of 3,500kg to ensure they can be driven by all drivers.

As the driving licence page of the government website states:

But, if you passed your driving test before January 1st, 1997, you can drive a motorhome up to 7,500kg. All driving licenes received before January 1st, 1997 automatically come with a C1 entitlement, enabling you to drive motorhomes up to 7,500kg.

How much does your motorhome weigh?

So what have we established so far? Anybody with a standard driving licence can drive a motorhome up to 3,500kg with no issues. However, only those who passed their test before January 1st, 1997 can drive a motorhome up to 7,500kg. So, how do you go about driving a motorhome up to 7,500kg if you passed your test on or after January 1st, 1997?

Well, you will need to pass an additional driving test to add the C1 category to your licence.

To book your additional driving test, visit the government website.

How old are you?

The final factor you need to consider is your age.

When you reach 70 years old, you will need to renew your driving licence. If you use the standard renewal procedure, your C1 entitlement will be suspended, and you will no longer be able to drive motorhomes between 3,500kg and 7,500kg until you have passed a medical.

Alternatively, you can fill in form D2 online and ask your GP to fill in the medical report form D4. Your GP is likely to charge for this service as part of a private appointment.

What do you have to do to get your C1 driving licence?

Thankfully, for drivers looking to quickly be able to drive a motorhome, the C1 driving licence is pretty straightforward to acquire. All you need to do is abide by the following steps:

1. For a start, you have to be over 18 years old and already in possession of a category B driving licence before you can take steps to get the C1 category.

2. There is a medical aspect to your application – you have to complete a D4 form, which will ask you about anything medical which might affect your ability to drive.

3. Once you have completed this, you will have to undergo a formal medical examination by a doctor. If you pass this, then you will be able to get a provisional licence from the DVLA (apply by completing and sending form D2 plus the D4). The DVLA will issue your provisional licence.

4. When you are in receipt of your provisional licence, you can begin lessons or training to drive vehicles up to 7500kg. The teacher, trainer or instructor must have held a full C1, C1E, C or CE licence for more than three years (and have passed their test after January 1st 1997).

5. When it comes to testing to attain your C1 categorisation, there are several hoops to jump through. You will have to undertake three different theory tests (multiple choice questions, hazard perception testing and case studies) followed by your practical test. This practical test will last approximately 90 minutes, and you will be assessed on all aspects of your driving. If you pass all four tests, you will receive your C1 driving licence within two weeks (or thereabouts).

6. The C1 is a sort of ‘entry-level’ HGV licence and is sometimes referred to as either Rigid Body, Class 2 or an LGV. However, with the C1, you cannot add a trailer or tow a car unless you undertake (and pass) another test to achieve the upgraded CE licence.
A C1E allows you to drive a C1 category vehicle and tow a trailer over 750kg (though it must not exceed the weight of the towing vehicle). The combined MAM cannot be more than 12,000kg.

Motorhome licence rules abroad

Thinking of taking your motorhome to France or beyond?

Thankfully, driving your motorhome abroad is as easy as driving it across the border (once you’ve taken a ferry, of course). As outlined by the DVLA guide on driving licences abroad, all you need to do when driving in the EU is carry your UK driving licence. Despite some beliefs, you don’t need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

You may, however, require an IDP if you have:

• An old paper driving licence
• An issued licence from Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man or Jersey

Thankfully, IDPs are easy to get and only cost £5.50 if you require one. Other than licence or IDP requirements, it’s important not to forget the importance of UK stickers and number plates which must be displayed when driving a British-registered vehicle abroad. This rule does not apply to Ireland, however, you are free to drive around the neighbouring island without restrictions.

One thing you will have to be wary of is motorhome speed limit restrictions, with this changing from one country to the next.

How hard is it to drive a motorhome?

For newcomers to the world of leisure vehicles, wondering ‘What licence do I need to drive a motorhome?’, the next question is often ‘Is it hard to drive a motorhome?’. The simple answer to this question is yes, but it might take a little bit of getting used to. Indeed, you shouldn’t jump into a motorhome the moment you can get your hands on one and hit the motorway straight away – we recommend getting to grips with its size and weight first.

To set your expectations, here are some things it might take a while to get used to:

• Vehicle size: It’s likely that your motorhome will be far bigger than your normal car, but this extra size requires more room for manoeuvring and parking.
• Braking distance: Thanks to their size and weight, motorhomes require a larger stopping distance – make sure you give yourself plenty of space between the driver in front of you.
• Reversing: Thanks to the length of the vehicle and limited visibility, extra care needs to be taken when reversing, particularly if you’re parking. A helping hand from a passenger may be required!
• Handling: Thanks to their larger size and weight, motorhomes can handle very differently from cars, particularly in bad weather conditions.
• Visibility and vigilance: Unlike cars, where visibility is largely unimpeded, due to the size of motorhomes, vigilant use of wing mirrors and rear-view cameras becomes essential.

But these challenging elements can be easily tackled, especially if you take heed of some top tips for motorhome driving.

Top tips for motorhome driving

As we’ve established, driving a motorhome can feel very different to driving a car, so consider the following tips once you’re behind the wheel of your new leisure vehicle.

• Swing wide when turning: Due to the size of a motorhome, you need to start turning later than if you were driving a car.
• Weight distribution: A motorhome with poor weight distribution could dramatically impact how your vehicle handles. Take care when loading your motorhome and try to keep heavy items as close to the centre of the vehicle as possible.
• Practice smooth steering: Sudden, sharp turning can cause a motorhome to become unstable, endangering you, your passengers and other road users. Practice smooth and gradual steering to avoid this.
• Convex mirrors: Expand your line of sight by installing convex mirrors that provide a wider angle of view.
• Parking: If you’re trying to get into a tight space, assess your plan before you approach. If possible, use a passenger as a spotter and ask them to go outside and help you manoeuvre into the space.
• Practice makes perfect: It’s an old adage for a reason. By practising manoeuvres in an empty open space, you can get a proper feel for how your vehicle drives and handles.
• Defensive driving: This is generally a good idea for all drivers, but is especially important for motorhome users. Essentially, it’s a driving technique that promotes keeping a safe distance from other drivers in order to be prepared to anticipate potential hazards.

Oh, and one more tip. If you don’t yet have a motorhome but you’re looking to buy one and want to get a feel for how they drive, why don’t you consider renting a motorhome with Spinney? Try before you buy with our motorhome hire service, provided by our UGo Motorhome rental partner, and you can test drive several different models and brands, getting an informed idea of which vehicle you would like in the process!

At Spinney we make your purchasing journey as simple as possible, offering everything you need in one place. Looking for motorhomes? We’ve got the very best from the most innovative brands. Want to pivot to looking at caravans and campervans instead? Say no more, we have the best new caravans and cutting-edge campervans for sale that will transform how you holiday!

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