Can I Drive a Motorhome on a Standard Licence?

Looking to buy or hire a motorhome? One of the first questions you should ask if whether your existing driving licence will allow you to drive it. The answer simply depends on two things, the weight of the motorhome and when you passed your driving test.

Weight (MAM)

MAM is something you will hear a lot in the motorhome industry, and it stands for Maximum Authorised Mass. MAM means the maximum weight the vehicle can legally weigh when fully loaded, including passengers, fuel, water, luggage and equipment. You can find the MAM on the vehicle’s VIN plate or in the handbook, and the two categories are:

1. Up to 3,500kg MAM
2. Over 3,500kg MAM

Your driving licence type depends entirely on which side of that line your vehicle sits.

Did You Pass Your Test After 1st January 1997?

If the answer is yes, you did pass your test after 1st January 1997, then you can drive vehicles that are up to 3,500kg MAM and up to 9 passengers, including the driver. This means you can legally drive most compact and mid-sized motorhomes without having to take any additional test.

However, if you are wanting to drive a motorhome that exceeds 3,500kg MAM, you will need to do an additional medical and practical test to upgrade your licence to Category C1.

Did You Pass Your Test Before 1st January 1997?

If you passed your driving test before 1997 then you were automatically granted Category C1 entitlement, which means you can drive vehicles that are up to 7,500kg MAM without having to take an additional test.

It is important to note, that this entitlement expires at age 70 years old unless renewed, which requires a medical assessment and DVLA approval.

How Do I Get a C1 Licence for my Motorhome?

If done correctly, the steps to getting your C1 licence are simple. The first thing you need to do is get your doctor to complete form D4, this includes performing a medical and vision assessment to prove that you meet the required medical standard. You will also need to complete form D2 and then send the completed forms and your current licence to DVLA. There aren’t any application fees, and it can take up to three weeks to get your licence back with the new provisions.

Once you get the new licence back, you can start learning how to drive the motorhome under supervision. When you are feeling confident, you are ready to book your theory test, which is split into three tests: multiple-choice test, hazard perception test and case studies. You must also book your practical test in two parts. The first one is the off-road exercise, which takes approximately 30 minutes and costs around £40. Once you have passed this one you will have a 1-hour practical road driving test which costs around £115.

Towing a Car or a Trailer

Many motorhome owners like to tow a small or car or a trailer, and under a standard Category B licence, post 1997, you can tow a trailer up to 3,500kg. It is important to make sure the motorhomes towing capacity and plated train weight is not exceeded.

To conclude, you’re eligible to drive any motorhome under 3,500kg on your standard driving licence, and the requirements are simple if you are wanting to upgrade to a C1 driving licence. At Spinney, we supply new and used motorhomes that fall within the 3,500kg category as well as those that fall into the higher weight class.