Can I drive a motorhome with a car licence?

Ever wanted to go on holiday in a motorhome but are not sure if you can legally drive one? We understand your struggles and we are here to help.

Driving a motorhome can be an incredibly fun experience, motorhomes are often associated with holidaying therefore the likelihood is that if you’re driving one, you’re probably going on holiday.

The freedom to drive wherever you want with your home on wheels is a feeling you cannot match. Whether it be driving from campsite-to-campsite day by day, waking up in a new town every morning or simply parking it up and staying in the same place for a week, they have something for everyone.

However, the ability to drive one lies around the letter of the law and your ages, you’d be surprised to know that you do not legally have to take a test to drive one and anyone who has passed their car driving license can drive one, within reason.

Not everyone is fully clued up on the restrictions and rules in place regarding motorhomes and the laws regarding driving these houses on wheels, said people could find themselves with a hefty fine and even points on their license for failing to comply with the law regarding motorhome driving.

The new laws and rules in place have set out to simplify these rules and relax the rules slightly for younger drivers. The rules now mean that if you passed your driving test after 1st January 1997 you can drive a motorhome that weighs less than 3,500kg MAM and tow a trailer provided the total doesn’t exceed 4,250kg.

If the trailer weighs more than 750kg MAM you are still allowed to tow it, however the total MAM including the motorhome and trailer must not exceed 3,500kg MAM total, therefore the motorhome must weigh less than 2,750kg MAM.

If you passed your car driving test prior to the 1st January 1997 date then the same ‘grandfathers rights’ as previous apply and you drive a motorhome and tow a trailer combination of up to 8,250kg MAM meaning you have access to much larger motorhomes.

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