Driving your camper or caravan: which driving license?

The popularity of campers and caravans is unprecedentedly high. This year, many new camping enthusiasts have joined. And on our website too, search behavior has grown enormously this year. However, before you buy a camper or caravan, it's good to know what the rules are on the road. And specifically: which driving license do you need?

Up to a certain weight, you can drive both a camper or caravan with your normal B driving license. However, there is a limit, after which you need an additional driving license. We list the rules for you.

Driving license for caravan

For the law, a caravan falls under a trailer. To be allowed to drive it, your B driving license is sufficient if:

Your caravan is not heavier than 750 kg.
The total weight of your car and caravan is not heavier than 3500 kg.

You can find the weight in the documents of your caravan and your car. Is your caravan heavier? Then you need a BE driving license, the trailer driving license. By the way, even if you are not yet fully loaded and you are traveling alone, you still need a BE driving license for heavier caravans.

Do you have the right driver's license for your caravan?

Driver's license for a motorhome

For smaller, light motorhomes, your B driver's license is sufficient. This is the case if:

Your motorhome does not weigh more than 3500 kg.
Your motorhome does not have more than 8 passenger seats.

On your motorhome's registration certificate, you can find the maximum permissible mass. This weight includes the motorhome with all luggage and occupants. The registration certificate also describes how many people the motorhome can transport at most. It rarely happens that the latter number exceeds 8 people. (If this is the case, you need a D driver's license.)

Safely on the road with your motorhome with the right driver's license.

C1 driver's license

Is the motorhome heavier than 3500 kg, but lighter than 7500 kg? Then you need a C1 driver's license. For this driver's license, you must obtain a theory certificate and take a practical exam. C1 is actually a lighter version of the C driver's license (the truck driver's license). Since 2013, you can take driving lessons and take an exam for the C1 driver's license.

C driver's license

Is your motorhome heavier than 7500 kg? Then you need a C driver's license. The trailers attached to this vehicle may have a maximum permissible mass of 750 kg. You may then transport up to 8 people, excluding the driver.

For both the C1 driver's license and the C driver's license, a medical examination must be performed. This is repeated every 5 years.

Still looking?

Do you want to buy a motorhome or caravan? Then check out these articles with all kinds of tips. Or see which motorhomes and caravans are currently for sale