Driving your motorhome or caravan: which driving license?

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

Up to a certain weight, you can drive both a motorhome 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

A caravan is legally considered a trailer. 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 correct driving license for your caravan?

Driving license for motorhome

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

Your motorhome is not heavier than 3500 kg.
Your motorhome has no more than 8 passenger seats.

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

Safely on the road with your motorhome with the correct driving license.

C1 driving license

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

C driving license

Is your motorhome heavier than 7500 kg? Then you need a C driving 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 driving license and the C driving license, a medical examination must be done. 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 what's campers and caravans currently for sale