[Closed] Camper vans and driving licences

What do you need on a driving licence for a campervan? What speed limits do you need to adhere to?

For a normal panel-van sized camper (i.e. T5, Transit etc)

- normal driving license
- 60 on motorways/dual carriageways if still classed as panel van on V5, 70 if reclassified as motor caravan

Bigger motorhome stuff, not sure.

plated upto 3500kg you can drive on a C1 licence. Beyond that, separate test unless you passed before 1995.

On the back of your driving licence will be a list of codes for the categories it covers. Not sure of the date but with weight it will depend when you passed your test. Older licences cover up to 7.5t gross weight where as now (and for quite a few years back) the limit is 3.5t gross.
With a campervan the 3.5t limit is not normally a problem as the base vehicles are plated to less than this 3.5 anyway. With the motorhomes however the 3.5t can be a factor, either your licence doesent cover it or the vehicle has been plated to 3.5t gross and is very close to the 3.5 net (i.e virtually zero payload).
Speed limits for campervans are same as cars but this assumes the van has been officially classified by the DVLA as a campervan (either type approval by the manufacturer) or post conversion by the converter/owner.

Dick - you are old enough (ahem) to have the categories you need assuming you passed about when I did, unless you are looking at this as a camper.

[img] [/img]

For a normal panel-van sized camper (i.e. T5, Transit etc)

- normal driving license
- 60 on motorways/dual carriageways if still classed as panel van on V5, 70 if reclassified as motor caravan

70 on Motorways.
60 on dual carriageways.

70 on Motorways.
60 on dual carriageways.

Nope

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

I once looked at a double decker bus that been converted to a camper and I *thought* I remembered that it could be driven in s normal car licence. Might be wrong though.

Nope

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Which states goods vehicles of not more than 7.5t can do 70mph on motorways and 60mph on Dual carriageways.

I think t5's etc are plated below 3.05t though nealglover?

That would fit in with "not more than" 7.5t then.

I think you're reading it wrong, it says

motor caravans: 60 single carriageway, 70, dual, 70 motorway (third row in table).

Good vehicles: 50 single carriageway, 60, dual, 70 motorway (seventh row in table).

So if you get your camper conversion reclassified from a goods vehicle to a motor caravan (which is possible to do), you get a higher speed limits.

I'm not reading it wrong, I was replying to this....

[b]60 on motorways/dual carriageways if still classed as panel van on V5, [/b]

70 if reclassified as motor caravan

The non reclassified panel van campers aren't restricted to 60 on motorways as it says

http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/advice_centre/casualty_reduction_partnership/speed/know_your_speed_limits.aspx

As a "rule of thumb" any van larger than a Vauxhall Astra van will have a gross weight in excess of 2 tonnes and is therefore subject to the reduced "class of vehicle" speed limits. Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Mercedes Vito, Peugeot Expert and Ford Connect, for example, are restricted vans.

There's a useful image in that link if anyone wants to post it up.

The non reclassified panel van campers aren't restricted to 60 on motorways as it says

aaaaaaaah, gotcha. Correct 🙂

There's a useful image in that link if anyone wants to post it up.

Rather unhelpfully, it's made up of loads of images linked together in a table like this ...

[img] [/img]

So I can't hot link directly to it.

plated upto 3500kg you can drive on a C1 licence

Nope.

Up to 3500kg MAM can be driven on a B licence.

Over 3500kg MAM is C1, which old folk (pre 1st Jan 1997 test pass) have a limited version of from their car test. Really old folk will need a medical to retain their C1 past age 70 or they lose it on renewal.

C1 test is pretty easy if it is needed.

My daughter has been looking into doing the C1 test because our motorhome is plated to 3800kg so while my wife and I can drive it ("old folk" according to the previous post!) she currently can't (she's 25).

You could look at getting the motorhome downplated - if you don't use all the available capacity - it's not that difficult to do, I believe. Ours was up plated when new to drop the VED liability but others identical were sold plated at 3500kg.

You could look at getting the motorhome downplated - if you don't use all the available capacity - it's not that difficult to do, I believe. Ours was up plated when new to drop the VED liability but others identical were sold plated at 3500kg.

It's a pretty big old beast - 2.4TD transit, 7.5m, twin wheel - so suspect it'd have zero payload at 3500kg. It has a garage for a small motorbike so does need a fair amount of payload.

We'll probably replace it this year but suspect we'll still end up with something over 3500kg.

fair enough. Ours is a 7.2m 2.8TDi Ducato based coachbuilt but only single axle so there's a reasonable payload even at 3500. I've kept 3800 'cos I'm old and my licence covers it and the VED seems to be less.

The important speed limit variation (different to normal cars) is 50 on NSL roads, which seems to have been buried in the above posts. Though depending on van you could be the normal 60.

The answer to all camper van questions is a Bongo.

bubs - Member
The answer to all camper van questions is a Bongo.

The answer to all camper van questions is a Bongo.

It really isn't.

The Mazda Bongo is on my list of 'worst vehicles I've ever driven'. I had one as a courtesy van while my van was getting serviced. Couldn't give it back fast enough.

Well that stealth add could have gone better 😀

Ta. Passed in Feb 95 but got a 'limited' licence which is renewed every 3 years for medical reasons. I don't have c1...but it'd be a panel van size.
I'm not looking to buy but they did look good...strangely all of them had a tent or awning where everything but sleep was done, so clearly no space for anything inside, so a car and tent seems the cheaper and more sensible solution.
Thanks for the clarity on it all though...I can get off the throne now I've got my answers!

The Mazda Bongo is on my list of 'worst vehicles I've ever driven'. I had one as a courtesy van while my van was getting serviced. Couldn't give it back fast enough.

Are you sure it was a bongo? they're notoriously easy to drive.

One of the considerations when we bought ours was to ensure that both our girls would be able to drive it on their normal licences. They both need to be a bit older to keep the insurance premiums down. No tent or awning to sleep in. All the bikes go in the back

strangely all of them had a tent or awning where everything but sleep was done, so clearly no space for anything inside

Depends entirely on the layout. Ours (Amdro T5 conversion) is completely usable as just the van. We have a small porch awning, but that's bonus space rather than a necessity.

[quote="bubs"]The answer to all camper van questions is [i]avoid[/i] a Bongo.

FTFY.

My FiL has one. It's small and fundamentally badly laid out. I looked at the forum once, it seemed to be an echo chamber of owners congratulating each other about their vans being cheaper than a VW. And ignoring all the reasons [b]why[/b] they're cheaper.

I can sort of see the point of those tiny little motorhomes if they are small enough to double up as everyday vehicles however I wouldn't fancy one myself - especially given the relative cost for the T5 conversions compared to a decent C-class.

not sure why so much Bongo hate but if you don't put a side kitchen in one they are pretty good with a pop-up roof plus the seats make a huge bed. If you want a cheap camper they're a good bet.

I keep lusting after a BFO 7.5 Tonne MX-style race van with a big garage for the bikes & stuff. Or a 4x4 Sprinter.