Top Points on Motorhome Operation

From the first-time buyer to the seasoned motorhome veteran, there are several things you will need to know about buying, owning and using your motorhome. What follows is but a brief resume of points of which you should be aware.

1. What rights do I have against the seller?
A vehicle bought from a dealer has the benefit of a wide range of consumer legislation, including the Sale of Goods Act, which protects one against purchasing goods not ‘fit for purpose’. In comparison, a private sale has limited protection – it is sufficient for goods to be ‘as described’. It is an offence to sell an unroadworthy vehicle, but it would be foolish indeed to neglect inspecting the vehicle before purchase. Get the vehicle checked out by an independent expert and check out its history; and do not agree to, pay in cash.

2. Do I need a special license to drive my motorhome?
As a general rule, the ordinary car licence (Category B) will also cover your motorhome; though, where you passed your test on or after January 1, 1997 and you intend to tow a trailer with a maximum weight of more than 750kg, the requirements are for a B+E licence – available upon completion of a separate test. If your vehicle is over 3500kg (but less than 7500kg), the situation calls for a category C1 (medium goods vehicles) licence. (You’ll already have this entitlement if you passed the test before that date). Once into your 70’s, you will lose this entitlement, though it can be regained following a private medical test.

3. What are the requirements for my motorhome to be road legal?
Whether it may be new, pre-owned, built in the UK or from the continent, any vehicle on the road must comply with UK Construction and Use and Lighting Regulations. If your vehicle meets the National Caravan Council (NCC) certification scheme, it will have passed an inspection against all UK and EU rules and will be marked with an NCC approval plate on the vehicle. Tyre pressures must be suitable for the load being carried and the load itself must not carry your vehicle above the manufacturer’s stated maximum weight or exceed the maximum axle weights. You may have to go to a public weighbridge to verify this.

4. How does insurance work for motorhomes?
Insurance for motorhomes is generally very reasonable, the motorhoming community not being viewed as "boy racers" and thus a relatively low risk}. However, ensure you have adequate insurance for your vehicle, not forgetting any additional premium for foreign travel. Don’t forget that your insurance will have to cover habitation items within the vehicle, such as the kitchen, and that any personal items that will be in the vehicle will need to be covered. As with any legal matter, read the small print. Fully inventory your vehicle, its equipment and its contents and ensure everything is fully covered. And if there is a breakdown and roadside recovery element included, be sure the provider is able to cope with a van of your vehicle’s dimensions.

5. Is there any difference between getting an MoT for my motorhome and for my car?
It often depends on the size of your van and whether the test station is set up to handle a vehicle of that size. Your motorhome will count as a Class IV vehicle for its MoT and normally you will be able to get it tested at ant of the 19,000 centres in the UK. If this is impossible due to the size the vehicle, the MoT garage may refuse to accept the vehicle. Safest is to make it clear when you make your booking. If necessary, you can book an MOT at a Class VII centre which will have the facilities to cope with HGVs. There should be no difference in fee (a maximum of £54.85 currently). A new motorhome will need no Mot until it reaches three years of age, gut will require one every year after this.

6. In terms of speed limit, does my motorhome count as a car, minibus or van?
Obviously speed limits differ for different types of road and in the case of larger motorhomes may de different than for cars. If you have a standard-sized motorhome, no special restrictions will apply for the purpose of speed limits and motorway regulations – that means 70mph on a motorway or dual carriageway and a national speed limit of sixty elsewhere, but, of course, sign-posted lower limits apply. A motorhome with a weight of over three thousand kilos is subject to speed restrictions of 60mph on dual carriageways other than motorways and 50mph on single carriageway roads.

7. How many people can I carry? What about seat belts?
The size of your motorhome really is all that establishes the limit of how many you can carry, however liability for their safety is yours if they are not properly secured. The manufacturer will have specified the number of travelling seats your motorhome is equipped with, fitted with seatbelts. If there is a seatbelt available, it must be used. Suitable child seats must be used for smaller children.

8. Are there any recommendations for motorhome tyres?
Use a good brand of tyre and make sure you fit the correct type of tyre for your size of motorhome. Don’t try to skimp and save on tyres, because motorhome tyres are subject to more than your average workload. Remember that tread depth is just one sign of a worn-out tyre: wall damage, cracking and degradation due to sunlight exposure all contribute to tyre wear. Even a tyre with relatively healthy looking tread may be due for replacement for reasns other than mileage. Any tyre, including the spare, over seven years old should be replaced, and industry advice is that you should consider replacing tyres after five years.

9. Is it legal to park my motorhome outside my house?
You are within your rights to park anywhere on land that is yours; but be considerate of your neighbours in doing so – for example, you may create a nuisance to them if your van is preventing light reaching part of their house. Parking on the road outside the house is fine, provided you don’t violate any parking restrictions, but you have no specific right to this space as your own. When roadside parked overnight, remember to park facing the direction of traffic and , on roads with a speed limit of over 30mph, you must use parking lights.

10. How should I plan my motorhome journey?
First, make sure you know your van’s weight and dimensions: this is information you should readily find in your owner’s manual and always keep this close-by for ready reference. The site you are heading for will have a recommended approach route to follow; they’ve had more experience of getting there than you and will have it all worked out. A route suggested by your destination campsite will be more reliable than a sat-nav; although some now have software that will allow you to input your van’s dimensions and can thereby help you avoid any narrow or low spots. As a rule of thumb, avoid narrow country roads and stay alert for road signs warning of height and weight limitations.

11. How do I know I haven’t over-loaded my motorhome?
Refer to your owner’s manual to ensure that you know exactly what has been included in your motorhome’s official payload figure. Extras such as air conditioning or bike racks will need to be deducted. As a rule of thumb, allow 100-120kg for personal items for two passengers (clothing, food, water etc.). Take care not to load everything at the very back of your motorhome, as it can be easy to overload the rear axle. To be on the safe side, you can always weigh you fully-laden vehicle at an official weighbridge (you can find your nearest through your local Trading Standards Office). Keep your ticket to hand afterwards: it it may be required if you are stopped at a roadside check.

12. Can I park up overnight wherever I like?
In general, you're not allowed to 'wild camp' in the UK – that is, you cannot just park up, wherever, in your motorhome. Local bye-laws prohibit overnight stays in many car parks and in lay-bys, and you may be politely asked to move along if your stay looks like anything other than a a brief rest. Your motorhome may be too tall to access town centre car parks; a lorry park may be a better bet. In permitted Pay and Display locations, you may have to pay for two spaces; so check the notices.

13. Do I need to book into a campsite?
It’s always wise to let a campsite know in advance that you intend to come in a motorhome, as some sites reserve specific areas for motorhomes. Should you have a particularly large motorhome, some sites may have only limited space for big vehicles and may be unable to accommodate you. However, most sites do their best to accommodate you, even if that means where you can park up is very limited.

14. Are there special rules for pitches?
This will vary from site to site, but you should be parked up so as not to impinge upon others. Should you be allowed to choose your own pitch, put yourself in your neighbours’ shoes and park up as you would want them to park up for you. It is possible to pitch too close to your neighbours, so, keep an appropriate distance, about twenty feet. Most sites will have pitches that are particularly suitable for motorhomes and will direct you to pitch up in that area alone.