Motorhome licence requirements

[Slashmb]

Not sure if this should be here or the motorhome section.

I tried a search but couldn't find anything.

My mate is probably buying a motorhome tomorrow but he isn't sure about the legal side of things regarding the weight of the thing and his licence. He passed his driving test in April 1997 so can only drive a vehicle up to 3500kg. The motorhome he is getting,as I understand it, has a MAM above 3500kg but the unladen weight is less than 3500kg.

Can he legally drive it home on his licence since it will be empty and be less than 3500kg or does the MAM overrule it and he could be in trouble?

I reckon the MAM is the one to go on and so he needs to upgrade the licence.

Thanks

[rewc]

Slashmb said:

Not sure if this should be here or the motorhome section.

I tried a search but couldn't find anything.

My mate is probably buying a motorhome tomorrow but he isn't sure about the legal side of things regarding the weight of the thing and his licence. He passed his driving test in April 1997 so can only drive a vehicle up to 3500kg. The motorhome he is getting,as I understand it, has a MAM above 3500kg but the unladen weight is less than 3500kg.

Can he legally drive it home on his licence since it will be empty and be less than 3500kg or does the MAM overrule it and he could be in trouble?

I reckon the MAM is the one to go on and so he needs to upgrade the licence.

Thanks

For a motor caravan with up to 3500kg MAM he needs a Class B licence. Above 3500kg he needs a C1 licence. The actual weight has no bearing on it, it is the MAM which matters. If stopped he will be prosecuted for driving other than in accordance with his licence.
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpand...

Edited by rewc on Sunday 3rd April 20:56

[Slashmb]

Thanks for that.

Do you have any idea what cost would be involved to get C1?

[rewc]

Slashmb said:

Thanks for that.

Do you have any idea what cost would be involved to get C1?

My guess is about £1000. He will have to take a medical in accordance with medical form D4 to get the provisional entitlement. When he gets the full licence it will be valid for a 5 year. He can renew with self medical declaration up to 45 and then 5 yearly to 65 with medical D4 when it becomes annual. He needs to apply for the licence on the form contained in pack D2. He can get them here D2/D4 pack Application for a driving licence for a lorry, minibus or bus https://www.gov.uk/dvlaforms

If there is adequate payload he could down rate the vehicle to 3500kg MAM thus not requiring the C1 licence. SvTech are the acknowledged specialists and recognised by DVLA to provide the technical documentation required. http://www.svtech.co.uk/vehicles/motorhomes/

Finally he should join one of the motor home forums such as motorhome facts. http://forums.motorhomefacts.com/

[C Lee Farquar]

rewc said:

For a motor caravan with up to 3500kg MAM he needs a Class B licence. Above 3500kg he needs a C1 licence. The actual weight has no bearing on it, it is the MAM which matters. If stopped he will be prosecuted for driving other than in accordance with his licence.
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpand...

I seem to remember that although this is exactly the line VOSA trot out, the actual law is a little messy and the legislation all relates to goods vehicles.

When I looked into this it there didn't seem to have been any prosecutions, but that was some time ago.

It may have changed now, I took my HGV test anyway.

[rewc]

C Lee Farquar said:

I seem to remember that although this is exactly the line VOSA trot out, the actual law is a little messy and the legislation all relates to goods vehicles.

When I looked into this it there didn't seem to have been any prosecutions, but that was some time ago.

It may have changed now, I took my HGV test anyway.

There is no dispute at all, the law is clear. A category B licence will only allow a vehicle with a MAM up to 3500kg. To drive a vehicle registered with body type motor caravan, which has a MAM between 3501 and 7500kg category C1 is required. it may on the face of it to be somewhat non nonsensical to class a Motor Caravan as a Bus or Lorry for the sake of Driving Licences but it does. You could also make a similar comparison that with a MAM up to 3500kg the motor caravan will be in the PLG VED band whilst over 3501kg it is in the P-HGV VED band.
It is also worth noting that a motor caravan with an UNLADEN weight of 3050kg has the same NSL speed limits as cars, no matter what its MAM is, whilst over 3051kg unladen it is restricted to 50/60/70.

Edited by rewc on Monday 4th April 23:28

[C Lee Farquar]

Thinking about it, in my case it was in relation to a motorhome over 7.5 tonnes. There was some advice that a HGV licence was not required but it seemed a bit dubious.

Has anyone been prosecuted yet for driving an over 7.5 motorhome without an HGV licence?

[Bill]

rewc said:

It is also worth noting that a motor caravan with an UNLADEN weight of 3050kg has the same NSL speed limits as cars, no matter what its MAM is, whilst over 3051kg unladen it is restricted to 50/60/70.

Are you sure? To be a dual purpose vehicle it needs to be under 2040kg unladen.

[rewc]

Bill said:

Are you sure? To be a dual purpose vehicle it needs to be under 2040kg unladen.

I am positive. A Motor Caravan is not a dual purpose vehicle it is a Motor Caravan.

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

[rewc]

C Lee Farquar said:

Has anyone been prosecuted yet for driving an over 7.5 motorhome without an HGV licence?

I do not know but they are rare beasts on UK roads. It is no coincidence that the vast majority of imported RV's are at or under 7.5t

[Bill]

rewc said:

I am positive. A Motor Caravan is not a dual purpose vehicle it is a Motor Caravan.

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

Brilliant, thanks.

[Utterpiffle]

Slashmb said:

... He passed his driving test in April 1997 ...

Crikey, that's unfortunate, just 4 months too late to get c1 on his regular license. Being old does have a few advantages...