Campervan vs motorhome: what is the difference?

Campervans and motorhomes are both self-contained vehicles. Unlike caravans, you drive them to your destination – you don’t have to hitch them up and tow them. But although they have this convenience in common, they offer quite different holiday experiences, and the cost of keeping them on the road can differ too. So, what is the difference between a campervan and a motorhome? Let’s start with the basics.

Campervan vs motorhome: What’s the difference?

Campervans (aka ‘campers’, even in the UK) and motorhomes are two different types of mobile homes. The question of where exactly to draw the line between a campervan and a motorhome is tricky, because there’s such a range of makes and models in each category. For example, a converted minibus and a 4x4 offroad vehicle with a pop-up top can both be considered campers, but they can take you on very different types of touring holidays.

Generally speaking, though, it comes down to the chassis, the size, and the facilities.

What classifies a van as a campervan? It’s down to:

• Chassis: A camper has a van or truck chassis fitted out so you can live in the vehicle while you’re travelling or touring.
• Size and layout: Campervans tend to be compact. Crucially, there’s no divide between the cab and the sleeping/living area.
• Facilities: Campers may have some facilities, but they’re quite ‘back to basics’ and are often separately purchased accessories (like shower kits, sinks, or solar lights) rather than something that’s built into the vehicle from the start.

Let’s compare this to a motorhome:

• Chassis: A motorhome is a purpose-built vehicle with a longer, ‘coach-built’ chassis.
• Size and layout: Motorhomes are larger vehicles. The cab and living area are often divided, and the cabin has distinct sections – like a kitchenette, sitting area, and bunks.
• Facilities: While still more basic than what you’d have at home, motorhomes tend to have built-in kitchens and washrooms. Because the electrics are more sophisticated, they have full lighting and even air conditioning and heating to keep you comfortable.

You might be wondering, ‘Is a VW campervan classed as a motorhome?’ By these definitions, the answer would be a firm no. There’s no divide between the driver and the sleeping area in a classic VW camper, it’s a very small vehicle, and the facilities are much closer to camping under canvas than they are to your home comforts.

Another key difference for UK drivers can be the licence requirements for campervans and motorhomes. It comes down to the different weight restrictions that apply depending on whether you got your licence before or after 1 January 1997.

Campervans are essentially vans, so a regular category B licence driving licence should allow you to drive one, regardless of when you passed your test. (The exception is if it weighs more than 3,500kg fully loaded, but this is unlikely unless you’re using a heavily modified 4x4 pickup as a camper.)

You can usually drive a motorhome on a category B licence, too. In fact, motorhome brands typically design part of their range with an MTPLM (maximum technically permissible laden mass) of 3,500 kg, so they appeal to a wider range of customers. However, if you have a motorhome with a higher MTPLM, and you got your licence in 1997 or later, you might have to sit a test to add a category to your licence before you can drive it legally.

Campervan and motorhome expenses to consider

If you’re deciding whether to buy a campervan or motorhome outright rather than whether to rent one for a holiday, you’ll also need to compare the cost of keeping them on the road.

It’s important to know that while you’re not legally obliged to insure a caravan, campervans and motorhomes are both vehicles in their own right, so they need tax, insurance, and an MOT.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Taxing a mobile home

The tax you pay on your vehicle (vehicle excise duty, aka road tax) is based on its emissions.

Large, heavy motorhomes will usually have to pay more tax than compact campers because they’re more polluting (though the opposite could be true if you compare a brand new motorhome to a vintage camper).

There’s also the additional charge on vehicles with a list price of over £40,000 to consider. If you’re buying a new motorhome, you’ll struggle to come under this threshold, so your road tax will be higher for the first five years.

Getting an MOT for a mobile home

An MOT for a mobile home isn’t necessarily more expensive than an MOT for a car. Still, it’s important to know that not all testing centres can handle mobile homes because these MOTs include extra checks on your electric, water, and gas lines. This can leave you travelling further to MOT your mobile home than you have to for your car, so factor these potential extra costs into your decision.

Insuring a mobile home

When you shop for insurance for your mobile home, you might notice big differences in the quotes you get. This is because mobile home insurance is often a specialised product compared to your regular car insurance.

Generally speaking, the model you have and your claims history will have a more dramatic influence on your premiums than whether it’s a campervan or a motorhome. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that modifications to the vehicle (which you might be more likely to make for a campervan than a motorhome) can drastically affect how much you pay for insurance.

When you modify a vehicle (or buy a one that’s already been modified by the previous owner), it becomes harder to value and harder to repair if something goes wrong. Both of these factors push up your premiums.

To explore Howden’s range of campervans and motorhome insurance policies, contact our customer service team now.

Additional costs to keep in mind

Depending on where you live and what sort of vehicle you choose, there are a few more costs to keep on your radar:

• Storage: If your vehicle is too big to park in your driveway, you’ll need to rent a secure storage space. For a motorhome, bear in mind that some carparks may have height restrictions that prevent larger vehicles from entering.
• Maintenance: Mobile homes are notorious for electrical bugs that can affect, for example, interior lights, stovetops, and air conditioning. Because the electrical systems are so complex, these fixes can be quite expensive and take a while to organise.
• Ferry and Channel Tunnel costs: If you want to tour in Europe, you’ll also have to take the cost of your crossing into account. Bigger, wider motorhomes usually cost more – though it can vary depending on the ferry operator.
• Site costs: If you plan to stop at campsites, a serviced pitch for a motorhome will cost more than a small pitch for a camper. Again, though, this varies from site to site.
• Congestion charges: Depending on where you want to travel, you should also consider the cost of any congestion charges you’ll have to pay. In areas like the London ULEZ, for example, you’ll pay more for a vehicle that exceeds 3500kg (like a large motorhome), and ULEZ costs will be higher for an older mobile home that doesn’t meet the emissions standards.

Now, with the practicalities out of the way, let’s look at the difference between a campervan and a motorhome in practice, so you can consider which vehicle would help you plan your ideal holiday.

Campervan vs motorhome touring explained

When you’re making your decision, the most important factor to consider is how you like to relax on holiday. If you’re wondering, ‘What’s the downside of owning a campervan?’ it really depends on how you feel about ‘roughing it’ in your free time.

For example, some people want to get back to nature and spend their holiday hiking in the wilderness. While some would be happy to end a day’s trek stargazing from the back of a camper, others prefer a shower and a cold drink from the built-in fridge in their kitchenette when they return from the mountains.

Likewise, some people want to park up and switch off when they arrive at their destination. If this is you, do you prefer to go completely off-grid, and spend your time reading, sketching, and cooking on a camping stove, or would you rather sleep in on a full-size mattress?

Because people’s tastes are so different, the most important factors to consider are:

• Size: How many people do you want to take on holiday with you? If the answer is ‘a family of five and both dogs’, it’s going to have to be a larger motorhome, whereas a campervan might suit you better if you’re planning solo adventures.
• Season: If you want to travel year-round, a motorhome might suit you better, as you’re more likely to have heating for cold winters in the UK and air conditioning for hot summers in Europe. If you try this in a basic camper, you’ll need to make sure you have, for example, winter-weight sleeping bags to keep you safe and comfortable when the temperatures drop.
• Flexibility: It’s often said that mobile homes are about the journey, not the destination. But if you intend to park up and then explore the area, you’ll have to consider how easy it is to do this in the vehicle you choose. It can be harder to be spontaneous with a large motorhome, which has lots to pack away before you can drive off (though you can get around this by fitting a bike rack and exploring on two wheels). In contrast, campers may be quicker to pack, and they’ll also be easier to manoeuver around cities or old towns by virtue of their smaller size.

Summary: Pros and cons of campervans and motorhomes

There are a lot of benefits and drawbacks to weigh up when you’re deciding between a camper and a motorhome. Essentially, every feature of these vehicles can be a pro or a con.

Campervans are:

• Small, so they’re easier to park and drive around cities, but they have much less space for amenities.
• Easier to modify with accessories to make your tour more comfortable (though you’ll need to keep an eye on what these ‘upgrades’ do to your insurance costs).
• Easier to take off the beaten track if the camper is built from a 4x4 or pickup

In comparison, motorhomes offer:

• More space, so you can take a larger group on holiday (though you’ll need to pay more attention to height restrictions at campsites and in carparks)
• More storage, so you can take items like bikes with you to explore the area you’re visiting.
• More home comforts, like a proper bed, a shower, and climate control (though these can become tricky to maintain).

It all comes down to the type of holiday you want to enjoy and the practicalities of insuring, taxing, maintaining, and storing the vehicle you choose.

Also, read

• Is buying a caravan worth the cost?
• Alarming rise in caravan and campervan theft
• Cost of caravanning: Getting the most value from your holiday
• A guide to caravanning and camping with dogs
• READ MORE OF OUR CAMPERVAN INSURANCE GUIDES 

Adequately insuring your new home on wheels is arguably more important. To ensure you’re properly protected, chat to the team at Howden. We’ll evaluate your conversion, weigh up what it’s worth, and find the most competitive price for you.

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