03 February 2025
Can I drive a motorhome with a car licence?
6 minutes
Like any motorised vehicle, driving a motorhome requires the appropriate licence. If you've ever wondered, “Can I drive a motorhome with a car licence?” the answer is yes, but it depends on the motorhome’s maximum authorised mass. Abbreviated as MAM, this is the vehicle’s weight plus its maximum load.
A standard Category B car licence allows you to drive a motorhome that weighs less than 3,500 kg or 3.5 tonnes. If your motorhome weighs between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg (3.5 to 7.5 tonnes), you’ll need a category C1 licence. Anything heavier than 7,500 kg (7.5 tonnes) will require a category C licence.
Other factors, such as age and when the licence was issued, can affect which licence category you need to drive a motorhome. In this article, we’ll help you determine the type of licence you need for your motorhome and the steps to obtain one.
We’ll also talk about how long each licence category is valid so you can ensure you’re always driving your motorhome legally.
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome?
At a minimum, you need a full driving licence before driving a motorhome in the UK. If you have a provisional driving licence, you must earn a full licence first before you can legally drive a motorhome.
You also need to have the appropriate licence category to drive a motorhome. To determine what category you need, you must first find out your motorhome’s maximum authorised mass (MAM). MAM, sometimes called Maximum Allowable Mass, Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), or Permissible Maximum Weight, is the vehicle weight and its maximum load combined.
You can determine the type of licence you need to drive your motorhome based on its weight. If your motorhome weighs...
Less than 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes): you need a Category B licence (full, not provisional).
Between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg (3.5 to 7.5 tonnes): you need a Category C1 Licence if your licence was issued on or after 1 January 1997, or a Category B Licence if your licence was issued before 1 January 1997).
7,500 kg (7.5 tonnes) or over: you need a Category C Licence.
You can find your motorhome’s MAM by looking at the VIN plate, the manufacturer’s handbook, or the chassis plate.
Note: If your driving licence was issued before 1 January 1997, you already have the C1 entitlement. That means you can drive any motorhome up to 7,500 kg (7.5 tonnes).
What is the biggest motorhome you can drive on a car licence in the UK?
You can drive any motorhome weighing up to 3,500 kg (3.5 tonnes) with a car licence in the UK. If you want to drive a larger motorhome, you must first earn a C1 or C entitlement on your licence.
However, if your licence was issued before the 1st of January 1997, your standard driving licence allows you to drive a motorhome up to 7,500 kg (7.5 tonnes). That’s because licences issued before 1997 automatically came with a C1 entitlement.
How do I get a C1 licence for my motorhome?
Here are the steps you need to get a C1 (or C) entitlement for your licence:
- Have your doctor complete form D4: Your GP must perform a medical and vision assessment to prove that you meet the required medical standard. An optician may fill in the vision section if necessary.
- Complete form D2: This is the application form you must fill in for your chosen provisional entitlement. For motorhomes, choose category C, C1, or C1+E (if you want to tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg).
- Send your current licence and completed forms to DVLA: You must do this process by post. There’s no application fee, and it can take up to three weeks to get your licence back with the new provisions.
- Start your training: Once you get your new licence back, you can start learning how to drive a motorhome under supervision. You can do this through training courses or under the instruction of someone with a Category C licence for at least three years.
- Book your theory test: There are three different theory tests you must take:
- Multiple-choice test (£26): 100 questions, must get at least 85% to pass.
- Hazard perception test (£11): 19 one-minute clips demonstrating different hazards; score at least 67% to pass.
- Case studies (£23): 50 questions from 7 case studies; must score at least 80% to pass.
You can book your theory test online if you live in England, Wales, or Scotland. Northern Ireland residents must book their theory test using the NIDirect website. You’ll need your licence number, email address, and a credit or debit card to pay the fees.
- Book your practical test: You must pass a two-part practical test separately:
- Off-road exercises: Your test will last up to 30 minutes. This test can cost up to £40 if you take it with an approved provider instead of the DVSA.
- On-road driving (£115): You can only take this test after you pass the off-road exercises test. You’ll be asked a series of vehicle safety questions, and you have a 1-hour practical road driving test.
You can book your practical test on the same websites you used to book your theory tests.
Once you’ve passed the tests, you can start driving your motorhome independently. You’ll get your updated licence with a full C or C1 entitlement in the post shortly after.
Can I drive an American RV with a C1 licence?
Because American RV-style motorhomes usually weigh more than 7,500 kg, your C1 licence may not be enough to drive one. You’ll need a Category C licence to drive larger motorhomes that weigh more than 7,500 kg.
Can I still drive a motorhome if I’m 70 years old?
You can still drive a motorhome once you reach 70 years old; however, there are extra steps you must take.
Instead of the standard renewal procedure, you must send completed forms D2 (Application for a driving licence for a lorry, minibus or bus) and D4 (Medical examination form) to DVLA by post. Failing to send these forms will cause you to lose your C1 entitlement.
Once you renew your C1 entitlement, you can renew it every three years.
What’s the difference between a C and C1 licence?
The main difference between a Category C and C1 licence is the maximum vehicle weight you can drive.
Category C licence holders can drive any large vehicle weighing over 3,500 kg (3.5 tonnes) with a trailer up to a MAM of 750 kg. If you need a trailer with a higher MAM, you’ll need a category CE licence.
On the other hand, Category C1 licence holders can drive a vehicle weighing 3,500 kg to 7,500 kg (3.5 to 7.5 tonnes) with a trailer of up to 750 kg. Anything heavier will require a Category C licence.
Do I need a C licence to drive a motorhome?
A Category C licence is not required to drive a motorhome unless you have a larger vehicle that weighs more than 7,500 kg. For most motorhomes weighing under 7,500 kg, a C1 licence is enough. You may even be able to use your standard Category B licence if you have a small motorhome weighing less than 3,500 kg.
How long does my C1 licence last?
The validity of your C1 licence depends on your age:
- If you’re under 45 years old: You must renew your C1 licence every five years.
- If you’re 45 or older: You must renew your C1 licence yearly.
- If you’re 70 or older (and your licence was issued before 1997): You must renew your C1 licence every three years.
Check section 4b on the back of your driving licence to find out your C1 expiry date. You’ll receive an “Application for renewal of lorry and bus entitlement” (Form D47PU) from the DVLA 56 days before your C1 licence expires. If you’re over 45, you’ll also receive a “Medical examination report” (Form D4), which your doctor and/or an optician must complete.
- If you haven’t received your D47P and D4 forms in the post, you can order them online from the DVLA website or get a copy from the post office.
Remember that you must send your completed forms to the DVLA by post. You cannot renew your C1 entitlement online.
In summary
Whether you can drive a motorhome with a car licence depends on your vehicle’s maximum authorised mass (MAM)—the vehicle’s weight and maximum load capacity. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- If your motorhome is less than 3,500 kg, your standard car licence (Category B) is sufficient. It must be a full licence, not provisional.
- If your motorhome is between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg, you need a Category C1 licence.
- Driving licences issued before 1997 can drive motorhomes of this size without needing the C1 entitlement, as it was already included when it was issued.
- If your motorhome is heavier than 7,500 kg (such as the case with American RV-style motorhomes), you need a Category C licence.
Check your motorhome’s VIN plate, manufacturer’s handbook, or chassis plate to determine your vehicle’s MAM.
If you determine that you need a Category C1 or C licence, you can start the application process by sending forms D2 and D4 to DVLA. Form D2 is your application form, while D4 is the medical assessment form. There’s no cost to apply for provisional entitlements on your licence, but your doctor may charge you for filling in your form D4.
Once you get your provisional C1 or C entitlement, you can start your training by taking driving courses or learning from someone with a C licence for at least three years. Then, you must pass three theory and two practical tests to get the full entitlement on your licence.
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