Motorhome and campervan buyers' guide

Motorhomes, campervans, RVs, call them whatever you want as they all conjure up instant images or fun road-trips or cool surfing days at the beach, but whatever type of ‘van you are looking to buy, it is important to consider a few hints and tips to help you make the best choice, avoid any classic mistakes, and be stress-free, legal and safe.
Also, have you asked yourself whether you want a motorhome or a caravan? There are advantages and disadvantages of both depending on how you travel, where you want to go and what you want to do when you get there. It’s much easier to hire a motorhome than a caravan, which is a great way to try before you buy one. We’ll assume you have decided that towing isn’t for you and you want four wheels under your mobile accommodation, and if it’s OK with you, we’ll stick to the generic term of motorhome to cover the plethora of sizes and types throughout these hints and tips.

Motorhome and campervan weights

• You may need a specific driving licence for certain weights


• Take the ‘payload’ (how much stuff you’re taking) into consideration of the overall weight

Although you might think your ideal motorhome is whatever you can afford within your budget, it might not be quite that straightforward as there’s a couple of important practical and legal considerations, starting with the maximum weight of the vehicle. Can I drive a motorhome with my current driving licence? If you passed your UK driving test on or after 1 January 1997, and you haven’t taken an additional test to get the full entitlement, then you will only legally be allowed to drive any vehicle with a maximum weight of 3,500kg. That’s the law, and it will mean that some of the bigger and heavier motorhomes are off limits to you. It is possible to take an additional test to give the same, full entitlement (up to 7.5 tonnes) of licences from tests taken on or before 1 January 1997. Motorhomes and speed limits Do bear in mind that larger vehicles/motorhomes with an unladen weight of more than 3.05 tonnes have a lower speed limits on single and dual carriageways. You should also consider how much ‘payload’ there is for all the stuff you will be tempted to take with you, especially if the motorhome has one of those large ‘garages’ at the back that could so easily tempt you to fill all that space available. If you’re motorhome is overloaded you’re risking your own safety (and others), getting in trouble with the law, and possibly invalidating any warranty on the vehicle.

Motorhome and campervan sizes

• Compact campervans are popular, though coachbuilt motorhomes offer more space


• If travelling abroad, remember ferry companies can charge by vehicle length
• The trend for down-sizing means there are more motorhomes under 6m in length on the market

OK, so we’ve already mentioned the weight and driving licence limitations for bigger, heavier motorhomes (see ‘weight’ section above), but don’t let that put you off, as there’s still plenty of lighter models to choose from. What size motorhome do you want or need? Do you have space to park it at home? Do you want to take it abroad or to the Scottish Highlands, for instance, as ferry companies charge by length, so the longer the motorhome, the more they charge. Some people prefer compact campervans with elevating roofs that they can then easily use as an everyday vehicle and still fit in a regular car park space or under most car park height barriers, while there’s also been a huge growth in the number of high-roof panel van conversions available of varying sizes. Beyond that, for more space, the next size and style of motorhome is a ‘coachbuilt’ which means a body on the back of a cab or an ‘A-class’. We’ll get into the names for the different styles in the ‘jargon’ section. Downsizing motorhomes There’s been a trend for ‘down-sizing’ in recent years, which has led to a growth in the number of motorhomes (just) under 6.0m in length which is considered a manageable size for car park spaces and the limit for the next length of price class for ferry or train crossings. There’s plenty of people who disappear in motorhomes of all shapes and sizes for wonderful long tours of the UK and Europe. The possibilities are endless, but in the end, your choice within your price range will depend on the size, weight, space and layout you want.

Motorhome and campervan layouts

• Consider the importance of kitchen, storage and sleeping facilities when shopping


• Decide whether you want to pay more for an on-board washroom
• Don’t be afraid to try before you buy

Like caravans, there’s an array of interior layouts for motorhomes, but with the added choice of double beds that lower from the roof over the front seating area, or located in the ‘overcab’ area and rear double beds over ‘garages’ or those in van conversions that fold in half to create space for bikes, etc. Smaller campervans have the iconic imagery of pop-up roofs to provide extra sleeping space, which some van conversions now have as well. Will my motorhome include a washroom? If having your own washroom is important, then you’re probably going to want something bigger than a standard campervan, as only a few have built-in toilets or just a portable toilet to pull out and use, maybe to save walking to the campsite facilities during the night. Ditto, showers: they take up too much space and height for most campervans and can be cramped until you get to the space offered in a coachbuilt, or bigger motorhome. Travelling with passengers in a motorhome If you will be taking passengers, then they must travel in seats with proper seatbelts, but many motorhomes are aimed at couples, so don’t always have them. There are a lot of motorhomes from continental brands in the UK, and they’re certainly popular, but do bear in mind that although they’ll usually have a right-hand-drive cab, they mostly have their entrance door on the ‘wrong’ side for the UK (not that it seems to put many people off them) and may not have some features that the British typically like, such as a grill and oven. Sometimes, you won’t know which layout you prefer until you‘ve tried them, so do consider hiring one first.

Essential checks when viewing a motorhome or campervan

In addition to checking for any obvious signs of wear and tear or any damage on the exterior of the motorhome, we’d recommend four essential things to check before buying it:

Motorhome and campervan jargon explained

Motorhome and campervan storage and security

• Insurance is a must – consider contents insurance too


• Additional door locks and security features can improve your premium
• If possible, make sure your storage site is CaSSOA-registered

Like any vehicle, a motorhome and its contents may appeal to thieves so needs to be insured in case of theft of the vehicle or its contents, or damage, including when you’re not using it. Damage from storms, accidents or theft, can happen at any time, anywhere. Additional door locks, tracker devices and a host of other security accessories are also a sensible investment and can lead to discounts in insurance premiums. Where should I store my motorhome? Key to the security of your motorhome is also where it is stored when not in use – which your insurance company will want to know. If you use a local storage site, it must have as much security as possible and, preferably, be CaSSOA (the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association) registered. If you want to keep it at home, check for any restrictions in the deeds of your house prohibiting this. It’s better to keep it out of sight, if possible, so not to tempt any suspicious characters – or annoy the neighbours. Wherever it is, check it regularly as any storm damage or obvious leaks will need to be reported or actioned upon immediately.

Motorhome and campervan equipment

• Basic motorhomes include mains power hook-up, heating and food facilities


• Van conversions, coachbuilt or A-class can offer hot water, showers and toilets
• Different trim levels offer different levels of luxury

The vast majority of motorhomes are equipped to keep you comfortable. Even campervans have a minimum of: mains hook-up (240V electricity), heating, cooker and fridge, plus possibly some fresh and waste water containers. For hot water, a grill/oven, shower and toilet, you’ll need a van conversion, coachbuilt or A-class. Variations in trim levels will bring dual-fuel hobs with an electric ring as well as three gas ones, larger fridges, full ovens instead of combination grill/ovens and plusher upholstery and fixtures and fittings. Other, more expensive features include front sunroofs and upgraded heating systems with mini-radiators like at home. Check how many plus sockets there are and where they are located to check if you can comfortably use a hair dryer, TV or phone charger. USB charging points are relatively new but can be retro-fitted.

Find your perfect motorhome or campervan

Further hints and tips

Related: Mastering a motorhome
Lots of people turn to social media to find answers to their motorhoming questions, which can be really useful, but sometimes this information is wrong or misleading, so be careful. For professional advice, you can join the Caravan and Motorhome Club, or the Camping and Caravanning Club; both have huge resources of information available. Both organisations and lots of owners clubs organise weekend events, where you’ll find lots of supportive and helpful people. For (hopefully) obvious safety reasons, you can’t sleep in the back of a motorhome while you’re travelling. Dogs need to be secure for travelling as well. If you haven’t driven a motorhome before, consider taking a motorhome manoeuvring course, or at least go to a large, empty supermarket car park for some practise before hitting the road. Wild camping is popular and simpler with a motorhome (than a caravan), but forbidden in many areas of the UK, so check first. The golden rule is to leave no trace of your visit. There is a whole network of places, such as pubs, that will let you stay overnight for free or a nominal fee, and Aires, mostly found on the continent, only allow motorhomes but usually provide the minimum of facilities for just a few Euros. It’s always a good idea to take a motorhome for a test drive to see how it feels and assess the amount of noise from rattles and squeaks from the interior. If you’re planning to park your motorhome at home, make sure there are no restrictions covering this on the deeds for the property. It should be less of an issue for motorhomes than caravans, but can still happen.