Motorhome Insurance

Campervans are generally classified as a self-contained travelling home, typically based around an existing panel-van body with no separation between driver and living space, they tend to be smaller and simpler so designed for shorter stays. Inside you will find basic facilities for cooking, washing, and sleeping. The DVLA now require certain criteria to be met before arranging for a vehicle to be re-classified as a camper including:

• Motor caravan-style graphics on both sides of the vehicle;
• An awning bar attached to either side of the vehicle; and
• A high-top roof (this does not include a pop-top elevating roof)

The definitive list can be found here Converting a vehicle into a motor caravan (motor home) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

While their smaller size can be a disadvantage it does make them easier to manoeuvre and park.

Motorhomes are often built on a van chassis and designed to serve as self-contained living quarters for recreational travel and to be used as a purpose-built home-from-home. There is normally a divide between the cab and the living quarters behind, which contain sleeping space and kitchen facilities. The main differences are that motorhomes tend to be larger than campers, contain more on-board facilities such as a well-equipped kitchen area and a shower or washroom while being designed for you to be able to live in it comfortably. While their size offers comfort they can be cumbersome to drive, especially if you’re driving along narrow country lanes or in heavily built-up areas.

Find out more in our guide to the differences between a campervan and motorhome.

Some motorhome insurance policies come with age restrictions, but these will vary according to the insurer’s own terms and conditions. In many instances, policies are limited to those over 21 and under 79.

If a policy doesn’t come with age restrictions, you may find they come with an additional young driver excess so don’t forget to factor this in when you compare policies.

Yes, you can still drive a motorhome if you’re over 70 but it will depend on the type of motorhome you want to drive and the type of licence you have. When you reach age 70 you’ll need to renew your driving licence, but it won’t automatically include an entitlement to drive larger vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes (the C1 category on your licence).

If you don’t intend to drive a large motorhome then your renewed licence will still allow you to drive one up to 3.5 tonnes (which will include most recently built motorhomes in the UK).

To be able to drive a C1 category motorhome you will need to include a medical form from your GP when renewing your license with the DVLA.

To insure your vehicle, you require the correct licence so you can drive it. If you only want to drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes then you don’t need any additional licence requirements, a regular driving licence that covers categories B and B1 will cover you for these vehicles. In accordance with the DVLA webpage: Driving a motorhome – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  if the motorhome you are driving has a maximum authorized mass (MAM) of 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes you must have either a category C1 license or have obtained your UK driving licence prior to 1997.

If the motorhome has a MAM higher than 7.5 tonnes you must have a C license.

You can upgrade your existing licence by taking and passing an additional test.

If you can gather the following information, then you can use the GOV.UK website to see what licence categories you have and the vehicles you are eligible to drive:

You’ll need three things:

1. Your Driving Licence Number
2. Your National Insurance Number. If you don’t know it then click the following link to find a lost NI No. Find a lost NI number.
3. The postcode on your driving licence

No, you cannot drive a motorhome using a car insurance policy. You must have appropriate insurance for the vehicle you’re driving. This is because the policy you have must reflect the risks faced by the vehicle. For example, because motorhomes are bigger than the average car, they can potentially cause considerable damage which will cost more to cover.

Anyone can drive a motorhome as long as they have a full UK driving licence which carries the relevant classification for the vehicle you wish to drive.  The type of motorhome you can drive will depend on its weight and the type of licence you have.

Only named drivers who appear on your policy documentation can drive your motorhome. If you want someone else to drive your motorhome, they can be added to the policy.

Third party only is the minimum level of cover you can have by law, but this won’t cover claims for damage to your own motorhome in the event of an accident.

You’ll also need to check that the sum insured listed on your policy is enough to cover the cost of replacing your motorhome if it’s written off.

If you use your motorhome regularly, you can gauge your mileage based on previous years. If you can, it’s best to be as accurate as possible as overestimating can raise your risk profile and increase your premium.

If you’ve just bought your motorhome, consider how you’ll be using it. Take into account any day-to-day activities along with trips and holidays you have planned. You can then estimate the number of miles you might cover. If you realise you’ve undercalculated by a considerable amount, just let your insurer know and they should be able to adjust your policy.

Yes. This policy will provide cover if you want to take your vehicle to countries within the European Union, but you must let the insurer know before you travel.