What license does it take to drive a motorhome?

Do you want to travel by camping-car and know what driving license you need? This article gives you all the necessary and detailed information about this for each vehicle type.

The camping-car is an excellent means of transport to escape the time of a stay. However, attention must be paid to being in legality. The French road code is complex and the vehicle classification is very precise. Thus, French legislation has a very precise definition of camping-car that is not necessarily that of the general public.

As a result, vehicles approaching the motorhome (van, van...) do not require the same driver's license. And if you pull a trailer, it can also change the license category you need.

For clarity, this article will be divided by type of driver's license where all vehicles considered close to or far as motorhomes will be listed and defined.

Hold PTAC abbreviation in preamble , for total weight allowed in charge, that you will find throughout the article. It is the maximum permissible weight all understood (vehicle, people, goods...).

Permit B

Good news for those who only have the classic license: you can drive many vehicles with the B permit! Here's the list.

Puppet, van or van

The French law defines the van as a " light utility vehicle less than 3.5 tonnes designed and built for the transport of goods "

The van is translated van in English and this term is now very used. However, if the van is equipped for leisure and escapades, it is theoretically necessary to speak of a fitted van.

The terminology is not important and, you call it van, van or fitted van, the good news is that Your B permit is enough To drive him!

The other good news is that you can there tow a trailer . Two possibilities are available to you:

• The trailer PTAC is less than or equal to 750kg ;
• the PTAC of the trailer may exceed 750 kg as long as the accumulated PTAC of the van and trailer is less than or equal to 3.5 tonnes.

Camping-car

The motorhome is different from the van by design, first utility – the transport of people – and weight. It is recognized in particular thanks to its carrier.

For driving and driving licences, French legislation distinguishes according to the PTAC:

• Camping-car whose PTAC is less than or equal to 3.5 tonnes : This is exactly the same legislation as for the van. In other words, permit B is sufficient;
• Camping-car whose PTAC is greater than 3.5 tonnes : Exceptions (exchange of a foreign permit against a French permit, invalidated license...), if your driver’s license has been issued before 20 January 1975, permit B is enough to drive a motorhome of more than 3.5 tons. For others, at least all persons born after 1957, go to the following paragraph.

Permit C1

Permit C1 allows you to take the wheel of vehicles where the PTAC is located between 3.5 and 7.5 tons for up to nine seats, driver included.

Camping-car whose PTAC is greater than 3.5 tonnes and less than 7.5 tonnes

Licence B is not sufficient for those who have obtained their driver's license after the reform of 20 January 1975.

To pass permit C1, you must have at least 25 years if you are French or, if you are foreign, live legally for at least six years in France. It also requires one medical screening .

In addition, once obtained, permit C1 is not valid for life. Its validity is five years if you are under the age of 60 and then becomes degressive depending on age. However, its renewal is easy.

Drive with a trailer of less than 750 kg

Permit C1 also allows a heavy-duty motorhome accompanied by a trailer whose PTAC does not exceed 750 kg.

Permit C1E

To obtain the C1E permit, you must first obtained the C1 permit . The eligibility conditions are then the same (minimum age, no validity to life, etc.) and the camper must also weigh between 3.5 and 7.5 tons .

Permit C1E permits tow a trailer of more than 750kg . If you have a category B vehicle (classical vehicle, van, van) and a huge trailer of more than 3.5 tonnes, you must also pass the C1E permit.

Permit D

This driver's license allows you to drive buses or trucks. He is therefore not not mandatory to drive a motorhome, a van or a van.

On the other hand, those who already have the D permit do not need to pass one of the C permits to be able to drive certain categories of motorhomes presented above.

Once you've got your license in your pocket, you're done walking around the roads! Still need to find your ideal camper. To find and compare the best offers, go to Yescapa .