The great advantage of the most common motorhome is that up to 3,500 kg, you can use the same driver's license as a car: minimum effort, maximum comfort. And they allow towing ! But if you want or need more from your motorhome , do you know what driver's license you need? Let's start with some basic concepts that will be repeated dozens of times, and then we'll get into the subject of professional driving.
ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS: MMA AND MMR
What are the GVM of a car and a trailer (separately) and the GVM of a car being towed by a trailer, i.e., of a combination?
- The GVW, or Maximum Authorized Mass , is the weight that our vehicle itself can carry. It includes the vehicle's own weight and all its equipment and occupants: fuel, passengers, and anything inside or outside (roof rack, bike rack, etc.); the GVW of the trailer is its weight plus the weight of all the belongings it can carry.
- The MMR, Maximum Towable Mass of a vehicle, is the maximum mass that a car can “tow”: its own weight plus the towed weight.
HOW TO FIND THE MMR ON THE VEHICLE'S TECHNICAL DATA SHEET?
On vehicles prior to 2012, which have the old technical data sheet, the MMR is on the left, under the heading MMR s/f, c/f; however, on the new technical data sheet, the MMR is on the right, under headings O.1.3 and O.1.4. What's the difference? It refers to braked (c/f) and unbraked (s/f) trailers.
It may happen that the car's technical sheet contains only one MMR, or none at all:
- If there is one, the car may only tow a braked trailer with a GVM equal to or less than the car's GVM.
- If there is no MMR, the car cannot tow any type of trailer.
WHAT CAN I TAKE WITH MY LICENSE AND MY CAR?
Now that we know what is what, let's see how it influences us:
- For trailers with a GVW ≤ 750 kg : type B license and the trailer does not have to pass the MOT or have a special license plate (it has the same one as the car).
- For trailers with a GVM > 750 kg, a type B license is also required, but the trailer will have its own (red) license plate and insurance policy and will have to pass the MOT periodically.
With a B license, you can tow a combination vehicle (car and trailer) up to a maximum weight of 3,500 kg . But don't be fooled! There are many more licenses than you think. Let's take a look at them...
A CARD FOR EACH TYPE OF TRANSPORT
There are camper van-style motorhomes, low-profile motorhomes, cab-over motorhomes, integrated motorhomes, motorhomes adapted for people with reduced mobility, large motorhomes, very large motorhomes, motorhomes with trailers... And all of this translates into weight, one of the factors that, as you can see, makes the difference in this matter.
Let's review the different motorhome driving licenses .
B LICENSE
The best part is that a motorhome with a GVW of 3,500 kg or less can be driven with a B license . It allows us to drive motorhomes with up to nine people in the passenger compartment and nine people sleeping , including the driver. That's up to nine seats in running order.
Another piece of good news? Most motorhomes on the market weigh no more than 3,500 kilos, a basic requirement for driving with a B license.
Of course, if you're towing a trailer , it shouldn't exceed 750 kilos, and the combined vehicle weight shouldn't exceed 3,500 kg . Just like any passenger car.
PERMIT B-96
If the motorhome does not exceed 3,500 kg and we attach a trailer of more than 750 kg , but without exceeding the total weight of 4,250 kg , you will need the B-96 license .
To obtain it there is no theoretical exam , but it is mandatory to take two practical exams (maneuverability) :
- Closed circuit, parallel parking and pulling out of the site , on slopes and flat surfaces, and coupling and uncoupling the trailer and positioning the vehicle parallel, the trailer must be completely immobilized, otherwise it will count as a failure.
- City driving , sufficient skill to drive with a trailer.
B+E LICENSE
If the motorhome does not exceed 3500 kg, but you are towing a trailer of more than 750 kg and the total does not exceed 7000 kg GVW , you will need a B+E license (the E license is always for trailers of more than 750 kg ).
C1, C, C1+E, C+E LICENSES
If the motorhome exceeds the GVW of 3,500 kg but does not exceed 7,500 kg , then we will need a higher license, the C1 . We can also tow a trailer of up to 750 kg .
It could also be the C , generic for trucks, but our motorhome will then have a professional tachograph , which is mandatory, and we have no GVM limit for the vehicle without a trailer.
If we add a trailer of more than 750 kg, we will need a C1+E or a C+E .
Always up to nine seats !
PERMITS C1-97, C1E-97
There is also the C1-97 , a special permit solely for transporting people that allows us to drive vehicles between 3500 kg and 7500 kg MMA on their own , or exceed 4250 kg in a combination with a trailer of up to 750 kg .
The C1E-97 permits towing over 750 kg , but without the need for a professional tachograph . It also allows towing a car with a trailer and a combined total weight of between 3501 and 12000 kg .
PERMITS D1, D, D1+E, D+E
If we move on to the large motorhome , which can carry a driver and more than eight passengers, that is, more than nine seats in running order and up to sixteen , then we will need a D1 license , only for motorhomes up to eight meters or the D (the generic one for buses).
If we also add a trailer of more than 750 kg , the necessary license will be D1+E or D+E .
As you can see, we have a little more driver's licenses than types of motorhomes! Remember to always have a valid license, and if in doubt, it's best to ask ; we don't want any violations.
At DM Motorhomes, we advise and help you choose the motorhome, caravan, van, or camper that best suits your needs. We look forward to seeing you!