CAMPERVANS come with their own sleeping quarters, tempting passengers to enjoy a lie down while on the move.
But you could land yourself and the driver a hefty fine. Here are the campervan rules you need to be aware of.
Is it illegal to sleep in a campervan while it’s moving?
It is a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt in the UK when the vehicle is on the move.
This means passengers should be seated and belted while a campervan is being driven, not sleeping in the back.
The law applies to children as well.
Children should be strapped into the correct car seat until they are 135 centimetres tall, if this comes first, or reach the age of 12.
After that the rules apply as per adults, with all passengers and the criver required by law to wear a seatbelt.
Therefore passengers sleeping in a bed in the back of a campervan would be travelling illegally by not wearing a belt.
Legally, it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure passengers under the age of 14 are wearing a belt.
Passengers over the age of 14 are responsible for buckling up.
Failure to do so may result in fines up to £500.
Campervans manufactured after 2006 must comply with the following seatbelt regulations:
- Identify designated travel seats (forward-facing and rearward facing).
- Ensure all seats have seat belts.
- Passengers must wear them during transit.
- Three-point belts for driver and specified passengers.
- At least two-point belts for others.
Only one person should be seated in each seat fitted with a belt.
What are the laws around owning a campervan?
A campervan is recognised by the DVLA as a motorised vehicle.
Therefore, you will need to pay road tax just like you would a car.
Your campervan will also require an MOT every year if it’s over three years old and there is a legal requirement to purchase insurance.
Make sure you have the right licence to drive a motorhome or campervan before getting behind the wheel.
Your vehicle needs to be within UK size limits.
What is the difference between a caravan and a campervan?
The difference between the two is that a campervan has an engine, giving you the option to drive and live in the vehicle.
A caravan does not have an engine.
It is either situated on a plot where it is legal to park, or owners can tow it behind their car when they’re on their travels.
What is the difference between a campervan and a motorhome?
Although they may look very similar, campervans and motorhomes fall under three different categories.
A motorhome is a purpose-built home-from-home vehicle.
A motorhome tends to have longer wheelbase which means it will be bigger than your average van.
Class A motorhomes are generally up to 25 feet in length but can reach 40 feet.
The driving cab is integrated into the vehicle.
Class C motorhomes range between 20-33 feet in length.
These typically have a separate driver’s cab.
Only Class B homes are classified as campervans instead of motorhomes.
A campervan is typically a van that has been converted with alterations that make it possible to sleep and cook in it, as well as being mobile.
Why caravan holidays are so underrated
CARAVAN park holidays are a British staple.
And with the cost of living crisis wreaking havoc on Britain’s purses, more of us are turning to them for an affordable break.
Josie O’Brien, Senior Digital Writer on Fabulous, weighs in on why she thinks caravan holidays are seriously underrated…
WHEN I was a child, my mum used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers in The Sun.
She’d use them to book a couple of nights away at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult, I fully appreciate the convenience of a humble caravan holiday.
No faffing about with passports, no luggage limits and no bog-standard hotel breakfast of stale toast and grey eggs.
I still love caravan holidays as an adult.
In a world of doing everything for the ‘gram, a caravan park brings you back to basics.
There’s no obligation to get dressed up, no stress to fit a million picturesque excursions in one week and I don’t find myself flustered in tourist hot spots like abroad.
I love going to coastal caravan parks and strolling along the beach parade.
My highlight is always fresh mussels, ice-creams and classic pubs to grab an afternoon tipple in.
And then, of course, there’s the cost.
Staying in a caravan is definitely way cheaper than my international trips.
With no expensive hotel bills and the ability to cook my own meals, I’m spending hundreds less than I would abroad.
I’ve had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans. Maybe I’ll buy my own one day.