Before you plan your dream road trip, find out if your standard UK driving licence covers you for a motorhome. You might already have the right driving licence for a motorhome, but it depends on several factors – luckily, there’s an easy way to check. Here’s how you can find out, and how to book a motorhome licence medical in the West Midlands if you need one.
What Licence Do I Need to Drive a Motorhome?
If your small motorhome is up to 3.5 tonnes maximum weight (MAM), you can usually drive it on a standard UK Category B or B+E driving licence, but for weight classes between 3,500kg and 7,500kg, you’ll need medium-sized vehicle entitlement or a C1 licence. Many British motorhome and caravans are classed as small or medium-sized vehicles, but check the spec and current government limits to be sure.
Does My Standard Licence Cover Driving a Motorhome or Caravan?
To drive motorhomes weighing over 3,500kg, you will have to take a D4 driving test, theory and driver medical – unless you gained your licence before 1st January 1997 and you’re under the age of 70. Drivers who qualified before this date were automatically granted ‘grandfather rights’ to the category you need to drive a medium-sized motorhome. However, once you turn 70, you lose this right unless you take a medical and renew.
Got all that…? Luckily there’s a reliable way to work out if you need a new licence to drive a motorhome – here’s what to do.
Check the government website’s Vehicles You Can Drive service to find out if you can use your existing UK driving licence for driving your motorhome. You’ll need to enter all these details when prompted:
- the weight and size of the vehicle
- the year you passed your driving test
- your age now
Once you’ve gone through the steps, you can find out if you’ve already got entitlement or if you need to apply for a different category of driving licence. You can also get info about your next steps, including details of the forms you need and any tests to take.
Can a 70-Year-Old Drive a Motorhome?
There’s no rule against 70-year-olds driving motorhomes but you have to take a medical to renew your C1 entitlement on a pre-1997 licence, or you’ll lose it. After that, you’ll have to renew every 3 years by following the same process if you want to drive a motorhome weighing over 3,500kg.
Do I Need a Medical to Drive a Motorhome?
If you need a new C1 licence, or you need to renew your licence with C1 entitlement, you need to get a D4 driver medical report completed by a GP. It doesn’t have to be your usual GP though – it can be cheaper and quicker to book a medical with a different GMC licensed doctor. At My Driver Medical you will always see an experienced, fully qualified doctor.
What Is the Motorhome Licence Medical?
If you need to renew your C1 licence or you’re applying for a new one, you have to take the DVLA’s D4 driver medical. You’ll have to pass Group 2 medical standards in a medical assessment covering your medical history, mental health, current medications, eyesight and blood pressure.
How to Book a Motorhome Driver Medical
Contact My Driver Medical today to book a motorhome medical in Birmingham. We offer competitive prices and flexible appointment times that fit around your schedule. Use our online form, email, or call to speak directly to a doctor.