General FAQs

Where can I park a motorhome?

There is a huge choice of touring parks throughout the UK where you can stay for a night, a week or more. See our Find a Park section. Some popular tourist areas have dedicated motorhome bays, although the time you can spend in them may be limited. Council car parks may allow parking of motorhomes overnight, but usually prohibit sleeping within the vehicle. Motorway service station parking may also have time restrictions. Watch out for height restrictions, particularly in multi-storey car parks. For more information, visit www.motorhomeparking.co.uk. It is important to note that ‘Wild’ camping is not permitted in England.

Are motorhomes expensive to run?

Motorhomes offer excellent performance for their size and weight. Diesel power, which is used for the majority of vehicles today, offers good fuel efficiency.

Where can I get my motorhome serviced?

The supplying dealer may arrange this for you. If not, the manufacturer’s appointed dealer for the vehicle on which the motorhome is based will be able to look after the mechanical side. For the ‘living area’ we would recommend you visit the www.approvedworkshops.co.uk web site where you can search by postcode for your nearest centre and be sure that the work will be undertaken by trained and experienced professionals. The Approved Workshop Scheme is run by the NCC and supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club.

My motorhome needs an MOT. Where should I go?

An MOT is required on a motorhome after three years, just like a car. Many MOT testing stations will be able to do this for you, although in some cases you may need to go to a commercial vehicle testing station where they have the capacity and equipment for larger vehicles.

Do we need to connect up to an electricity supply for power?

Most motorhomes have leisure batteries which can service most needs overnight and are recharged when on the move. Your motorhome will also be equipped with a mains connector and the majority of parks now allow for these. The use of an electrical hook-up will facilitate re-charging the on-board battery and allow the use of low current mains powered appliances.

Where can I find electrical hook–ups?

All but the smallest parks will now offer electrical hook up points, though not necessarily on all pitches. You are advised to contact a park in advance of your visit to ensure availability.

What kind of gas and size of cylinder should I use?

The recommended size and type of cylinder you should use will be in the motorhome manufacturer’s handbook. In most cases, the gas cylinder compartment will have been sized to suit a particular cylinder and you must follow the maker’s guidelines. If you are able to carry a bigger (and consequently heavier) cylinder, the additional weight will need to be subtracted from your payload. Ensure that you have a compatible gas connection hose to connect to the regulator inlet. Flammable liquids must not be stored in the gas cylinder locker.

How do I know what optional extras I can fit to my motorhome?

Your dealer will advise on the range of optional extras that are applicable to the motorhome of your choice. Again, the additional weight of any optional extras will need to be subtracted from the available payload for your personal belongings.

I want to take my motorhome overseas for a holiday, what preparations do I need to make?

It is important to ensure that the motorhome has been thoroughly serviced to avoid risk of breakdown and that all the necessary paperwork, such as insurance documentation and overseas medical cover is up to date and covers all the aspects of your planned holiday You may also wish to arrange overseas breakdown and vehicle repatriation cover in advance of your trip, enabling you to travel with peace of mind.

How do I find out more about driving abroad?

Other countries may have different restrictions on driving motorhomes - you should investigate these thoroughly before travelling. You will need to have the appropriate headlight conversions, warning triangle etc, as required by the country you are visiting. Both the consumer Clubs assist their members with advice on driving abroad – see The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club websites.

Does the Congestion Charge apply to motorhomes?

If you are travelling through a town where a congestion charge applies, you will need to pay it beforehand, on the day of travel or the following charging day. For more information visit the Transport for London website.

Does the LEZ apply to motorhomes?

The third phase of the LEZ will come into effect from10 October 2010. If your motorhome is between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight you will have to pay the daily charge, visit www.tfl.gov.uk for more information.