Campervan Speed Limits

Getting a campervan can be so much fun, you get to drive your motor caravan around, take it on tours and do all sorts of things. But you shouldn’t get too carried away by the enthusiasm as there are some rules you need to pay attention to. For example, there are motorhome speed limits in the UK that you should not exceed when driving.

It is normal to want to know about caravan speed limits as it could cause some confusion among motorhome owners. So, based on motorhome speed limits in the UK, we will be looking at how fast you can drive your motor caravan and still be legal.

Do Motorhomes And Campervans Have A Speed Limit?

There are several campervan and motorhome speed limits in place in the UK depending on various conditions. Generally, motor caravans with an unladen weight of less than 3.05 tonnes have the same speed limits as vans. On the other hand, a motor caravan that exceeds an unladen weight of 3.05 tonnes will have the same motorhome speed limits as light goods vehicles.

Typically, the speed limits for motor caravans can also depend on the road you are driving on. It is usually 30mph for built-up areas, 50mph for single-carriageways, 60mph on dual-carriageways, and 70mph on a motorway.

What Is The Speed Limit For A Campervan And Motorhome In the UK?

There are certain speed limits binding motorhomes and campervans in the UK. Based on the category of motorhome you possess, there are different speed rules to follow.

Also, If your motorhome is a converted camper that meets the DVLA’s requirements and is officially classified by the government’s definition, then it is still under the same rules as other motorhomes. The motorhome speed limits will also be dependent on the weight or size of the vehicle.

Generally, there are two categories that are known to affect your campervan speed limits. These include;

If Your Campervan Is Under 3.05 Tonnes

A campervan or motorhome that does not exceed an unladen weight of 3.05 tonnes or doesn’t have more than 8 passenger seats will have the same speed limits as a standard car.

Motorhomes And Campervans Without Trailers

• Should not exceed speeds of 30mph in built-up areas.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on single-carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 70mph on dual carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 70mph on a motorway.

Motorhome And Campervans With Trailer

• Should not exceed speeds of 30mph in built-up areas.
• Should not exceed speeds of 50mph on single-carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on dual carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on a motorway.

If Your Campervan Is Over 3.05 Tonnes

Whether you are using your motor caravan as a storage vehicle or you want to transport yourself around, if it has an unladen weight of over 3.05 tonnes, then it will be restricted by certain motorhome speed limits.

These include:

NOT Exceeding 12 Metres In Length – Without Trailer

• Should not exceed speeds of 30mph in built-up areas.
• Should not exceed speeds of 50mph on single-carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on dual carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 70mph on a motorway.

NOT Exceeding 12 Metres In Length – With Trailer

• Should not exceed speeds of 30mph in built-up areas.
• Should not exceed speeds of 50mph on single-carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on dual carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on a motorway.

Exceeding 12 Metres In Length – With Or Without Trailer

• Should not exceed speeds of 30mph in built-up areas.
• Should not exceed speeds of 50mph on single-carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on dual carriageways.
• Should not exceed speeds of 60mph on a motorway.

Is Motorhome Speed Limits In Europe Different From the UK?

When you are moving around with your motor caravan, whether it is for camping or just to tour around, it is important that you know the different rules that are working within the country.

If you are looking to know more about the speed limits in the UK and also in various European countries, click here.

What Is A Speed Limiter And Does Your Motorhome Need It?

The speed limiter is an ISA (Intelligent speed assistance) system that ensures your vehicle does not go over a specified speed. It does not share the exact concept with cruise control as the limiter doesn’t allow the car to maintain the specified speed.

Typically, you still will be able to use the accelerator, but as soon as your vehicle gets to the limited speed, the speed limiter stops it from going any faster. You definitely will not need a speed limiter if your motorhome does not exceed 3500 kg MAM. You can theoretically drive your motor caravan as fast as a car if it has a weight of less than 3.05 tonnes.

You will need a speed limiter for your motorhome if it is part of light goods vehicles or has a maximum laden weight that exceeds 3.5 tonnes, and has more than 8 passenger seats. Also, depending on if you are driving on a single-carriageway or maybe a dual-carriageway, you might need to fix a speed limiter.

How Do You Find Out The Weight Of Your Motorhome?

Finding out the weight of your motorhome is great, especially when it comes to not exceeding the speed limits for motorhomes. To know the weight of your motorhome, you can carry it to a public weighbridge to have it measured. Another option would be to check the MIRO figure, which is done when you weigh the motorhome empty, and then check the payload separately.

Before hitting the UK roads, you need to ensure you don’t go over the maximum allowed weight whether you carry goods or excess passengers.

What Is Unladen Weight?

Basically, the unladen weight of your motorhome refers to the weight of the vehicle when it is completely empty, which means that it is not carrying any goods, passengers, or any other item.

The fuel weight is not included when calculating the unladen weight. This weight involves all the parts of the vehicle that is typically used with the motorhome when on the road.

With this, there is no need to calculate the payload, but if the owner believes they need it, then they can go ahead with it.

Conclusion

How you use your motorhome shows how informed you are about the rules in your state. As a campervan owner, you need to take full responsibility for how you drive the vehicle. You need to be sure of the campervan conversion speed limits laid out by the vehicle licencing agency to ensure you are within the speed limit of your campervan.

When driving motor caravans, you can choose safety and opt for a lower speed limit especially if you are still confused about the body type classification of your motorhome.

Based on your official vehicle classification and the road (single and dual carriageways) you take, there are some rules in place that determine how fast you should drive.

 

FAQ

 

Are Campervans Allowed In Lane 3 On the Motorway?

Campervans above 3050 kg and cars towing a caravan are not allowed to use lane 3 as this is for vehicles that want to overtake. This outside lane is allowed for cars because they can travel at up to 10mph or more.

Are Motorhomes Allowed In The Fast Lane?

Motorhomes are generally permitted to use the fast lane but there are some areas that could pose some restrictions.

Also, there are cases where large Class A motorhomes would be restricted as they are sometimes taken as trucks instead of standard cars.

Are Campervans Allowed In Fast Lane?

It is important to note that cars and campervans do not have the same speed limits but these caravans can use the fast lane. Also, the right-hand lane is not open for a car towing a caravan.