Labour has been urged to introduce a new driving license rule that would affect anyone who owns or plans to drive a motorhome, following the launch of a petition on the UK Parliament website.
According to an article by Birmingham Live, the petition calls for changes to existing license restrictions and argues that current rules limit access to certain motorhomes commonly used for travel and recreation.
The petition states: “Allow license holders to drive motorhomes up to 4250kg on UK Category B License.”
Supporters of the proposal say the change would better reflect the size and design of modern motorhomes and would align the UK with regulatory approaches being discussed elsewhere in Europe.
Addressing the Labour Party directly, the petition adds: “We want the UK to allow UK license holders to drive motorhomes up to 4250kg on UK Category B Licenses, in line with proposed changes from the EU.”
The petition also explains why campaigners believe the current system is outdated, saying: “Current laws allow Category B car license holders to drive motorhomes up to 3,500 kg.
We feel current laws restrict the size and weight of motorhomes, and many motorhomes just over 3500kg are automatic, which may be helpful for people with disabilities.”
At the time of writing, 1,590 signatures have been recorded in support of the petition. Parliamentary rules state that 10,000 signatures are required for the government to issue an official response, while 100,000 signatures would allow the proposal to be considered for debate in Parliament.
Under existing UK regulations, the license required to drive a motorhome depends on a driver’s age and the vehicle’s maximum authorized mass, defined as the vehicle’s weight plus the maximum load it can carry.
Drivers operating a motorhome with a maximum authorized mass between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes must hold a category C1 license. Any motorhome with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 7.5 tonnes requires a category C license.
There are also additional rules governing motorhome size and registration. Anyone permanently importing a motorhome into the UK must register it, and vehicles cannot exceed 12 meters in length or 2.55 meters in width.
These measurements exclude mirrors, rear bumpers, lamps, and reflectors. There is no formal height limit, but motorhomes taller than three meters must display a visible notice showing the vehicle’s height.
“You need the right licence to drive a motorhome or campervan, and your vehicle needs to be within UK size limits,” DVLA said.
If the proposed license change were adopted, it would open access to a wider range of motorhomes, supporting growth in RV travel, extended touring, and outdoor recreation activity throughout the UK.