VAN-COMPARATOR Guide
What license do you need to drive a motorhome? The complete guide
Category B, C1, heavy vehicle: what you can drive on your current license, what rental companies require on top, and how it works in the US and Canada.
Good news: your regular car license is enough in the vast majority of cases. Almost every rental motorhome is deliberately built to stay under the magic weight threshold — here are the rules of the game.
What the regulations say
A standard category B license covers any vehicle with a maximum authorized weight of 3.5 tonnes. That's the rental-fleet standard: campervans, converted vans, semi-integrated, alcove and most A-class motorhomes are type-approved just below it. Above 3.5 t (some large A-class models), you need a C1 license — but those vehicles are extremely rare in rental fleets.
What rental companies require on top
The license isn't the whole story: most platforms and rental companies require a minimum age of 21 (sometimes 25 for larger vehicles) and 2 to 3 years of driving experience. Young drivers sometimes face a surcharge or a higher deductible — this is stated on every listing, so read it before you book.
What about the US and Canada?
Your national driver's license is enough to rent a standard RV, even a 26-footer: no commercial license is required for rental vehicles. Still, bring an International Driving Permit (IDP): it's recommended everywhere, required by some rental companies, and it makes any roadside check painless.
Watch the payload
The real trap of the 3.5 t limit isn't the license, it's the payload: with 4 passengers, a full water tank, bikes and luggage, some vehicles flirt with the limit. Overweight vehicles get fined at weigh stations — pack light and travel with the water tank half full.
Want something bigger?
The C1 license takes about a week of training, but honestly: for a two-week vacation, an A-class under 3.5 t or a large semi-integrated already delivers all the comfort you need. Filter by number of berths on Van-Comparator and leave the truck license to the pros.