If you’re planning your next holiday and want to do something a little bit different, we’ve got the perfect idea. Instead of heading for another city break or spending another summer on the beach, look into luxury campervan hire Scotland for a unique holiday experience.
A campervan is the perfect way to explore the Scottish countryside, offering you unparalleled freedom. However, there are a number of things you need to know before driving a campervan. Read on to find out what these are.
What Kind of Licence Do You Need?
If you have a UK driving licence, you might assume that you will be able to drive a campervan. However, this isn’t necessarily the case, it will depend on the type and size of the vehicle in question.
Standard UK driving licences allow for the operation of AM, B and BE class vehicles. These classifications encompass things like cars, mopeds, cars with trailers, and vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500 kg or under.
Things get more complicated when it comes to the date on your driving licence. If your licence was issued after 1st January 1997, you will have to adhere to the 3,500 kg limit. However, if you obtained your licence before this date, you will be allowed to drive vehicles with a MAM of 7,500 kg without having to secure an additional licence.
The good news is that modern campervans are made of lightweight materials. This means that the majority of them fall under the 3,5000 kg threshold. If you’re looking to hire a campervan for your next holiday, it’s unlikely you will have to obtain an additional licence, but you should also check just in case.
Understanding the Laws
You can drive a campervan on any road in the UK, but your vehicle may be subject to different rules depending on its size. If your campervan weighs more than 3,050 kg, you will be limited to a maximum speed of 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways.
If your vehicle weighs less than 3,050 kg, you can travel at the same speed as regular cars. However, you should always remember that campervans are larger and therefore more dangerous than cars, so you should also keep things slow and consider other road users at all times.
If you are travelling with children, ensure they are not moving around inside the campervan while you are driving. Not only is this extremely dangerous, it’s also illegal, and you could face serious repercussions.
Where Can You Park Your Campervan?
Many people assume they can park a campervan wherever they please. While there are plenty of places you can stop for the night, you should always check ahead of time in case you need permission.
Wild camping, including with campervans, is prohibited in England and Wales, which means you could face a penalty if you park your campervan somewhere overnight without permission. While wild camping is permitted in Scotland, the laws are vague when it comes to campervans, so seek permission wherever you are to be on the safe side.
Why Should You Drive a Campervan?
Now that we’ve covered all of the legal information you need to know about driving a campervan, let’s talk about why you should consider renting one for your next holiday.
The best thing about a campervan is that you are not tied down to one location. Rather than staying in a hotel or apartment, where you are effectively limited to the immediate area, a campervan offers you total freedom to go wherever you want.
For example, if you’re exploring Scotland by campervan, you can pick a few spots on the map and check them out one by one. If you decide you really like a particular place, you can stay there for as long as you want. Conversely, if somewhere isn’t quite what you were expecting, you can easily pack up your campervan and head off somewhere else.
Modern campervans are luxury vehicles, with everything you could possibly need on your trip. They come fitted with fully equipped kitchens, perfect for rustling up a meal for your family. They also have fantastic living and sleeping spaces, ideal for getting cosy if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Conclusion
A campervan holiday can be a wonderful experience that offers you something a little different from a traditional vacation. However, there are a number of things you need to take into consideration, such as the type of licence you need, the rules of the road and the laws surrounding the parking of campervans.
