Campervan & motorhome road tax guide

There are many obligations you have as a motorhome or campervan owner, and taxing your vehicle is one of these. If you don’t buy road tax for your vehicle, you could face expensive fines and even have your motorhome or campervan clamped.

This motorhome and campervan road tax guide discusses what road tax is and why it’s important. We’ll also look at the cost of road tax, road tax exemptions, and how to tax your motorhome or campervan.

Do I need road tax for my motorhome or campervan?

Road tax is compulsory for motorhomes and campervans, and your vehicle is not allowed on a public road in the UK if you don’t have this. The money from road tax goes to the government. It is used for various road-related purposes, such as maintaining traffic lights, painting road lines, filling potholes, and implementing road signs.

Are any motorhomes or campervans exempt from paying road tax?

If your motorhome or campervan is over 40 years old, it is classed as a vintage vehicle, and you won’t need to buy road tax. You will need to apply for a historical road tax exemption to take your vehicle out on the road. Otherwise, you could face the same penalties as you would for driving without road tax. There are certain environmental standards you can meet that won’t make your vehicle exempt from road tax, but could mean you pay a lower rate.

If your motorhome or campervan is parked on private land and not in use, you won’t need to buy road tax. As with the road tax exemption, you will need to declare the vehicle as officially off the road for this to be legal and valid.

The only time you can drive on a public road in the UK without road tax is when driving to a pre-booked MOT. If you’re questioned, you will need to prove that you have an MOT booked and should not make any stops on the way, as this could invalidate your argument.

Motorhome & campervan road tax costs

The cost of motorhome and campervan road tax depends on your vehicle's weight and engine size. Your motorhome or campervan is classed as a private or light goods (TC11) vehicle if it weighs below 3500kg. If your vehicle has an engine size below 1549cc, you will pay a lower rate than if its engine is above 1549cc in size.

A motorhome or campervan weighing over 3500kg is classed as a private heavy goods vehicle (TC10), and taxing it will cost more than taxing a smaller vehicle. You can save money on your road tax by choosing to pay a lump sum rather than in instalments over the year. However, you can pay six-monthly or monthly if you prefer.

How to tax a motorhome or campervan

To tax your motorhome or campervan, you’ll need to follow the same process as when you tax a car. You can do so via the government website, where you’ll be taken through various steps, including payment by card or direct debit. To tax your vehicle, you’ll need one of the following three documents:

• The vehicle’s logbook (document V5C) in your name
• The New Keeper green slip from the previous owner if you’ve recently purchased the vehicle
• A reminder letter from the DVLA letting you know it’s time to renew your road tax

If you’ve lost your logbook, you can request a new one from the DVLA for a fee. It’s important to have this, should you need to prove ownership or wish to sell your motorhome or campervan in the future.

Should your DVLA road tax reminder letter not arrive, check the address they have for you and ensure it is correct. You must make sure the DVLA has the right address, or you could be fined. The address they have for you will be the one on your latest logbook.

What happens if I don’t tax my vehicle?

It is illegal to drive your motorhome or campervan on a public road in the UK without road tax, and you could be fined up to £2,500 if caught driving without valid tax. The safest thing to do is make a note in your calendar of when your road tax renewal is due so you’re reminded in plenty of time. This will also help if your tax reminder letter from the DVLA does not arrive for any reason.

Other legal obligations for motorhomes and campervans

In addition to ensuring your motorhome or campervan has the correct road tax, there are a few other legal obligations you must be aware of, including:

Insurance

To legally drive your motorhome or campervan, you will need to have insurance that covers your vehicle in the event of a collision, fire, or theft. At Ripe, we offer specialist motorhome and campervan insurance, which you can tailor to create a policy that works for you. This covers all of the necessary features plus enhanced windscreen cover, personal accident cover, continental Europe cover, legal expenses cover, and key cover to give you peace of mind.

MOT

A valid MOT is essential to make sure your motorhome or campervan is safe to drive on the road. During the MOT, a mechanic will test various features of the vehicle, including the brakes, tyres, and suspension, to ensure everything is working as it should and there’s nothing that could pose a risk to the driver, passengers, or other road users. If issues are flagged which require immediate attention, you will need to have these fixed before you receive a valid MOT certificate.

Specialist motorhome and campervan insurance through Ripe

Once you've paid your road tax, you may want to consider getting specialist motorhome and campervan insurance to help financially protect you and your vehicle.

Find out more about specialist motorhome and campervan insurance through Ripe and get a free online quote today.