Can I Drive a Motorhome at 70? Everything You Need To Know

Passing a driving test is one of the main rites of passage anyone can go through. The sense of achievement is immense and the freedom it brings, particularly when young is, without exaggeration, life-changing. Hopefully decades of safe and fulfilling driving will follow, and they will probably be in several different vehicles – the average person owns between seven and ten cars in their lifetime. Sometimes being out on the road will involve driving a motorhome or campervan or perhaps even towing a caravan behind the vehicle you’re at the wheel of.

It's sometimes said that life passes in the blink of an eye - and there is some truth in that, it does seem to ‘go fast. Before you know it you will find yourself aged 70 years old, and having to re-evaluate various aspects of your life - including driving. Obligations to comply with the law don’t change just because you have reached senior status, and 70-plus could equal some new requirements for you.

1.   Don’t Ignore the Mail!

Approximately three months before you reach your 70^th birthday you will receive a letter from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) which informs you of the need to renew your driving licence. The letter will include a form (D46P) which needs to be completed and returned. Your driving licence automatically expires on your 70^th birthday, so do not ignore any correspondence from the DVLA or you could find yourself in breach of the law!  

2.   Over 70 Driving Licence Restrictions

If you have reached 70 and want to continue driving, then you have to renew your licence every three years (it is currently free to do so). If you develop a medical condition or a disability which could affect your capability to drive, then it is a legal obligation to inform the DVLA (even if the three year renewal period is not yet up).

3.   Driving a Motorhome Over 70

We have plenty of motorhomes for sale here at Wandahome, and so we know our stuff when it comes to what your legal obligations are. Motorhomes are (obviously) larger than cars, and may require a different category on your licence to drive. The type of licence depends on two things - how old you are and the MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) of the motorhome. The MAM is a sum totalling the motorhome’s weight plus the maximum load it can carry. Motorhomes with a MAM under 3,500kg can be driven on a standard category B driving licence - but there are requirements to meet for motorhomes over that weight.

4.   ‘Grandfather rights’

Some 70 year olds are entitled to ‘Grandfather Rights’. A person who passed their driving test before 1997 is automatically entitled to a C1 or C1E licence for a motorhome. However, you must undergo a full formal medical assessment, and once the C1 or C1E is renewed you are only licensed for a period of three years.

For those who passed their driving test before January 1^st, 1997, the following licence categories on driving licences apply:

• Category B: Vehicles up to 3,500kg (with trailer up to 750kg)
• Category B+E: Same as Cat B (but with trailer heavier than 750kg)
• Category C1: Vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg (with trailer up to 750kg)
• Category C1E (107): Same as C1 (but with trailer over 750kg). Total weight of vehicle and trailer must not exceed 8,250kg.

If you were a late bloomer and passed your driving test after 1^st January 1997 you are only licensed for B and B1 categories which allow you to drive vehicles up to 3,500kg (with vehicle towing also permitted using a trailer up to 750kg).

5.   Vehicles over 3,500kg

If you intend to drive a motorhome that weighs over the 3,500kg line, you have to have a licence with a cat. B entitlement and obtain a cat. C provisional licence and train to pass the C1 driving test.

A D4 medical is also required, and you have to pass this Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) medical test. Your GP or a private doctor can do the medical for you, which will consist of a physical examination and a test of your eyesight. You are breaking the law if you fail to disclose any known medical issues during this medical. When you have passed the medical you need to be approved by the DVLA and can then apply for your provisional C1 licence.

One of the great things about being 70-plus is the amount of freedom you have – it’s like being young again! You can take your motorhome out on the road and visit all those spots you’ve long meant to see. Buying a motorhome from us here at Wandahome is going to be a sound investment in your leisure time. We have used motorhomes and new motorhomes for sale, and we’re happy to answer any queries you might have about any aspect of motorhoming – whether it’s the vehicles themselves or your post-70 obligations.