08/01/2026
A petition has been launched in the United Kingdom calling on the government to consider changing laws around weight limits for drivers holding Category B driving licenses.
Presently, drivers with Category B licenses in the country can drive vehicles with a weight of up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM), but the petition is calling for this to be increased to 4,250kg for driving motorhomes, in line with proposed changes occurring soon in the European Union.
The petition, which was created by Gary Martin Cooper, states that the signatories “feel that current laws restrict the size and weight of motorhomes, and many motorhomes just over 3,500kg are automatic, which may be helpful for people with disabilities.”
At the time of writing, the petition has more than 6,700 signatures. If it reaches 10,000, then the UK Government is required to respond, and if it reaches 100,000 signatures, then it will be considered for a debate in the UK Parliament.
In the European Union, the 4th EU Driving Directive was published in the Official Journal of the EU in autumn 2025, which included the change that B licence holders in Europe will be able to drive motorhomes with an MAM of 4,250kg, on the condition they complete special training or a test – how this is implemented is at the discretion of each member state.
Each member state of the EU must adopt these new rules by 26 November 2026, but an annual buffer is provided for the application until 26 November 2029.
This amendment for the motorhome industry was campaigned for by the European Caravan Federation and other associations around Europe, and should help make caravanning more attractive for younger demographics.
A recent statement by Germany’s caravan industry association CIVD said: “The amendment of the EU Driving Licence Directive offers the opportunity to make nature-oriented, sustainable and family-friendly holidays in a motor caravan even more accessible for millions of people – especially for young and future generations – and thus makes a positive contribution to the development of tourism in Germany and Europe.”
The UK’s recreational vehicle industry body, the National Caravan Council, has also been lobbying the government to consider bringing UK driving licence laws into line with those in Europe. It has been in contact with the UK Department for Transport since the EU’s 4th directive was published.
