Summertime is camping time and, especially in times of tighter travel budgets, owning your own motorhome is more popular than ever. According to current figures, Germans are buying more motorhomes and campers than ever before. The number of motorhomes and caravans registered in Germany has almost doubled since 2017. In 2023, the number of registered vehicles was around 838.300. But anyone who is planning to travel with their own Motorhome on holiday may also be faced with a number of questions. One of the most important relates to the speed at which such a vehicle can be driven. This guide summarizes the most important things about the maximum speed.
How fast can motorhomes under and over 7,5 tonnes drive?
The type of vehicle or its weight is the deciding factor for the maximum speed. There are significant differences in the maximum permitted speed as well as in fines and sanctions. The road traffic regulations determine how fast you can drive with your camper. In addition to the vehicle class, the route also generally plays a key role. If you are driving your camper in town, you are not allowed to drive as fast as you would on the motorway.
In town, there are Maximum speed no differences for motorhomesUnless signs indicate otherwise, the general speed limit here is 50 km/h. If individual sections of the road deviate from this, signs will generally indicate this at the side of the road. These are then binding for all campers.
For motorhomes that weigh no more than 3,5 tonnes, the same limits apply outside of town as for cars. On country roads, campers are therefore only allowed to drive at a maximum of 100 km/h. Vehicles that weigh more than 3,5 tonnes are classified as trucks. They are also subject to other speed limits. For example, they are not allowed to drive more than 80 km/h on country roads.
On motorways, motorhomes that weigh less than 3,5 tonnes are generally required to follow the signs. But what does that mean? Thanks to modern vehicle technology, campers can travel at more than 100 km/h on motorways if the speed is not limited by signs. In this case, the recommended speed is 130 km/h, as is the case for cars. For vehicles that weigh more than 3,5 but less than 7,5 tonnes, the maximum speed that must be observed on motorways is 100 km/h. Models that weigh more than 7,5 tonnes must reduce their speed even further. The maximum for them is 80 km/h.
Be careful with motorhomes with trailers
Anyone who is not only travelling with a motorhome but decides to attach a trailer to the camper will have to adapt their driving behaviour once again. Here too, however, there is a clear distinction between vehicles with a total weight of 3,5 tonnes and those that weigh more. For light campers under 3,5 tonnes, a maximum speed of 80 km/h is mandatory when travelling with a trailer. Heavier models that weigh over 3,5 tonnes can only drive at a maximum of 60 km/h with a trailer.
How many kilometers can you manage with a camper per day?
What is important here is of course how the individual plans his trip and what the tour looks like in detail. If you just want to head to a campsite in your desired location with your own camper, you can easily cover several hundred kilometers per day. Distances of 500 to 600 kilometers per day are not uncommon. But it is different if a tour is planned. Here it is important to find a good mix of driving distance and longer breaks. In this case, it is ideal if around 200 kilometers per day are planned. This way, a greater distance can be covered, but there is still enough opportunity to see and take a breather.
How long does it take to travel 100 kilometers in a motorhome?
How quickly you can cover 100 kilometers in your own camper depends on a number of factors. The driver's experience and destination are crucial. It also depends on the condition of the road and whether there are speed limits along the route. On well-paved roads, 100 kilometers can usually be covered in an hour without any problems. On gravel roads, however, you will need to allow several hours for this. In general, your schedule with your camper should not be too tight. Experienced camper drivers plan on around 1,5 hours for 100 kilometers, even on well-developed roads. This means there is always some leeway for delays and breaks.
How long can you drive a motorhome?
The driving times in Germany, which include the maximum driving time of truck drivers or bus drivers, only apply to commercial traffic. Those who travel privately in a campervan do not have to pay attention to any restrictions. Nevertheless, the driving times and the length of time the camper is driven should not be too long, because the ability to concentrate gradually decreases on long journeys, so the risk of accidents increases significantly.
