Carefree travelling: How to keep your motorhome under 3.5 tonnes

If you own a motorhome or Rent a camper that is exactly at the 3.5 tonne limit, packing can quickly become a challenge. You're looking forward to your holiday, but before you set off, you should make sure that you don't exceed the permitted total weight. An overloaded motorhome can not only spoil your travelling pleasure, but can also have legal consequences. So think carefully about whether you really need to take 3 bikes with you if you are only going to use one anyway. You can also buy many heavy items such as crates of drinks at your holiday destination. This not only saves weight, but ultimately also fuel, which is good for your wallet.

Why the 3.5 tonne limit is important

Motorhomes with a total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes may be driven with a regular B driving licence. If you exceed this limit, your vehicle moves into a different vehicle category, which generally requires a C1 driving licence. This means that exceeding the weight limit can not only result in a fine, but in the worst case could also result in the revocation of your driving licence if the weight is so high that it would require a different driving licence.

Fines for overloading the motorhome

We have compiled the fines for selected European countries for you below. With minimal overloading, the fines are still manageable in most countries. If the permissible gross weight is significantly exceeded, you could be fined several thousand euros, depending on the country.

• Germany
  • 10,- EUR to 235,- EUR
  • from 20% overloading: 1 point in Flensburg
  • Tolerance: 5%
• Belgium
  • 110,- EUR to 330,- EUR
  • All persons resident abroad, including those in Germany, are asked to pay immediately
  • Tolerance: 2%
• Denmark
  • EUR 10.00 per percentage point of overloading
  • Tolerance: 1%
• France
  • up to 750,- EUR
  • No further travel with over 5% overload
  • Tolerance: 0%
• Italy
  • 41,- EUR up to approx. 1700 Euro
  • Tolerance: 5%
• Croatia
  • from 40,- EUR
  • Tolerance: 0%
• Luxembourg
  • 74,- EUR for up to 10 % overloads
  • Over 10%: Fines between EUR 251 and EUR 5,000
    Euro
  • Tolerance: 0%
• The Netherlands
  • 130,- EUR to 850,- EUR
  • Tolerance: 10%
• Austria
  • 36,- EUR up to 5.000 EUR
  • Tolerance: 0% 
• Portugal
  • 60,- EUR to 300,- EUR
  • Tolerance: 0%
• Switzerland
  • 85,- EUR for less than 100kg overload
  • 170,- EUR for more than 100kg overload
  • If overloaded by more than 5%, you may be charged with a criminal offence
  • Tolerance: 0%
• Spain
  • 300,- to 400,- EUR for 6% to 15% overloading
  • Up to EUR 4,600 fine for overloading more than 15%
  • Tolerance: 5%

Consequences of an overloaded vehicle

In addition to fines, this can also result in points in Flensburg and possibly the loss of insurance cover in the event of an accident. In addition, a vehicle that is too heavily laden impairs driving safety, leading to a higher risk of brake failure and instability. It is therefore not only the legal component that should be considered, but also the safety of all travellers.

How to avoid overloading

Checking the weight of your motorhome before you set off is the key to avoiding problems. Plan your luggage carefully and use a public weighbridge to check the total weight. It is helpful to stow the heaviest items at the bottom of the vehicle to keep the centre of gravity low and improve stability.

What happens during an inspection

If you are stopped by the police, the officers may have the vehicle weighed. If an overload is detected, this can result in severe penalties in Germany. Always accept the indicated weights and co-operate with the officers to avoid misunderstandings.

Less is more - and ensures a relaxed journey

To keep your journey free of unpleasant surprises, preparation is everything. Make sure that your motorhome remains in the appropriate weight class. Good organisation and awareness of the load weight will protect you from legal and safety-related complications. This way you can enjoy your holiday safely and carefree!