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Law & Regulations — 🇫🇷 France

France Law & Regulations
France Law & Regulations
37 · 141 / 1,3к per week / 5,2к per month
CAF caravan loan available only to travellers Law & Regulations © Pleine Vie
FR France

CAF caravan loan available only to travellers

The CAF caravan loan, designed for people with traveller status, has sparked controversy due to its exclusive eligibility. This assistance is provided as an interest-free loan or grant for purchasing or repairing a caravan used as a primary residence. Maximum amounts range from €3,000 to €9,000 depending on the department, with payments made directly to the seller. Only individuals officially recognized as travellers or itinerant traders, whose caravan is their main home, can apply, subject to income limits.

Source: Pleine Vie FRA
Inheriting a Motorhome: Mandatory Procedure When Siblings Are Involved Law & Regulations © Maison & Travaux
FR France

Inheriting a Motorhome: Mandatory Procedure When Siblings Are Involved

Upon the owner's death, the motorhome becomes joint property of all heirs. Sale or donation requires unanimous consent; management requires approval from at least two-thirds of heirs. The registration certificate becomes invalid; if sold within three months of death and not driven, re-registration is not needed. Otherwise, an heir must register the vehicle via ANTS. Quick action on insurance and maintenance is advised to avoid penalties and depreciation.

Source: Maison & Travaux FRA
Law & Regulations FR France

European Parliament rejects annual roadworthiness test for older motorhomes

On 21 May 2026, the European Parliament voted to open negotiations on revising roadworthiness test rules. MEPs rejected the European Commission's proposal for annual inspections of vehicles over 10 years old, including motorhomes. The frequency remains every two years. However, the scope of inspections expands to include driver assistance systems, airbags, and automatic emergency braking. Vehicles with outstanding safety recalls will no longer pass the test.

Source: Camping-car Magazine FRA
Placing a caravan or mobile home in your garden: what the law requires in 2026 Law & Regulations © Pleine Vie
FR France

Placing a caravan or mobile home in your garden: what the law requires in 2026

French law distinguishes between caravans (trailers) and mobile homes (motorhomes) when placed on private property. A caravan can be stored without permission for up to 3 months per year if not used as accommodation; exceeding this period or using it as an annex requires a prior declaration. A mobile home with wheels is prohibited in a private garden, while one without wheels is treated as a building and requires a declaration (up to 20 sq m) or a building permit (above 20 sq m), subject to local zoning rules.

Source: Pleine Vie FRA
Camping neighbor leaves caravan AC running during heatwave: your rights Law & Regulations © Maison & Travaux
FR France

Camping neighbor leaves caravan AC running during heatwave: your rights

Noise from a caravan air conditioner can be classified as abnormal neighborhood disturbance. The French Public Health Code categorizes such noise as behavioral, with maximum permissible exceedance of background noise of 5 dB(A) during the day and 3 dB(A) at night. At distances under 10 meters, exceeding the nighttime threshold is almost automatic. First step is dialogue with the neighbor, then contacting the campsite manager, who is contractually obligated to enforce nighttime quiet. Repeated violations can lead to police intervention with fines up to €450 and possible confiscation of the device.

Source: Maison & Travaux FRA
Issoire: Caravans Installed at Bout du Monde Law & Regulations © zoomdici.fr
FR France

Issoire: Caravans Installed at Bout du Monde

In Issoire, caravans of travelers have occupied the Bout du Monde sports complex without authorization. The reason is the closure of the official large transit area 'Les Vigères', which operates only from June 15 to August 31 due to flood risks. Outside this period, the administration directs travelers to Thiers or Clermont-Ferrand. Local authorities have been unable to find an alternative site since 2017, and a relocation project to Saint-Germain-Lembron or Le Broc was not implemented.

Source: zoomdici.fr FRA
Driving a Motorhome: Everything About the Required Driving License Law & Regulations © DemarchesAdministratives.fr
FR France

Driving a Motorhome: Everything About the Required Driving License

In France, the driving license category for a motorhome depends on its GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and whether a trailer is towed. For motorhomes up to 3.5 tons, a standard B license is sufficient. When towing a trailer over 750 kg with a combined weight between 3.5 and 4.25 tons, a B license with code 96 (7-hour training) is required; above 4.25 tons, a BE license is needed. For motorhomes weighing between 3.5 and 7.5 tons, a C1 license is mandatory, except for licenses issued before January 20, 1975. For international travel with a motorhome over 3.5 tons, code 79 must be added to the license.

Source: DemarchesAdministratives.fr FRA
Seine-et-Marne: About 50 caravans parked at the foot of houses Law & Regulations © actu.fr
FR France

Seine-et-Marne: About 50 caravans parked at the foot of houses

Since May 7, about 50 caravans have been parked on the green spaces of a housing estate in Marolles-sur-Seine (Seine-et-Marne). The mayor calls the situation unprecedented. The landowner, motorway company APRR, filed a police complaint after an electrical box was forced and a fire hydrant damaged. Eviction is complicated because the Pays de Montereau community has not yet built the legally required traveller site.

Source: actu.fr FRA
Motorhome regulation changes in Europe in 2026 Law & Regulations © Auto Plus
FR France

Motorhome regulation changes in Europe in 2026

New rules for motorhomes take effect in Europe in 2026. The EU plans to raise the weight limit for B-category driving from 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes, but this requires additional training, with each country setting its own timeline. From July 2026, all new motorhomes and caravans must be equipped with fatigue detection, intelligent speed assistance, lane departure warning, and other safety systems. Tachograph requirements are tightened for motorhomes over 7.5 tonnes carrying goods.

Source: Auto Plus FRA
Diesel still in the race? Law & Regulations © Le Monde du Camping-Car
FR France

Diesel still in the race?

In December 2025, the European Commission updated the automotive Green Deal review clause. The 2035 target for zero-emission new vehicle sales was softened from 100% to 90%, with the remaining 10% allowed under strict environmental compensation. For motorhomes, which have near-zero electrification rates, this provides a multi-year reprieve before any mandatory shift to electric.

Source: Le Monde du Camping-Car FRA
Taxes 2026: do you have to declare income if you rent out your motorhome between individuals? Law & Regulations © Marie France, magazine féminin
FR France

Taxes 2026: do you have to declare income if you rent out your motorhome between individuals?

The French Ministry of Economy clarified that income from renting out a motorhome between individuals is taxable as commercial activity. The micro-BIC regime applies with a 50% deduction for expenses if annual revenue does not exceed €77,700. No income tax is due below €305, but exceeding €9,274 (2024 threshold) requires self-employed registration.

Source: Marie France, magazine féminin FRA
B License for 4.25 Tons: Why You Won't Benefit This Summer Law & Regulations © Caradisiac.com
FR France

B License for 4.25 Tons: Why You Won't Benefit This Summer

The European Parliament has approved raising the maximum permissible mass for motorhomes to 4.25 tons under a standard B license. However, EU member states have up to four years to implement the directive, meaning the change is unlikely to take effect on French roads before 2030. In France, discussions include mandatory one-day training and a speed limit of 110 km/h for such vehicles.

Source: Caradisiac.com FRA
Caravan disputes: from planned sites to dumped trailers and court cases Law & Regulations © Yahoo News
GB United Kingdom 6

Caravan disputes: from planned sites to dumped trailers and court cases

Multiple countries face caravan-related conflicts: objections to a new site in England's green belt, legal action to evict caravans in France, and an appeal to find the owner of a dumped caravan in Nottinghamshire.

Story Sources:
Show all (6)
Can you install a caravan in your garden year-round? Law & Regulations © leparisien.fr
FR France

Can you install a caravan in your garden year-round?

French law restricts the year-round installation of a caravan on private property. If the caravan retains its wheels and registration, it is considered parked. If it is immobilized, it may be classified as a light leisure dwelling, requiring prior notification or a building permit depending on its area. In any case, installation for more than three months per year requires municipal authorization.

Source: leparisien.fr FRA

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