Owners of new motorhomes in Belgium are facing delays of up to three months to receive their license plates. One customer has had to postpone his planned vacations twice due to bureaucratic delays at the DIV, the Belgian vehicle registration service.

The 100 sticker on caravans refers to their maximum permitted mass, not the allowed speed. In the Netherlands and many other European countries, the speed limit for cars towing a trailer is 90 km/h on motorways, regardless of the sticker.

The Netherlands is amending the tax definition of a motorhome. From February 4, 2026, the criterion for classifying a vehicle as a motorhome will change from 'one quarter' to 'half' of the useful space. The amendment is retroactive to January 1, 2026.

Importing a Japanese Mitsubishi Delica D:5 camper to the Netherlands involves significant hidden costs. The lack of EU type approval leads to expensive technical modifications and a complex re-registration process with the RDW. Additionally, owners face a high BPM tax, especially on diesel models, which can multiply the vehicle's original purchase price.

From July 1, 2026, the Netherlands will introduce a new kilometer-based toll system for vehicles over 3.5 tons. Motorhomes registered in class M1 are explicitly exempt from the charge, even if their permissible total weight exceeds 3.5 tons. Owners do not need to contract an operator or install an onboard unit to record mileage.

A new distance-based toll for trucks over 3.5 tonnes takes effect in the Netherlands on July 1. Motorhomes are exempt from this charge as it applies exclusively to commercial vehicles. Foreign motorhome owners may eventually need to register their vehicles to confirm the exemption, though this is not yet required.

From January 1, 2026, the motor vehicle tax (MRB) rate for fully electric motorhomes in the Netherlands will change. Electric vehicles will no longer pay a quarter of the standard rate but will be charged 70% of it. For motorhomes, a special 50% coefficient applies, resulting in a final rate of 50% of 70% of the base tariff.

Motorhome owners can breathe a sigh of relief regarding new Dutch road charges. Starting July 1, 2026, a distance-based toll for heavy goods vehicles will be introduced, but motorhomes, even those over 3.5 tonnes, are explicitly exempt. The system automatically distinguishes between commercial trucks and private motorhomes, so no registration or onboard unit is required for the latter.

From January 1, 2026, the motor vehicle tax for motorhomes in the Netherlands is changing. The preferential quarter-rate is being replaced by a half-rate, effectively doubling the annual tax burden for owners. To save costs, owners can suspend the vehicle's registration if it is not in use and parked on private property.

New flowcharts and an explanatory video have been released to clarify driver's license requirements for towing a caravan or driving a motorhome. The materials detail which license categories are needed based on vehicle and trailer weight combinations, and explain key concepts like maximum permissible mass. They are designed for businesses to share with customers to prevent misunderstandings about regulations.

Motorhome and caravan owners face increasing logistical hurdles. Key issues include multi-year waiting lists for winter storage due to a record number of registered vehicles, bans on older diesel motorhomes entering urban zero-emission zones, and hidden ownership costs that significantly increase the total expense.

A doubling of the annual road tax for motorhomes in the Netherlands, effective January 1, 2026, is prompting some owners to sell. The tax for an average camper will rise from €900 to €1,800 per year. Industry representatives report an increase in owners citing cost as a reason for leaving the hobby, with some considering switching to caravans.

The Dutch vehicle authority RDW will reimburse approximately 6700 motorhome owners for overpaid fees related to registration suspension. The overpayments occurred between January 1, 2014, and January 31, 2024. This story was the most-read article on the Aftersales Magazine website in 2025, with over 68,000 views.

Holders of a category B driving license often miscalculate the permissible weight of their vehicle-trailer combination. The key rule is that the combined maximum authorized mass of the car and trailer must not exceed 3500 kg, even if their actual weight is lower. Non-compliance risks a fine, road danger, and insurance claim denial.

The European Union will raise the permissible mass for motorhomes driven with a standard category B license from 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes. The new rules will only take effect in 2028, and EU member states may introduce additional driver requirements, such as mandatory training or tests.

Starting in 2026, the Netherlands will abolish the preferential road tax rate for privately owned motorhomes. Owners will pay half the standard rate instead of a quarter, effectively doubling monthly costs. Owners can temporarily reduce expenses by suspending the vehicle's registration or checking payment dates, as the increase applies from the start of the next full payment period in 2026.

The vehicle tax for motorhomes in the Netherlands will double from 1 January 2026. The current quarter-rate for qualifying motorhomes will be replaced by a 50% rate, a change approved by the Senate in June 2024. The NKC, a major campervan association, protested the decision, advocating for a usage-based tax system.

Dutch road tax rules for campers are changing, with the quarter-rate becoming a half-rate in 2026, but not all vehicles qualify. The new Volkswagen California, based on the Multivan, is not considered a camper by the tax authority due to failing a specific spatial requirement, making it ineligible for the reduced rate. Consequently, it is sold in the Netherlands only as a plug-in hybrid, which currently has a tax discount, though this benefit is also set to expire.

In the Netherlands, road tax (wegenbelasting) for motorhomes will double in 2026 due to the abolition of a preferential rate, increasing owners' costs by an average of 200 euros per month. To reduce expenses, two options are highlighted: temporarily de-registering the vehicle (schorsen) or purchasing a motorhome over 40 years old, which is exempt from this tax.

The motor vehicle tax (MRB) for campers in the Netherlands will double in 2026, increasing from a 75% discount to a 50% discount compared to a standard passenger car. This results in substantial annual cost increases, for example, an estimated €1,032 more for a van camper with a weight of 2,900 kg. The higher costs are attributed to the vehicles' weight and, in many cases, heavily taxed diesel engines.

Suspending a motorhome's registration with the RDW exempts owners from road tax and mandatory periodic vehicle inspections. The vehicle cannot be driven or parked on public roads during the suspension, which is available for fixed periods of one, two, or three years. The cost varies based on the vehicle's age and weight, starting at €29.10 for a one-year suspension.