Motorhome renter absconds with vehicle in Romania

The largest festival of motorhomes, campers and caravans in Eastern Europe took place in Râșnov, Romania, attracting dozens of families and hundreds of nature lovers. About 40,000 such vehicles are registered in the country.

Romania now has 184 certified campsites, boosting motorhome tourism. Over a thousand camper owners share tips on routes and new destinations. The main advantage of such trips is spontaneity, with basic camping gear starting at €3,000. However, tourists note cleanliness issues in some campsites and difficulty parking motorhomes off-season.

European authorities are preparing changes to category B driving licenses that will affect drivers of electric cars, motorhomes, and those towing trailers. The new directive proposes increasing the weight limit for certain vehicles that can be driven with a category B license. Motorhome drivers may be required to pass an additional exam or undergo special training. In Romania, an extended category B (code 96) already exists, allowing driving of combinations with a maximum authorized mass of up to 4250 kg after 7 hours of practical training.

Earlier this week, a partnership agreement was signed between Timiș County Council and Tomești Commune to develop recreational and camping areas for caravans and tents. The project aims to boost local tourism infrastructure and is expected to attract visitors and create jobs in related sectors.

The Dacia Sandman motorhome concept, invented by British publication Autocar in 2019, went viral online due to thousands of AI-generated images and videos. Despite its popularity, Dacia has no plans to produce this model. Online discussions feature fictional specifications, including a Hybrid-G 150 4×4 system and a speculated price of €40,000, but none of this reflects actual company plans.

Hidroelectrica stated that setting up caravans on the banks of the Olt River reservoirs is illegal. Caravan owners repeatedly break locks on barriers to access dams, which constitutes vandalism. The company cooperates with gendarmerie and police to stop violations, and offenders face fines and criminal liability.