Vanlife: How a Family Lived in a Trailer for Three Years

A Munich court has ordered a rental company to refund 3,400 euros to customers who cut short their trip due to defective sockets in a motorhome. The couple rented the vehicle for 3,600 euros in summer 2023 for a four-week journey but had to return it after the first night as the 12-volt sockets were not working, preventing the charging of a medical device.

The EU has approved a directive allowing drivers with a category B license to operate motorhomes up to 4.25 tonnes after additional training or a test. The proposal also permits towing a trailer if the total weight of the combination does not exceed 5 tonnes. Sweden has not yet decided how to implement these rules, which must be applied by November 26, 2029.

A group of Sinti and Roma has left the training ground in Hümme after a three-week stay. The ground is damaged by heavy caravans and littered with trash and feces. Authorities are to decide on the restoration of the site.

The Carwow platform is offering a discount on the VW Caddy California camper van. The top Maxi version with a diesel engine and automatic transmission has a discount of 5,756 euros, reducing the price to approximately 40,946 euros. The base model starts from 33,314 euros.

The German company Dethleffs has introduced the Globebus Performance 4×4 T16 motorhome. With a weight under 3500 kg, it can be driven with a standard category B driver's license, while its four-wheel drive and compact width of approximately 2200 mm provide enhanced off-road capability. The model's starting price is 94,999 euros.

On Monday evening in Lichtenstein-Unterhausen, an 85-year-old driver crashed his motorhome into a parked Volkswagen. The total property damage is estimated at around 25,000 euros, with no injuries reported. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.