The past week brought several big developments in the world of motorhomes: Spain now requires owners of older camper vans to pass a roadworthiness test twice a year, a Japanese association pushed the number of certified overnight parks to 644, France saw a wave of illegal caravan stopovers that paralysed an airfield and stadiums, and a second seaside caravan park named after a late musician opened in Antalya.
The week in brief
- Spain introduced a roadworthiness test (ITV) every six months instead of once a year for category N camper vans older than 10 years — under instruction Prot 2026/04 from the DGT traffic authority.
- In May the Japanese RV association certified 10 new overnight stopovers, bringing the country's total to 644 as of 1 June.
- Since late May France has seen a wave of illegal caravan stopovers: stadiums, a racecourse and the Beaune airfield have been occupied in several regions, with business losses topping 5,000 euros a day.
- In Saltburn, UK, from 6 July motorhomes will be allowed to stay on Marine Parade for no more than 4 hours on weekdays — an 18-month trial.
- In Antalya a second 121-pitch caravan park is opening, named after the late musician Volkan Konak and fully equipped with facilities.
Spain doubles down on roadworthiness checks for older camper vans
Spain's DGT traffic authority has issued instruction Prot 2026/04, changing the roadworthiness test (in Spanish it's called the ITV) rules for vans converted into living quarters. From now on, category N camper vans — the cargo base on which most converted vans are built — that are more than ten years old must pass the roadworthiness test every six months instead of once a year. The DGT tightened the requirements specifically for DIY conversions, not factory-built motorhomes.
The change comes amid a sharp rise in the market: in May, Spain registered 785 new motorhomes and camper vans, and the camper van segment grew by 61.5%. There are also plenty of older home-built conversions on the road, and these are exactly the ones authorities have the most safety questions about — gas systems, axle loads, furniture mounting. For travellers, this means more trips to the test centre, more expense and the risk of failing the check because of a rough conversion.
Spain isn't alone here: across Europe, authorities are gradually tightening the rules on both conversions and parking. That same week, overnight-stay restrictions were debated in Cantabria, and Saltburn in the UK introduced a time limit on its seafront. It seems the era when a converted van lived by the same rules as an ordinary car is slowly coming to an end.
What this means for you
If you're travelling around Spain in a converted category N van that's more than ten years old, factor a visit to the ITV centre every six months into your route and keep your conversion paperwork on hand. If your camper van is newer or it's a factory-built motorhome, the new rule doesn't apply to you yet — but check your category in the registration document so you don't get caught out by a fine. If you're only planning to buy a used camper van in Spain, ask the seller whether it passed its last roadworthiness test under the new requirements, otherwise the cost will land on you. And if you're doing a conversion yourself, pay attention to the gas system and furniture mounting: those are exactly what inspectors scrutinise most.
In brief
- Spain, market: in May, 785 new motorhomes and camper vans were registered — 28% more than a year ago, with camper vans alone up 61.5%.
- Sweden, market: motorhome sales over five months jumped 57%, though part of the growth is early registration ahead of Euro 6 standards, so real demand is more modest.
- Japan, new model: Nissan unveiled the micro camper Clipper Van Multi Rack at 12,000 euros, built on a kei-car platform.
- US, new model: Ram announced a Vanlife package for the 2027 ProMaster at $4,995 with swivel seats and a roof rack — though it's not yet a full home on wheels.
- Japan, new model: ALFLEX will show its updated ELEMENT camper van on the Toyota Hiace with a slide-out kitchen and a seat that folds into a bed in 20 seconds.
- Japan, dealers: manufacturer Nuts RV will open its first centre in the Tohoku region on 3 July.
- South Korea, parking: in Incheon, a public car park will set aside 54 spaces for motorhomes and caravans from 1 July.
- Turkey, industry: the country is aiming to break into the world's top three caravan producers by 2035, ramping up exports.
- US, market: one of the largest manufacturers, Thor Industries, cut its annual profit forecast on macroeconomic headwinds — a sign the US market is cooling.
- Switzerland, safety: the cantonal police of St. Gallen held their first "Camper Day" with motorhome weigh-ins on weighbridges — around 70 vehicles were checked for overloading.
- South Africa, builds: Bushwakka unveiled the Kamelback 4 camper on a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 base with sleeping room for four, a kitchen and a shower.
- Germany and Austria, campsites: the hotel group Falkensteiner is launching its own glamping brand and expanding its portfolio of sites.
Where to go
Gifu Prefecture (Japan), summer. If you're travelling around Japan in the heat, the main problem is where to spend the night without suffocating with no air conditioning. In Gifu, four high-altitude roadside stations above 800 metres have been chosen, specially suited to overnight stays in a motorhome. Even at the height of summer, the daytime temperature there hovers around 23 degrees, and it's cooler still at night. They make handy bases for a route through mountainous Japan: nearby are mountain passes, hot springs and quiet valleys that tour buses never reach. The format suits a couple staying a night or two as well as a family that wants to wait out the heat in comfort. If you've long wanted to visit Japan but were put off by the summer heat, this is your cue to plan a route through the mountains.
Watch out
- France, early June: a wave of illegal caravan stopovers has swept the country — hundreds of trailers have occupied stadiums, a racecourse and the Beaune airfield, bringing them to a standstill. If you're heading to France, don't count on sports grounds and public sites as somewhere to park, and book campsites in advance.
- UK, Saltburn, from 6 July: on Marine Parade a 4-hour weekday parking limit for motorhomes is being introduced, and only in designated zones. If you're planning a stop by the sea, line up an overnight spot elsewhere and use the seafront only for a brief stop.
- Spain, Cantabria and Tarifa: the Cantabrian parliament ordered authorities to tighten control over overnight parking of motorhomes outside designated areas, while business owners in Tarifa are demanding a crackdown on illegal overnight stays in the Estrecho nature park. In protected areas of southern Spain, only spend the night at equipped sites.
- Sweden, summer: Germany's Foreign Ministry warned travellers about thefts and assaults even at guarded campsites, especially in the south and west of the country. Don't leave valuables in plain sight and check your locks before going to sleep.
One good thing to end on
Two stories worth forwarding.
A World Cup on wheels. Two presenters from Dutch radio station NPO 3FM, Barend van Deelen and Nelly Benner, will drive across the US from 13 to 26 June in a nine-metre camper van with a mobile studio, covering the Netherlands' matches in the group stage of the football World Cup. Cheering on your team while moving from stadium to stadium straight from a home on wheels is arguably the best way to combine sport and vanlife.
A park named after a musician. In Antalya, the municipality is finishing a second 121-pitch caravan park on the Lara coast and naming it after the late musician Volkan Konak. The site is fully equipped and will become another draw for caravanners on the Turkish coast — and a warm tribute to a beloved artist.
This week's questions
Do I really have to pass a roadworthiness test in Spain every six months?
Only if your van is category N (a cargo base), converted into living quarters and more than ten years old. For such vehicles, the DGT instruction Prot 2026/04 introduced an ITV roadworthiness test every six months. Factory-built motorhomes and newer camper vans are tested on the previous schedule — once a year or less often, depending on age.
Where CAN you park in Saltburn, UK, now?
From 6 July, on Marine Parade motorhomes may only stop in designated zones and for no longer than four hours on weekdays. It's a trial measure for 18 months. For an overnight stay you'll need to find a campsite or a parking spot away from the seafront, and use the seafront itself only for a brief daytime stop.
Where in Japan is it cool to spend the night in a motorhome in summer?
A good option is the high-altitude roadside stations. In Gifu Prefecture, four such stations above 800 metres have been chosen, where even in summer it's around 23 degrees during the day. They make handy bases for a route through mountainous Japan, suited to both a couple and a family.
Is it true that camper vans are selling briskly in Europe right now?
Yes. In May, motorhome and camper van sales in Spain rose by 28%, with the camper van segment up a full 61.5%. In Sweden the market gained 57% over five months, although part of that growth is early registration of vehicles ahead of new environmental standards, so real demand is a touch more modest.
What's the caravan park named after Volkan Konak that's opening in Antalya?
It's a second 121-pitch caravan park on the Lara coast in Antalya, which the municipality is finishing and naming after the late Turkish musician Volkan Konak. The site is fully equipped and is intended for travellers in caravans and motorhomes.
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