How Long Can a Motorhome Be Parked on the Street?

For motorhome owners, the freedom that travelling in one brings makes pretty much any trip something new and exciting. Where you end up, what you do and where you decide to stay are all in your hands. No constraints, just freedom on the open road and a place to call anywhere home when you want to. However, such exciting adventures can become tiring, and if you get lost, a little stressful. So, you’ll need a place to rest and get your head down, right? No problem as your bed is travelling with you.

Surely, you can just pull over, park as if you were parking your car and grab a little shut eye? Not quite. Neither could you just park your motorhome on the street whilst you take a little break before setting off again. Except, maybe you can, sometimes, and in some places. Put simply, it’s a grey area and in this blog, we’ll clarify, as much as possible, how long you can park your motorhome on the street.

Is it legal to park your motorhome on the street?

We mentioned grey areas, and this is certainly one. The law doesn’t exist to say you can but at the same time, it kind of does. There is no legal right for you to park on a street in the UK but there is nothing either that says you cannot. The rules all depend on what the local council has decided. This could mean in one place you can park for as long as you like, and in other places, you could find yourself being moved on rather quickly.

Luckily, there are some designated spaces where parking may be allowed but even then, you’ll have to make sure you are in full accordance with the rules, so you don’t find a penalty being applied.

Can I keep my motorhome parked on the street outside my house?

You can and you can’t. As we mentioned above the rules are all dependent on the rules set out by the local authority. In some cases, those rules may relate to issues that parking may cause neighbours and other residents for example. This could include blocking out light, hindering entrances and exits or obstructing road users from making safe movements.

However, in some instances, your property deeds may state that a vehicle such as a motorhome cannot be parked on the drive or in any space outside the home which falls within the property boundaries. This then means you may have to park it on a street elsewhere.

Should there be no rules in place to say street parking is forbidden, it would still be worth checking with your neighbours that they are ok with such a vehicle being parked close to their home. In addition, you should check the surrounding areas. The size of a motorhome is considerable, and you could cause damage to your vehicle as well as the trees if you are parked in an area with lots of overhanging greenery.

Is it ok to sleep in my motorhome when it’s parked on the street?

Another area shaded in all types of grey is this. Just like there is no specific law saying you cannot park on the street, there is also no law saying you cannot sleep in your motorhome when it’s parked on the street. In general though, it is frowned upon and in most jurisdictions, it isn’t allowed. This same rule extends to car parks too. Even if you pay for a slot for a specific number of hours, using that space as a form of campsite is generally forbidden.

Laybys tend to be a little different. In some areas, laybys are seen as acceptable places where you can park your motorhome and sleep, but in others, they aren’t. Just like the rules over parking a motorhome on a street, the rules for parking in a layby could vary from town to town. Therefore, if you are out on a trip, always check the rules for the places you are visiting or even driving through if you think a stopover is likely.

To add further confusion, the Highway Act 1980 and the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 both state that sleeping on roads is not necessarily forbidden.

What happens if you park your motorhome on the street?

If you park your motorhome on the street and it is forbidden, or it has time restrictions which you exceed, you will likely receive a penalty. Traffic Regulation Orders, known as TROs, are local bylaws set out by the local authority. It is these that state whether parking on the street in your motorhome is allowed. If it is not, you could find yourself receiving a Penalty Charge Notice. The PCN can be applied if you are parking in places that have specific restrictions, if you are blocking other vehicles for long periods, have a vehicle over a specific weight and many other reasons. You can appeal a parking ticket but if you are found to be at fault, that appeal could be costly.

How can I find out if I can park my motorhome on the street?

As rules can vary per area, it would be best to check the TRO rules for where you live. You can do this by accessing the TRO library which contains all the relevant rules for the areas you live in and the areas you’ll be visiting in England and Wales. At least then you can avoid breaching any rules and facing a PCN.

Can I apply for a permit to park my motorhome on the street?

In some areas, you can. Parking permits can be obtained but you’ll have to pay a fee determined by the council. Permits can be filled with restrictions so it will be worth checking these before applying as you could be in breach the moment you park the vehicle.

How can you keep your motorhome parked on the streets?

If no TRO in place forbids parking your motorhome on the street, you could find yourself in a great position where you can leave your vehicle parked outside your home. However, you could still find yourself being asked to move the vehicle should it become a nuisance for neighbours and road users.

Keeping it clean and maintained will help present a more attractive and well looked after vehicle that is less likely to raise a concern among residents. Think also about how you are parking it. If you are making access to homes difficult or footpath access tricky, you could also face complaints from neighbours that may be escalated to the authorities.

If you are deciding to move on from a car and secure a motorhome for your next trip, speak to Euphoria for affordable motorhome finance. We work as a direct lender ensuring finance is achievable whether you have poor credit or great credit history. We carefully assess each application based on your standards as they are now so that you are never judged on previous money mismanagement. Contact our team today to see how we can help get your road trip started or start the process with a motorhome finance quote now.