Use campsites and authorised areas for overnight stays, outdoor setup, water refill and waste disposal.
Camper Rules Assistant
Build a country route and get compact allowed/do-not-assume/check cards for overnight rules, LEZ, tolls, documents and winter requirements.
Spain
Spain is one of the clearest countries on the parking-versus-camping split: legal parking is allowed where signs permit it, while camping is limited to authorised places.
A motorhome is considered parked when it stays within the marked bay and does not place awnings, tables, stabilizers or similar elements outside the vehicle.
Spain has a mix of free motorways and tolled roads, bridges, tunnels and private facilities; payment rules vary by route. Large cities can operate ZBE low-emission zones. Foreign vehicles may need local registration or authorisation before entry.
France
France combines a large campsite network with strict local parking, low-emission and mountain-winter rules. Motorhome travellers should separate legal parking from camping behaviour.
Use campsites and official aires de camping-car for overnight stops, water, electricity and waste services.
A motorhome can use legal parking like other vehicles, but camping behaviour and long stays can be restricted by national, local or protected-area rules.
French motorway toll class depends mainly on height, weight and axle count, so tall motorhomes can pay more than cars. Crit'Air stickers are required in low-emission zones and during some pollution-control measures, including for foreign vehicles.
Documents and insurance
Spain
For vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, a B licence is generally enough; trailer combinations and heavier motorhomes need a separate category check.
- Carry licence, registration, insurance proof and rental authorisation.
- Pay attention to height and width signs when parking or entering old towns and underground lots.
France
For motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes, a standard B licence is generally the base category; heavier vehicles can require C1 or equivalent rights.
- Carry licence, registration, insurance proof and rental authorisation if the vehicle is hired.
- Liability insurance must cover travel in France even when the policy was issued abroad.