Confused concerning the regulation for displaying a purple / white striped signal on the again of your motorhome or campervan when travelling in Europe?
So have been we, so we’ve accomplished the analysis for you. Right here’s every little thing you should know to remain authorized if in case you have an overhanging load in your van in Europe.
Don’t overlook to seize your FREE Europe motorhoming guidelines under to recollect every little thing else you should deliver!
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Crimson & White striped boards – do you want one?
If you’re travelling in sure international locations in Europe and have ANYTHING which overhangs the size of your motorhome, you MUST show a panel board (typically referred to as a chevron board) which has reflective stripes (or slashes, in case you want) in purple and white.
The stripes should run at 45 levels and have to be displayed on ANY automobile with something extending the size. This is applicable to vehicles, caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
The reflective warning signal have to be displayed on the rear of your motorhome/ camper, in the back of the load (so not on the again of your precise motorhome.)
You’ll want them if in case you have a:
- storage field (like ours)
- bicycle rack (even when nothing is on it)
- tow bar rack (even when nothing is on it)
- if in case you have a surfboard or one thing on the roof which extends past the again bumper
- If in case you have something which makes the automobile wider, you have to show two boards, one on either side.
You do NOT want one if in case you have a trailer.
It’s unclear in case you want one in case you simply have a towbar and nothing else on it. My intestine feeling is no- in any case, the place would you connect it to?- however I can’t discover any definitive reply.
Which international locations are they necessary in?
These again marker boards are obligatory if motorhoming in Italy and Spain, though they’re ‘beneficial’ in a number of others.
You don’t want one within the UK if the overhang is lower than 1m.
They don’t seem to be at present necessary when motorhoming in France, Germany or another European nation until the load extends over 10% of the automobile size, however nonetheless price having- simply in case you’re like us and go detouring into random international locations with little or no planning!
What dimensions do the purple/ white board should be?
The board have to be no less than 50×50 cm (minimal space of 2500cm²)
Does it matter what number of stripes?
I’ve learn that Spain requires ones with no less than 3 purple/ 3 white hatched, reflective stripes, whereas Italy appears to require 5 stripes
Now we have one with 5 purple stripes. We figured, if unsure, extra is best.
Does it matter what the board is constituted of?
Yep.
In Italy, the board have to be constituted of aluminium and have a reflective floor ‘throughout’. I’ve learn that that is just for automobiles over 12m lengthy, however can’t discover the rule to verify this. Personally, we went for an aluminium one and haven’t had any hassle in Italy or when motorhoming in Spain.
I’ve additionally learn that the Italians are much less involved concerning the materials if it has the 4 ‘reflective circles/ cats eyes’ within the corners. Nevertheless, Fiamma (an ITALIAN firm!) say that the plastic boards aren’t authorized in Italy.
What makes that much more absurd/ complicated, is that Fiamma themselves solely promote the plastic boards. Which makes completely no sense!
Planning to take your motorhome to Europe?
How do you connect the board?
The purple & white striped indicators are normally simply hooked up to the overhanging object with elastic bungees (not normally supplied with buy so you should definitely purchase some- these are good). There may be normally a gap in every nook for the bungees (or string, in case you want) to connect to.
Which approach spherical does the stripes must level?
The stripes MUST level into the centre of the street within the nation you might be driving in. In fact, in Europe they’d all the time go from prime proper to backside left (see photograph).
I suppose technically within the UK it’s best to cease and switch the board round to level the opposite approach, however we’ve got pushed everywhere in the UK and sometimes forgotten to do that.
Can I simply use reflective tape as a substitute of an indication?
No. I believe you run the danger of being fined. Get a correct reflective rear warning board.
Which rear warning board to purchase?
Personally, I just like the purple and white warning signal varieties under and have by no means had an issue.
New to motorhome or camper journey in Europe? You may discover these posts useful:
See all our Europe motorhoming posts right here
NEED GEAR? In the event you want any package or necessities for motorhoming in Europe, right here’s what we advocate and the place to search out it
Final replace on 2024-05-26 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photos from Amazon Product Promoting API