There’s no life quite like the motorhome life – waking up in the morning and heading in whatever direction the wind takes you. Especially in Australia with its abundant national parks, coastline, caravan parks and campsites.
You can also have new neighbours as often as you’d like – or none at all, if that’s your preference. It’s not all fun and games, though. There’s registration, motorhome insurance and trip preparations to think about, but that’s not stopping many Aussies, with a record-high 15.3 million camping and caravan trips taken in 2023.1
With so many things to consider before you hit the road, we’ve created a motorhome checklist of six jobs to help set you up for a big trip – everything from registration and insurance to solar panel installation and packing. Let’s get into it.
1. Preparing to drive your new motorhome
Before you get behind the wheel, it might pay to check your driver’s licence. While most campervans (being smaller and more car-based than a motorhome) can be driven on a standard Class C car licence, any motorhome exceeding 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) requires a heavy vehicle licence.2
And what is the biggest motorhome? That would be a Class A motorhome, typically at least eight metres in length.3 Truck-based vehicles such as the Avida Longreach fit into this category, at nearly 10m in length and requiring a medium rigid truck licence.4
If you’re travelling with a partner, organise for both of you to have the same training and licence for your new motorhome, as a safety precaution, advises Richard Barwick, CEO of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA).
“If you have a wife, or a husband, or a partner, you need to make sure they can drive the vehicle if something happens,” Barwick says.
Once your motorhome driving team has the correct licences, you might be wondering, are motorhomes easy to drive? While they’re bigger than a car, part of their appeal is that they can be less intimidating than towing a caravan, given the combined length of a car and caravan, and the complication of a pivot point at the tow hitch. That said, it’s probably sensible to try to test drive any motorhome prior to purchase.
2. Getting your finances in order
While some motorhomers are full-time “digital nomads”, funding their lifestyle with remote work, life on the road can be costly if you’re not drawing an income. Expenses you might incur include food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, registration, motorhome insurance and, of course, paid campsites and caravan parks. Working out a realistic budget for these and other expenses is an important part of planning for any major trip.
Unforeseen mechanical issues can also blow a hole in your budget, so it could be worth checking if your new motorhome’s insurance includes roadside assistance. Youi Roadside Assist comes as a standard inclusion with Comprehensive insurance, and includes support with flat batteries, towing, emergency fuel and flat tyres.5
3. Checking that your motorhome is roadworthy
It goes without saying, but it’s always a good idea to take care of any outstanding maintenance items prior to any trip in your motorhome – that includes keeping its servicing up to date.
If your motorhome is a used model, consider having an experienced mechanic give it a once-over prior to any long trip. The middle of the Nullarbor is not somewhere you want to discover that things are not entirely shipshape.
4. Registration, insurance and more
Again, common sense should prevail, but you might want to check your motorhome is appropriately registered prior to your big trip – check with your state’s or territory’s registration and licensing authority and consider the options available for insurance for your motorhome.
Compulsory Third Party insurance (CTP) is the minimum required to keep your vehicle on the road in Australia.6 Also known as green slip insurance in NSW, CTP insurance covers the cost of compensation claims if you’re responsible for injuring or killing someone in a car accident.7
At Youi, motorhomes are classified as cars and fall under the standard car insurance policies, according to Marni Jackson, Head of Product for Vehicle, Lifestyle and Leisure.
“However, you might want to consider our optional campervan contents cover, which can be added if you hold Comprehensive or Third Party Fire & Theft cover with us,” says Jackson.
“This means we’ll pay up to $1,000 or the replacement cost of contents, whichever is less. There are conditions, though, so be sure to read the PDS.”8
5. Food and water
Your motorhome camping checklist will vary depending on your trip, but food and water are consistent requirements. Even if you’re planning on eating out a lot, you might want to consider a supply of canned food or dried options such as pasta for emergencies.
Even more important – critical, in fact – is fresh water. Not just to drink, but for the kitchen sink, shower, any bathroom faucet and laundry. If you’re wondering how to fill a motorhome water tank, it’s not too tricky.
Start by locating your freshwater hose and connecting it to a freshwater source such as a tap (available at most campgrounds and caravan parks), then insert the other end of the hose into your motorhome’s water tank and fill with water. Do this slowly to avoid air bubbles gathering in the tank and stop when water starts to flow from the access point.9
You may need as much as 7.5 litres of water per person per day when on the road.10 Allow for more if you’re going somewhere remote or very hot.
6. Be prepared for whatever the road may bring
No matter how prepared you are, having a plan B is always a good idea. For example, a spare wheel and tyre might be needed at any point, but the tyre will need to be properly inflated and in good condition.
In addition to extra water, consider carrying extra fuel if you’re heading into a remote area, and a satellite phone for emergencies in case you find yourself out of mobile range. Some spare top-up oil for your motorhome’s engine is also sensible.
Motorhomes fitted with a solar panel or two have the option of camping off-grid, with the sunshine providing power for some appliances and devices, should you require it.
If you’re more of an on-grid kind of camper but you find yourself without a campsite or caravan park spot for the night, you might wonder how long a motorhome can be parked on the street? There’s no clear answer to that one.
“It’s up to every individual council,” says Barwick. “Some will say you can’t park on the street; some will say they don’t care. It all depends on your location – there’s not one rule that fits all.”
Getting ready for a big trip: In summary
So, your to-do list is looking pretty good – the paperwork’s in order, you’ve had your vehicle checked over by a mechanic, and it’s full of all the food, water, emergency supplies and road trip supplies you might need.
If you have any questions about insurance cover before you set off, consider starting a quote with Youi today. It’s insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped.
1 Source: Australian Trade and Investment Commission – Caravan and camping data
2 Source: rvSafe – RV Licences Explained
3 Source: caravancampingsales – What are the different motorhome classes?, August 2023
4 Source: Avida Motorhomes – Longreach Motorhome
5 Available with Comprehensive policies. Exclusions, limits and fees apply. Not available if your vehicle has broken down or become immobilised within 24 hours of you purchasing or upgrading to Comprehensive cover and adding Youi Roadside Assist to your insurance policy. For full details, see the roadside assistance T&Cs and Car PDS.
6 Source: Moneysmart – Buying and running a car
7 Source: Moneysmart – Choosing car insurance
8 An additional cost applies and is available with Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft policies. For business items, additional restrictions apply. For more details, see the PDS.
9 Source: KEA Motorhomes – Everything You Need To Know About Putting Water In Your RV
10 Source: Jawa Camper Trailers – How Many Caravan Water Tanks Do You Need? September 2024
