The short answer: There are six main types of motorhome in the UK: campervans, panel van conversions, coachbuilts (which come in low-profile and over-cab forms), A-class, and American RVs, with fifth wheels and self-builds as niche options. They differ mainly in size, price, how many people they sleep, and where they'll actually fit. Here's how to tell them apart, and how to work out which one suits you.
The types of motorhome at a glance
| Type | Typical length | Sleeps | Typical UK price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan (pop-top) | 4.8 to 5.4m | 2 (4 with a pop-top) | Used from ~£20k; new £45k to £80k+ | Weekends, couples, everyday driving |
| Panel van conversion (B-class) | 5.4 to 6.4m | 2 to 4 | Used £25k to £50k; new £45k to £80k | Couples touring, off the beaten track, easy parking |
| Coachbuilt, low-profile (C-class) | 6 to 7.5m | 2 to 4 | Used from £25k; new £50k to £90k | Couples wanting space without an over-cab bed |
| Coachbuilt, over-cab / Luton (C-class) | 6 to 7.5m | 4 to 6 | Used from £25k; new £50k to £90k | Families; the over-cab bed the kids love |
| A-class | 6 to 9m | 2 to 4 (some 4 to 6) | Used £40k to £150k+; new £90k to £250k+ | Comfort and luxury, longer touring |
| American RV | 8 to 12m | 4 to 6 | Used from ~£30k; new imports £150k+ | Maximum space; rallies and shows more than touring |
| Fifth wheel | 7 to 12m unit | 4 to 6 | £25k to £70k+ plus a pick-up | Space on a pitch you can leave, with a truck for day trips |
Prices vary enormously with age, brand and spec, so treat these as a guide rather than gospel; our running-cost guide and buying guide go deeper.
At first, the different types of motorhome all look more or less the same. You walk around a show or scroll through dealers' websites and the vehicles blur into one indistinguishable mass of cream fibreglass and Fiamma awnings. Then you start looking properly, and the differences become obvious very quickly. Here is each main type in detail.
What is an A-class motorhome?
Every motorhome starts life as an existing vehicle. An A-class is where the manufacturer takes that starting point and throws most of it away. They use only the bare chassis and engine; all of the bodywork, including the cab, is designed and built from scratch. No original van cab, no original panels. That freedom from compromise shows in the result.
Because there's no existing cab to work around, an A-class can be designed from the inside out. The full width of the vehicle is available from front to back, typically around 2.2 metres throughout, which gives them a square, roomy feel. Drop-down beds over the cab are a signature feature, and many have a fixed double at the rear as well. At one end of the scale is the small Hymer A-class you see on campsites all over Europe; at the other, the vast American coaches that stretch to 12 metres. Some of the world's most expensive motorhomes are A-class.
One thing to check before you fall too far in love: some A-class motorhomes sit above the 3,500kg licence threshold, so make sure your licence covers what you plan to drive. We cover that in full in our motorhome driving licence guide.
What is a coachbuilt motorhome (and what's the difference between low-profile and over-cab)?
The coachbuilt, known technically as a C-class, is the most common type of motorhome in Europe, and for good reason: it does the job extremely well at a price most people can afford. A coachbuilt keeps the original cab of the base vehicle, usually a Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit or Peugeot Boxer, and the habitation section is built onto the back of it by the motorhome manufacturer to their own layout.
Coachbuilts come in two shapes, and this is the distinction most UK buyers are actually asking about:
- Over-cab (or "Luton"): a large double bed sits above the driving cab. Children are almost universally delighted by it, and parents are too, because the kids disappear up the ladder at bedtime and leave the rest of the van in peace. This is the classic family motorhome.
- Low-profile: the same coachbuilt idea but without the over-cab bed, giving a sleeker, lower roofline. That means less weight, better fuel economy and a bit more manoeuvrability, at the cost of a couple of berths. Ideal for couples who want coachbuilt space without carrying a bed they'll never use.
If this is your first motorhome and you're not sure where to start, a coachbuilt is usually the sensible place to look: wide choice, strong dealer support, plenty of used stock, and layouts that cover most needs.
What is a panel van conversion, and is it a proper motorhome?
Take a long-wheelbase high-top delivery van and convert the back into a habitation area. That's the panel van conversion, also known as a B-class. And yes, it's a proper motorhome: a well-specified long-wheelbase example will have a kitchen, a shower, a toilet, a bed, heating, and more storage than you'd expect. Some rival much larger motorhomes for facilities, and a few now build an upstairs bedroom that turns a two-person van into a genuine family one.
Plenty of people who've owned several motorhomes end up here and stay. The panel van is compact enough to go almost anywhere, easy to drive, fits into a standard car park, and doesn't announce itself as a motorhome from three streets away. If you want to thread through a French village market without causing a tailback, or feel less conspicuous on a wild camping spot, it's hard to argue with. The trade-off is space: fine for couples who travel light and move often, tighter for a family with a dog and three weeks of luggage.
What is a campervan, and how is it different?
Smaller panel van conversions, the ones without a toilet and often with a pop-top or rising roof, are properly called campervans rather than motorhomes. The American term is a "day-van", which is a fair description. They're ideal for weekends, great for short trips, and very good at fitting into places larger vans can't reach. For anything longer than a weekend the limitations start to show, particularly if you're not staying on campsites with full facilities. Some micro-vans aren't panel-van based at all but converted from car-derived vehicles, which brings its own compromises and advantages.
What is a self-build motorhome?
Some people build their own. Most of those end up fantastic. A few are, frankly, not. That's the nature of self-builds. The appeal is obvious: a self-build can be exactly what you want, in exactly the configuration you want, without compromise. People go this route to save money, to build something truly bespoke, or because they want a go-anywhere expedition vehicle that production manufacturers simply don't make. The old ambulance conversion is a classic starting point, and so is the horsebox, the ex-military truck, and the plain Transit someone has spent two years turning into something remarkable. If it appeals, the self-build section on the MotorhomeFun forum is worth a great deal of your time; there's experience, inspiration, and the occasional cautionary tale that will save you an expensive mistake.
What about American RVs?
American motorhomes use the same ABC classification we do. In the US, anything you go camping from, whether a humble trailer or a vast A-class coach, is called a Recreational Vehicle (RV). Some have found a following here. The big ones come with slide-outs, sections of wall that extend outwards once you're pitched, almost doubling the living area. Onboard, the space can feel extraordinary: twin sofas, walk-around king-size beds, full kitchens. Then you try to park one in a French village.
Worth knowing before you get seduced: more than 70% of campsites across Europe set length limits that rule out the largest RVs, fuel consumption is heavy, and the biggest need a Category C licence. Manoeuvring something approaching 12 metres on a busy site takes either nerves of steel or a very patient co-pilot. We've toured Europe in an RV; it was great fun, and we were also young, brave, and maybe a little bit stupid. Most RV owners are none of those things, which is why most RVs spend their lives visiting steam fairs and show fields rather than threading through Provence. There's a reason even older ones tend to have very low mileage. They're not wrong for everyone, but they're wrong for more people than the showroom makes them appear.
What is a fifth wheel?
The fifth wheel, sometimes called a "fiver", is a towable unit that connects to a pick-up truck directly above the rear axle via a specialist hitch, similar to the coupling on an articulated lorry. Several feet of the trailer hang over the towing vehicle, putting around 15% of its weight onto the truck's rear axle. It's easier to manoeuvre than a conventional caravan and usually has onboard water and waste tanks, which is why owners feel it belongs in the motorhome conversation rather than the caravan one. They have a point. You need a pick-up with a proper fifth wheel hitch to run one; they're more common in American setups, though Celtic Campers make a British fifth wheel if the idea appeals.
Which type of motorhome is right for me?
The honest answer is that nobody can tell you without knowing how you plan to use it. A couple who want to explore quietly, park anywhere and move every day have very different needs from a family setting up on a campsite for a fortnight. A few questions narrow it down quickly:
- How many travel regularly? Families need forward-facing belted seats for everyone; many motorhomes have fewer belted seats than berths, so check this first.
- What does your licence allow? A standard car licence covers motorhomes up to 3,500kg; above that you need a C1. Read the licence guide before you fall for something you can't legally drive.
- How long is your driveway? It's surprisingly common to buy a motorhome and then find it doesn't fit at home. Measure before you shop.
- Wild camping or campsites? Wild camping rewards self-sufficiency: good payload, solar, and big water and waste tanks. Campsite touring rewards comfort and space.
- How far off the beaten track? A 7-metre coachbuilt will get almost everywhere; a 12-metre American RV will not.
Buy the smallest motorhome you can genuinely live with. You can always trade up later, and the people who wish they'd started smaller outnumber those who wish they'd gone bigger by a very wide margin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Types of Motorhome
What are the main types of motorhome?
What is the most popular type of motorhome in the UK?
What is the difference between an A-class and a coachbuilt motorhome?
What is a low-profile motorhome?
What is the difference between a motorhome and a campervan?
Is a panel van conversion a proper motorhome?
What type of motorhome is easiest to drive?
Do I need a special licence for some motorhomes?
Still not sure which type is right for you?
The best advice on types, makes and models doesn't come from a dealer; it comes from people who actually own motorhomes and use them every week. At MotorhomeFun there are more than 87,000 of them. Describe how you plan to travel and see what comes back; the answers will be more useful than anything a showroom will tell you. If you're not already a member, come and join us.
Last updated: July 2026.
James Brown BEM is the founder of MotorhomeFun (est. 2007), the UK’s largest motorhome community, and a retired close-protection specialist. He has been motorhoming for over 35 years and is the author of The Motorhome Buyer’s Guide, The Motorhome Security Handbook, and The Bodyguard’s Bible. When he isn’t on the road, he’s at home on the Lincolnshire coast.