Do you think hiring a motorhome is as straightforward as you’d think? No.
They’re slightly bigger than your average vehicle, and the type you hire will determine how comfortable you are driving and living inside it. And unless you’ve got experience with driving one, it definitely won’t be as simple as parking your Fiat 500, that’s for sure.
Fear not: it’s not impossible. Scottish motorhomes for hire come with the latest driving features, both at the controls and in the living areas.
To make things easier for you, we’ve created a guide full of the top 5 things to know before hiring a motorhome.
You Need to Check Your License
With Ariescape, you don’t need a special license to hire one of our motorhomes. You only need to have a full UK driving license that contains class B or equivalent and not have a provisional driving license.
Sometimes, depending on how big the motorhome is and how much it weighs, you might need a category C1 driving license, which allows you to drive vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. If you did need that, you’d have to be 18 years or older and have a manual car (Cat B) licence. You’ll need to take a new driving course and test, as you did with your standard Cat B driving licence.
It’s always worth checking with the company you’re considering renting from and whether you need a specific license.
You Need to Know The Rental Agreement
It’s always good to know the rental agreement and actually read it. So many people skim through the pages, barely looking further than the first page that will say your details, the type of vehicle you’re renting, and the price.
As always, the rest of the pages are full of the details you can’t be bothered to read, but you really should be reading. They’ll explain the terms and conditions of your rental, like damage liabilities, insurance details, breakdown cover, what to do if you break down, what to do if you’re in an accident, etc.
As boring as the small print is, if it is your first time renting a motorhome (and even if it isn’t), we’d highly recommend you read through at least most of the pages, if not all of them.
You Need to Know Your Route
If you’re renting a motorhome in Scotland, you absolutely need to know your route. Even if you’re not renting a motorhome in Scotland, you should always know the route.
Why are things different in Scotland? Well, it depends on your start and end points and the time of year. If it’s raining, snowing, storming, or anything but a perfectly sunny and clear day, driving on Scottish roads can be unforgiving.
We highly recommend that you plan your route, check for re-route options, and always check the weather before you travel (even in summer).
You Need to Know Where You’ll Stay
There are so many incredible camping sites suitable for a motorhome in Scotland. But, don’t make the rookie mistake of thinking every campsite is suitable for a motorhome. Motorhomes are so much bigger and heavier than a campervan. Not every campsite will accept them.
Still, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Most often, you will need to state the vehicle you’re travelling in before you pay for the booking, and the website will clearly state whether you can park up before you make the booking, so don’t worry about turning up and realising you’ve made the wrong booking.
Note: Don’t confuse a motorhome with a campervan, always know the size of your motorhome, and always double check!
More than anything, you’ll simply need to plan where to stay and ensure it matches the route you want to take.
You Need to Know What to Pack
At Ariescape, we make sure our Scottish motorhomes for hire are equipped with the basics, but here’s a simple checklist you should tick off:
- Warm Clothing: Scotland’s weather can change faster than you can blink, even in summer, so always pack layers.
- Outdoor Gear: Hiking boots, waterproof jackets, and anything else you think will help you explore the beautiful Scottish outdoors.
- Entertainment: Books, board games, and even a portable speaker.
- Toiletries and Towels: Most motorhomes have them, but some guests like their own.
- First Aid Kit: Most motorhomes have them, but always check
Hiring a motorhome is easily one of the best ways to explore Scotland. The freedom you feel driving a motorhome through the open Highlands or parking up next to a loch with the mist rolling in is something you can’t match with any other kind of holiday.