Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > All Miscellaneous questions > Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else
Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Like Tree1Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 26 Oct 2008
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Sleeping in your car or camper in the UK and Europe. Is it allowed ?

Is this legal ?? No one I ask seems to know.

If i want to go somewhere, park up and kip in my car on a public road.. can I ?? If someone complained, could the plod move me on etc ??

I've always fancied getting a cheap camper van and tour the UK or Europe. Just parking up on a quiet road for the night..

Obviously, private land is fine with the owners permission.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Last edited by *Touring Ted*; 11 Jun 2009 at 07:27.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 26 Oct 2008
Dodger's Avatar
Large Golden Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,085
Why not ?
When I lived in rural Blighty I used to fetch the cows in for milking in the morning and occasionally came across a car parked in a gateway with a slumbering occupant .They weren't doing any harm - so why worry ?

Sometimes I think the Brits are obsessed by rules, regulations and laws .
Just park out of the way and snore to your heart's content and bugger to anybody who says otherwise !
__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 27 Oct 2008
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodger View Post
Why not ?
When I lived in rural Blighty I used to fetch the cows in for milking in the morning and occasionally came across a car parked in a gateway with a slumbering occupant .They weren't doing any harm - so why worry ?

Sometimes I think the Brits are obsessed by rules, regulations and laws .
Just park out of the way and snore to your heart's content and bugger to anybody who says otherwise !
Why not exactly !!!

Thats my problem, everything seems to be illegal here now. Even if it wasnt, no doubt I would be offending somebodys religion or public rights if i parked up for a snooze in a beat up camper..
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,362
If you say

"I was too tired to drive on" what can they do ? Make you have a crash?!

Provided you are not close to a place to stay they should leave you alone.
__________________
---
Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Salisbury UK
Posts: 248
I found parking late and flopping straight down, after I'd eaten and sorted my stuff out somewhere else, makes for a quiet night.

Service stations are good for the three esses, so worth the detour.

Ordinary car parks are ok, but many don't allow camper vans - and if they're within a few minutes from towns, especially the edges of coastal towns, they are often meeting places for young people during the evening and early hours.

My favourite place for motorised vagrancy is France, because of all the Air du Repose and Lidls.

Good luck with it.
__________________
I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Last edited by teflon; 27 Oct 2008 at 05:43.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cairo
Posts: 304
Don't try it in service stations on the motorway, there's a maximum time you're allowed there before having to pay a parking fee.
I slept around in the UK for years, and in campers and cars, just give a bit of thought to picking your spot and drop off.
It's not illegal unless you're breaking some parking law somewhere.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Staffordshire. uk
Posts: 766
To be fair councils have to restrict "overnight parking" otherwise they end up with 10 Gypsy caravans in a carpark and it takes them 28 days to evict them. This is probably why we don't have the right to roam in England. Scotland is a lot easier to wildcamp.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Bribie Island Australia
Posts: 678
I spent 7 months last year travelling around Europe in a campervan and the only time we moved on after parking up was when some idiot was doing donuts in the parking area we chose.

France has it really sorted with a lot of Aires de repose, with water, power and often toilets or chemical toilet dumps. Wild camping is easy, just choose a quiet spot, off main roads, away from nightclubs and pubs, and dont block someone's million $ views.

The UK is the hardest in Europe to park up without a sign prohibiting everything except breathing, without having completed an environmental impact statement, health and safety study and got approval from the relevant departments from the Parish Council, County Council, Westminster and Brussels - probably the UN and Washington now as well!!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Alexlebrit's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West London
Posts: 920
France...

Ouai, most places you're OK, there's a few places where you'll find a no overnight stays sign, or no campervans after a certain time, but that's usually either beaches or town squares. Lots of town/villages will have a municipal campground too, and they're only a couple of euros for a hook-up if you want it.
__________________
Happiness has 125 cc
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kent, Uk
Posts: 391
Look for ....

Apart from where it is obviously sign posted you should be ok to stop, however, you will find yourself being checked out by local residents/farmers etc and the police, they will wonder why you do not use the local campsite or B&B etc, but as has been said I do not think you would be breaking the law.
__________________
ChrisC
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Danmark
Posts: 346
Its better just to have a MPV or a normal van, as many places have restricted parking for camper vans. On the westcoast of Jutland/Denmark, some counties have no parking between 9pm to 7am in the whole county.
I normally go for the parking on the harbour area, as they have a lot of space and always public toilets. I bought a VW Sharan/Ford Galaxy, as I can sleep in the back, but it looks like a normal car from the outside.
In Monaco they patrol all night and even check normal cars and send you away. In france, the police adviced me to park in a better lit place and in Germany, on the autobahn, the police just wanted to know, what went on, when we moved all the luggage to the front seats, at 12 o'clock midnight, to be able to sleep in the back.
__________________
Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 27 Oct 2008
mustaphapint's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Brittany, France
Posts: 401
Most towns in France have an overnight spot for camper vans free of charge. Often with waste disposal, water supply and electric hook up. Something to do with a law Napoleon introduced. I've only ever seen camper vans use them, not caravans. I've often thought you could live quite frugally just moving from one spot to another each day.
__________________
If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 27 Oct 2008
lorraine's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Definitely Nomadic
Posts: 523
Make sure you don't this in the US, where there's even MORE rules. Having a van in the US means you're smuggling something or someone, and people will surely call the police. I had it happen countless times. :-( Which is why so many camp at parking lots like Wal-Mart. But who wants to wake up surrounded by bright lights and countless caravans???

Lorraine
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 27 Oct 2008
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,078
Truck drivers sleep overnight in their cabs, so one option is to head for a truck stop. At least you'll be able to get an early morning fry up.

Tim
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live,"
Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 28 Oct 2008
Moderated Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Limoux, France
Posts: 352
My two cents on this for France:

1. Truckers & campervan people can be in for a very hard time in France along the autoroutes, take care especially in the south. There's always been cases of gassing campervans & stealing things on offer afterwards. But earlier this year a friend of mine who drove between Italy & Spain parked up near Montpellier at an 'aire' & locked up for the night. In the morning he was feeling very woozy, found he was 600euros lighter & credit cards had gone missing!!! How they gassed the truck he's still not sure as he's a light sleeper, but they broke the door locks to get in!

2. Certain villages, like mine do NOT allow campervans etc to park up, it's a local by-law. Either go to the campsite & pay like the rest or park outside the confines of the village. To support each others businesses/livelihoods here we do go around knocking on campervans late at night to move them on ... sorry but if you knew the tax system in France you'd do the same!

Kira
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
IRan, more than 250cc allowed Dirk/D West and South Asia 11 14 Sep 2016 21:16
Anyone hear no gps allowed in Egypt? uk_vette Route Planning 4 30 Oct 2008 06:25
Not Allowed To Ride in Indonesia chris Aus West and South Asia 5 29 Jul 2006 09:45
gps/radio in africa allowed? lordmaciek2 sub-Saharan Africa 6 27 Sep 2005 04:38
Length bike is allowed in USA Malcolm North America 1 17 Mar 2004 15:09

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:42.