Caravan, motorhome and camper van: what each one is
People often use the words interchangeably, but they are different vehicles.
- Caravan: a living unit on wheels with no engine. You need a car with a towbar to pull it; on arrival you unhitch it and leave it pitched.
- Motorhome: a vehicle with an engine and built-in living space. You drive, park and you're already “home”. There are several types: low-profile, over-cab and A-class (integrated).
- Camper van: a motorhome built on a panel van. It is narrower and easier to handle, which makes it very practical for routes with villages and mountain roads.
The licence: what you can drive on a category B licence
In Spain, a category B licence lets you drive vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg. That is why many motorhomes, including ours, can be driven on a standard car licence.
With a caravan the sums change, because the weight of the car and the trailer are added together. On a B licence you can tow a light trailer of up to 750 kg, or a heavier one as long as the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg. Many caravans easily go over these limits when paired with a family car. For slightly heavier combinations there is the B96 entitlement (up to 4,250 kg, after training), and for trailers up to 3,500 kg, the BE licence.
The car also needs an approved towbar and enough towing capacity, which is stated in its documents. In Spain, trailers over 750 kg carry their own number plate, need their own roadworthiness test (ITV) and their own insurance. If in doubt, check the technical documents of both the car and the caravan before booking.
Caravan: pros and cons
A caravan has one clear advantage: once it is pitched at the campsite, you head off on day trips by car without packing anything away. For long stays in one place it is very comfortable.
In return, it requires a car set up for towing, more concentration on the road and plenty of practice to reverse it. Speed limits are lower when towing, and nobody may travel inside the caravan while it is moving. Away from campsites, your options for spending the night are much more limited.
Motorhome: pros and cons
With a motorhome everything is in one vehicle. Passengers travel seated with seatbelts, there is no trailer to hitch or level, and you can change destination every day without fuss. It is the natural choice for touring routes: the Costa Brava, the Pyrenees, France or Andorra.
The flip side is that if you want a day trip from the campsite, you have to pack up and take everything with you. In old towns and car parks with height barriers you also need to keep its dimensions in mind, especially the height.
In Spain, a motorhome may park wherever any other vehicle can, as long as it isn't “camping”: no awning, chairs or levelling ramps out, and no emptying of waste water. Even so, wild camping is generally not permitted in Catalonia, so campsites and authorised motorhome areas are the way to go.
Why Segimon Rental rents a motorhome
Many people find us by searching for “caravan hire in Granollers” or “caravan hire in Barcelona”. What we offer is a motorhome, and that is a deliberate choice: you don't need a car with a towbar, a special licence or any towing experience.
It is a 2026 Sunlight V66 Adventure, a camper-van-style motorhome on a Fiat Ducato: 6.66 m long, 2.14 m wide and 3,500 kg, so it can be driven on a category B licence. It has four travel seats and sleeps two, with winter-ready heating, indoor and outdoor showers, an awning and a bike rack.
You collect it in Les Franqueses del Vallès, next to Granollers, five minutes from the AP-7 and C-17, without driving through Barcelona. Rentals of 3 to 6 days include 300 km per day, and from 7 days mileage is unlimited.
Which one suits you?
A few quick questions to help you decide:
- Touring several places? A motorhome is more practical.
- Staying a week or two at the same campsite? A caravan may work, if you have the right car and licence.
- Your car has no towbar, or you don't know its towing capacity? Motorhome.
- Only hold a category B licence? A motorhome of up to 3,500 kg makes it easy.
- Travelling in winter or in the mountains? Better a vehicle equipped for the cold that doesn't depend on manoeuvring a trailer in the snow.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I hire a caravan near Granollers or Barcelona?
Segimon Rental doesn't rent caravans but a camper-van-style motorhome, which needs no tow car and can be driven on a category B licence. Pick-up is in Les Franqueses del Vallès, next to Granollers, without crossing Barcelona.
Can I tow a caravan on a category B licence?
Only if the trailer is no heavier than 750 kg, or if the car and caravan together do not exceed 3,500 kg. Heavier combinations require the B96 entitlement (up to 4,250 kg) or a BE licence.
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome?
For motorhomes with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg, a category B licence is enough. The Sunlight V66 Adventure we rent is 3,500 kg, so it can be driven on a car licence.
Which is better for a first trip, a caravan or a motorhome?
For most people, a motorhome: there is no trailer to hitch or manoeuvre, it drives much like a large van and you can change destination every day.
