You have been thinking about becoming a nomad for a long time. You work behind your computer, are retired or have enough money to live on your pensions, then there is the solution of being able to live all year round in your motorhome. Thanks to your vehicle, you can travel wherever you want and enjoy the sun all year round, if you wish. Living in your motorhome all year round is possible, but you need to know some rules beforehand and know if you are ready to take the plunge.
If you decide to live year-round in your motorhome, you must have a postal and tax address in France, because the motorhome is not legally considered a main residence. Thus, you can take up residence with a relative or close friend or go through a specialized company with a post office box such as the Courrier du Voyageur. You will have your address for a price ranging from 8 € to 40 € per month depending on the duration chosen. Your letters will be digitized and can be sent to you wherever you are in the world. You will even be able to benefit from a certificate of residence. If you stay in your motorhome for more than a year, you will need to register with a Center Communal d'Action Sociale (CCAS). Of course, on the tax side, you will be known by the tax authorities and will pay your taxes like other taxpayers.
If you live year-round in your motorhome year-round, you must notify your insurer, because if you have a claim and the insurer was unaware of your situation, you risk not being compensated. If your insurer does not cover you, go through a specialized insurer and above all make sure you have private civil liability cover. Of course, insurance is more expensive, but you are in good standing and above all you can cope if a major inconvenience occurs.
You are selling your house and you are getting rid of your useless belongings to go and live all year round in a motorhome, so sort them out carefully, because you will now have much less space. Even if your motorhome is spacious, it is still much smaller than a house or an apartment. Among the most roomy motorhomes, you have to aim for large sizes including your bedroom at the back to sleep comfortably and move more freely in the living area. Although you can spend many hot days outdoors if you choose to live in a warm country, there is still winter and your campervan interior should be spacious enough. If your budget allows it, prefer to invest in second-hand top-of-the-range equipment than in new, moderately equipped ones. You will always be sure to have more comfort.
If you have the necessary driving license, then choose the heavyweight motorhome. With the C license in your pocket, you can drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes with a much larger loading capacity. In addition, you will have even more space and will live much more comfortably than in a motorhome weighing less than 3.5 tonnes. You can even invite friends or family to visit. On the other hand, on the regulatory side, you will have to face certain constraints such as limited speed, the more expensive motorway tariff, prohibitions on certain lanes, etc.
If you are taking the step of becoming a nomad in a year-round motorhome, you must make the difference with seasonal holidays. Thus, you will have to have plenty of storage while having fewer clothes, fewer accessories, fewer games, fewer books that you could store in your home. Even if the hold of your vehicle is large, it will quickly fill up. Never forget that you are in a small and rolling space, however comfortable it may be.
The motorhome designed by the manufacturers is intended for the holidays. Not everything is necessarily solid. Some finishes such as door hinges, cylinders or even handles wear out quite quickly. Make the choice to check these important points when you buy your vehicle. You should also check the size of the shower, toilet and sink so you don't bump into each other all the time. By living inside a motorhome year-round, you will also encounter water heater problems like in a house, but also mechanical problems. So, when you buy your motorhome, pay attention to all these details which are of paramount importance. Thus, the top-of-the-range motorhome in recent occasion is the best option if you have the necessary budget.
If you are good with your hands and have the right license, then you can acquire a truck or a bus and transform it by yourself into a motorhome. The essential advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that you will choose the arrangement corresponding to your tastes and desires of life. It will be adapted to your needs. Of course, it takes time to set up such a space and you need to know all the areas like:
Once you have carried out this work, you will then have to have your vehicle homologated as a VASP, especially if it has installations such as gas or if you add an additional bench seat, for example.
To be a full-timer is to become a motorhome owner all year round. To find out if you are really made for this lifestyle, start by going on a trip for several months. If when you come back, you are ready to leave, then dare the approach. You can also get in touch with full-timers who have already taken the plunge by contacting them on the Internet, since many of them have a blog on the web.
In life, everything is never rosy and if you think that living in a motorhome all year round is nirvana, you are wrong. Certainly, there are many advantages like:
There are also disadvantages like:
To live year-round in a motorhome, you spend less than in conventional accommodation, because water and energy consumption are lower than those of a house or apartment. Even if fuel is spent while traveling, this item is absorbed in the trip. In addition, if you go for the sun not far away like in Portugal or Morocco, you should know that the cost of living in these countries is much lower than in France. These destinations remain privileged, but beware, recent regulations require you to live in specially equipped areas and they also have a cost.
You can choose freedom if you are self-sufficient in electricity, but be careful, never stay long in a car park, because as said above, the legislation has changed and it is forbidden to stay too long like this. If you choose the motorhome area, be sure to inform yourself about the chosen regulations, as there is also a maximum length of stay. Some areas, however, welcome motorhomes for long periods in agreement with the municipality. You can then settle on private land which can be:
With this information, you can be ready to go on the road for as long as you want. Year-round life in a motorhome will bring you many pleasant surprises and you will also be able to meet wonderful people.
