Europe toughens restrictions on campervans: Could Spain be next?
Spain currently has one of the most relaxed laws which allows campers and motorhomes to park in public overnight
With summer just around the corner, the call of the open road will be growing stronger for the thousands of drivers who choose to explore the country in campervans and motorhomes. It’s undeniable that camper travel offers unbeatable freedom, but many European countries are tightening restrictions to preserve the countryside and protect the environment. Could Spain be next to clamp down on campers?
Here in Spain, motorhomes are a common sight on the roads year round, but in high season, public car parks, nature reserves and beaches are also inundated, frequently leading to complaints from locals. It’s a similar story across Europe and the likes of Greece, Switzerland and the UK have already taken steps to limit, or even ban, improvised parking.
The reason? To crack down on extreme tourist overcrowding – an issue which has led to widespread protests in Spain -, environmental damage and littering, among other concerns.
So far, Greece has come down the hardest on motorhome drivers. Through legislation already approved and implemented, it prohibits the parking of campers in forests, beaches and natural parks, in addition to limiting the number of vehicles allowed on private properties and land.
Restrictions in the rest of Europe
In areas like Luxembourg and the Netherlands, wild camping is strictly prohibited; motorhomes are only allowed to park in designated areas. Furthermore, these parking areas are monitored by the local authorities, who keep a close eye on holidaymakers to make sure they comply with the country's regulations.
In contrast, in the United Kingdom, there is currently no legislation prohibiting this type of activity, but over time, several local councils are already applying more restrictive rules, such as in cities like Lancashire, where they have banned drivers from parking their motorhomes from 6pm to 8pm in the St Annes area, effectively ruling out wild camping.
Switzerland, for its part, is one of the toughest countries on this type of activity, with one of the strictest policies on the continent: overnight parking is strictly prohibited, and checkpoints are increasingly frequent. However, there are designated areas where camping is permitted.
Finally, in the most tourist-friendly Italian regions, such as Cinque Terre, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, there is currently no law prohibiting parking campers and motorhomes overnight, but signs have begun to be posted to prevent larger RV parking.
What about Spain?
Spain definitely falls into the ‘relaxed’ category. Essentially, campers and motorhomes are permitted to park in public spaces under the same conditions as other vehicles, provided they adhere to specific criteria. The main thing is that campers shouldn’t occupy more space that their closed dimensions allow. In other words, drivers can’t erect awnings or attached clothes lines or open windows outwards, and it’s forbidden to put out tables and chairs.
Furthermore, no fluids or residues should be emitted from the vehicle onto public space.
It’s possibly this last point that causes Spanish residents the most concern and a reason that the government may eventually tighten regulations. If these vehicles aren’t availing of the facilities in properly serviced camp sites, where exactly are they putting their waste?
Issues have also arisen because of a lack of parking in popular tourist hotspots thanks to the influx of campers, and many locals have taken to social media to complain that motorhome drivers are failing to clean their rubbish up after themselves.
For the time being though, drivers can rest assured as Spain has no solid plans to increase restrictions on campers. However, with over-tourism a constant gripe and other European countries leading the way, the Spanish government could indeed crack down on motorhome wild parking in the future.
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Image: Pixabay
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