Confused in regards to the regulation for displaying a purple / white striped signal on the again of your motorhome or campervan when travelling in Europe?
So was I, so I’ve accomplished the analysis for you. Right here’s the whole lot you must know to remain authorized in case you have an overhanging load in your van in Europe.
Don’t overlook to seize your FREE Europe motorhoming guidelines beneath to recollect the whole lot else you must carry!
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Pink & White striped boards – do you want one?
If you’re travelling in sure nations in Europe and have ANYTHING which overhangs the size of your motorhome, you MUST show a panel board (typically known as a chevron board) which has reflective stripes (or slashes, for those who want) in purple and white.
The stripes should run at 45 levels and have to be displayed on ANY automobile with something extending the size. This is applicable to vehicles, caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
The reflective warning signal have to be displayed on the rear of your motorhome/ camper, behind the load (so not on the again of your precise motorhome.)
You’ll want them in case you have a:
- storage field (like mine)
- bicycle rack (even when nothing is on it)
- tow bar rack (even when nothing is on it)
- in case you have a surfboard or one thing on the roof which extends past the again bumper
- In case you have something which makes the automobile wider, you need to show two boards, one on all sides.
You do NOT want one in case you have a trailer.
It’s unclear for those who want one for those who simply have a towbar and nothing else on it. My intestine feeling is no- in any case, the place would you connect it to?- however I can’t discover any definitive reply.
Which nations are they obligatory in?
These again marker boards are obligatory if motorhoming in Italy and Spain, though they’re ‘really useful’ in a number of others.
You don’t want one within the UK if the overhang is lower than 1m.
They aren’t at present obligatory when motorhoming in France, Germany or every other European nation until the load extends over 10% of the automobile size, however nonetheless value having- simply in case you’re like us and go detouring into random nations with little or no planning!
What dimensions do the purple/ white board should be?
The board have to be at the least 50×50 cm (minimal space of 2500cm²)
Does it matter what number of stripes?
I’ve learn that Spain requires ones with at the least 3 purple/ 3 white hatched, reflective stripes, whereas Italy appears to require 5 stripes and each require to be aluminum.
I’ve one with 5 purple stripes. I figured, if doubtful, extra is best.
Does it matter what the board is produced from?
Yep.
In Italy, the board have to be produced from aluminium and have a reflective floor ‘throughout’. I’ve learn that that is just for autos over 12m lengthy, however can’t discover the rule to verify this. Personally, I went for an aluminium one and haven’t had any bother in Italy or when motorhoming in Spain.
I’ve additionally learn that the Italians are much less involved in regards to the materials if it has the 4 ‘reflective circles/ cats eyes’ within the corners. Nevertheless, Fiamma (an ITALIAN firm!) say that the plastic boards are usually not authorized in Italy.
What makes that much more absurd/ complicated, is that Fiamma themselves solely promote the plastic boards. Which makes completely no sense!
Planning to take your motorhome to Europe?
How do you connect the board?
The purple & white striped indicators are normally simply connected to the overhanging object with elastic bungees (not normally supplied with buy so you should definitely purchase some- these are good). There may be normally a gap in every nook for the bungees (or string, for those who want) to connect to.
Which means spherical does the stripes must level?
The stripes MUST level into the centre of the highway within the nation you might be driving in. After all, in Europe they might at all times go from prime proper to backside left (see photograph).
I assume technically within the UK it’s best to cease and switch the board round to level the opposite means, however I’ve pushed everywhere in the UK and sometimes forgotten to do that.
Can I simply use reflective tape as a substitute of an indication?
No. I believe you run the chance of being fined. Get a correct reflective rear warning board.
Which rear warning board to purchase?
Personally, I just like the purple and white warning signal varieties beneath and have by no means had an issue.
New to motorhome or camper journey in Europe? You would possibly discover these posts useful:
See all our Europe motorhoming posts right here
NEED GEAR? In case you want any equipment or necessities for motorhoming in Europe, right here’s what we suggest and the place to search out it
Final replace on 2026-07-09 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photos from Amazon Product Promoting API