--- title: "Motorhome dimensions for navigation: the 6 numbers that matter (2026)" description: "The six rig dimensions that decide your European trip: height, width, length, weight, axles, and combined-with-caravan total. Which tunnels block you, what toll class you pay in each country, what permits you need. Free interactive profile, no signup." canonical: https://rovee.io/topic/motorhome-dimensions-for-navigation/ last_updated: 2026-06-18 --- # Motorhome dimensions for navigation: the 6 numbers that matter (2026) > Most rigs go wrong on dimensions twice: once at the dealership ("how big is too big?") and once at the first European border ("which class am I paying?"). Both come down to six numbers on the V5C plus what you bolt on the roof. Last updated: **2026-06-18**. ## Short answer Six dimensions decide a European motorhome trip: **height**, **width**, **length**, **weight**, **axles**, and **combined-with-caravan total**. Height and weight do the heavy lifting — they decide which tunnels block you (Vieux-Port 3.20 m, A86 Duplex 2.00 m ban, Rouen N338 2.60 m), what toll class you pay in France, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria, and which permits to order before you leave. The [interactive rig profile widget](https://rovee.io/tools/rig-card/) takes these six numbers and tells you which European routes fit your motorhome. ## TL;DR - **The six numbers that matter:** height (including roof additions), width (cab mirror to mirror), length (front bumper to rear), weight (PTAC / MAM), axles (2, 3, or 4+), and combined weight with caravan. Five come from the V5C; height needs adjustment for roof additions + 10 cm safety margin. - **Height is the most expensive number to get wrong.** France ≥3 m flips you Class 2 → Class 3 (~50 % more). Italy ≥1.30 m at front axle = Class B (almost all motorhomes). Croatia >1.90 m = Class II. Slovenia >1.30 m at front axle = Klasse 2B. - **3.5 tonnes is the universal cliff.** Above 3.5 t the vignette systems hand you off to kilometre-based truck tolls (Austria GO-Maut, Slovenia DarsGo, Switzerland LSVA, Czech MYTO CZ). - **Switzerland's caravan rule is unique.** Towing a caravan into Switzerland requires a SECOND vignette (CHF 40) on the trailer. ## Why six numbers, not three Older guides ask for three dimensions: height, width, length. That's enough for a height-stick at the bridge but not for the toll booth or the vignette system. The other three (weight, axles, combined-with-caravan) classify the rig once you start paying for European motorways. Get all six right once. Save them on a card in the glove box. ## The thresholds across Europe | Country | Class system | Threshold | |---|---|---| | **France péage** | Class 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | < 2 m / 2-3 m / ≥ 3 m or > 3.5 t / 3+ axles + > 3.5 t | | **Italy autostrade** | Class A / B / heavy | < 1.30 m at front axle / ≥ 1.30 m / > 3.5 t | | **Croatia HAC** | Class I / II / III+ | ≤ 1.90 m / > 1.90 m / > 3.5 t | | **Slovenia e-vignette** | Klasse 2A / 2B / DarsGo | ≤ 1.30 m at front axle / > 1.30 m / > 3.5 t | | **Austria** | Vignette / GO-Maut | ≤ 3.5 t combined / > 3.5 t | | **Switzerland** | Vignette CHF 40 / LSVA | ≤ 3.5 t / > 3.5 t (+ second vignette for caravan) | | **Germany** | Mautfrei / LKW-Maut | ≤ 7.5 t / > 7.5 t | ## How to measure each one - **Height (from V5C + additions + margin):** bare-vehicle height + A/C unit (18–22 cm) + satellite dish (8–15 cm) + solar panels (5–10 cm) + 10 cm safety margin. - **Width (cab-mirror to cab-mirror):** with mirrors fully extended. Not the body width. - **Length (front bumper to rear):** add bike rack / tow ball projection. - **Weight (from V5C):** PTAC / MAM, not actual weight on the day. - **Axles (count them):** typical motorhome is 2; tag-axle A-class is 3; trailer adds. - **Combined weight (arithmetic):** tractor PTAC + caravan MAM. ## Common dimension mistakes (in order of cost) - **Forgetting the A/C unit when entering height into a nav app.** Most common bridge strike on UK forums. - **Using actual weight instead of PTAC for class lookup.** The class system reads PTAC. - **Assuming the caravan doesn't change the class.** It does (AT, SI, CH, FR). - **Assuming Italian Class A applies to motorhomes.** It almost never does — Class B is the motorhome standard. - **Confusing Slovenia's 1.30 m front-axle with Croatia's 1.90 m overall.** Two different threshold types. ## FAQ ### Which motorhome dimensions affect European routing the most? Height is the single most expensive number to get wrong — it decides whether your rig fits through Vieux-Port (3.20 m), the A86 Duplex (2.00 m total ban), and the Rouen N338 (2.60 m), and it sets your toll class in France (≥3 m = Class 3), Italy (≥1.30 m at front axle = Class B), Croatia (>1.90 m = Class II), and Slovenia (>1.30 m at front axle = Klasse 2B). Weight comes second — the 3.5-tonne threshold flips you out of every vignette system into kilometre-based truck tolls. ### Where do I find my motorhome's actual height? Start from the V5C — that's the bare-vehicle factory height. Then add everything bolted on top: A/C unit (18–22 cm), satellite dish (8–15 cm), solar panels (5–10 cm), roof bars (5–15 cm). Add a 10 cm safety margin. A 2.95 m factory motorhome with a 20 cm A/C and 8 cm solar panels is a 3.23 m vehicle for routing purposes. ### Why does Italy use front-axle height instead of overall height? The toll-gate sensor sits at the gantry and reads the cab roof at the front of the vehicle, not the alkoven or the rear box. Most coach-built motorhomes have a cab roof at 2.0–2.2 m even when the rear box is at 2.9–3.2 m, so the front-axle reading is what gets classified. The 1.30 m threshold is low — virtually all motorhomes trip it. ### What is the 3.5-tonne threshold called on each country's system? France: Class 2 below, Class 3 at and above. Italy: Classes A and B both apply below 3.5 t; heavy classes above. Croatia: Class I and II below; Class IIIa/b above. Slovenia: Klasse 2A and 2B below; DarsGo above. Austria: vignette / GO-Maut. Switzerland: vignette / LSVA. Germany: free / LKW-Maut at 7.5 t (not 3.5 t). ### Does towing a caravan change my class? Yes — and in Switzerland it also requires a SECOND vignette (CHF 40) on the trailer itself. For class purposes, several vignette systems use combined gross weight, so a 3.2-tonne tractor plus a 1.4-tonne caravan crosses into the heavy class in Austria (GO-Maut), Slovenia (DarsGo), and Switzerland (LSVA). ### When can I get Rovee? Rovee is in closed iPhone beta in 2026, with public launch on Tuesday July 7, 2026. Founding-member access is capped at the first 1,000 members at €17.99/year locked for life as long as you stay subscribed. [Join the waitlist](https://rovee.io/#waitlist). ## Where this came from - **[Standalone rig-profile tool](https://rovee.io/tools/rig-card/)** — same widget on its own page, easier to bookmark. - **[Motorhome routing in France (2026)](https://rovee.io/topic/tall-van-france-routing/)** — French in-trip reference. - **[Wohnmobil-Maut Kroatien 2026](https://rovee.io/topic/wohnmobil-maut-kroatien/)** — Croatian HAC class system in detail. - **[Wohnmobil-Maut Slowenien 2026](https://rovee.io/topic/wohnmobil-maut-slowenien/)** — Slovenian Klasse 2A vs 2B in detail. - **[Motorhome route planner: avoid low bridges, narrow lanes, weight limits (2026)](https://rovee.io/topic/avoid-low-bridges-motorhome-europe/)** — dimension-aware nav apps. - **[LEZ alert apps for motorhomes in Europe (2026)](https://rovee.io/topic/lez-alert-app-motorhome-europe/)** — pan-Euro ZFE / Umweltzone / ZTL alerts. - **[European toll calculator for motorhomes — app + costs (2026)](https://rovee.io/topic/european-toll-calculator-motorhome/)** — apps that turn class into price.