Can you add seat belts to a motorhome?

More seat belts to your motorhome means more holidaymakers can tag along for the ride – making your van even more attractive to family and group hirers. Plus, seat belts keep everyone safe on the road, and help to ensure you stay on the right side of the law. But can you add seat belts to a motorhome?

Yes, you can add seat belts to a motorhome as long as you follow legislation. Below, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know before you belt up. We also provide some guidance on how to add seat belts to a motorhome and make a return on your investment!

Can you add seat belts to a motorhome in the UK?

Yes. However, UK legislation states there are some rules and regulations you’ll have to follow. These relate to the age of motorhomes that are required to have seat belts, the number of seat belts you can add and the types of seat belts you can add.

Most seat belts will have to be attached to the body of the motorhome, and of course they need to be 100% secure. We recommend getting a specialised mechanic to fit extra seat belts for you. This will keep things legal and safe, and may also be a requirement of your motorhome insurance company.

Seat belt requirements for UK motorhomes

Motorhomes are classed as private vehicles and therefore are subject to private vehicle seat belt laws in the UK. This means that at the very least, a motorhome must have a working three-point belt for the driver and passenger seats. The number of seat belts doesn’t have to correspond with the number of berths in a vehicle – for example, a six-berth motorhome can legally have four seat belts.

Guidance published by the Department for Transport in 2015 states that:

• Passengers are safest in forward or rearward-facing seats equipped with a three-point seat belt

• Seat belt anchorage points should be designed so that they are capable of withstanding the high forces of an impact

• Seat belts must comply with the latest British or European standards and be marked accordingly with either the ‘e’, ‘E’ or BS ‘Kitemark’.

Depending on motorhome age, further rules within this apply:

Motorhomes manufactured before 1 October 1988

Must have three-point seat belts for the driver and a designated passenger in the front. It’s not against the law if a rear seat passenger doesn’t have a seat belt, but this could still be an offence in certain circumstances, for example if the motorhome is being driven at high speed.

Motorhomes manufactured after 1 October 1988

Must have seat belts for the driver and any forward-facing passengers, regardless of whether these seats are in the front or the rear of the motorhome. Seat belts in the front must be three-point; other belts can be two- or three-point.

Motorhomes manufactured on or after 20 October 2007

Must have designated travel seats identified, all with their own seat belts. Seat belts in the front must be three-point; other belts can be two- or three-point.

Although great for lounging on once you’ve set up camp, side-facing seats, such as those shown in Daizy above, can’t be designated as travel seats. Also note that, while not illegal, it’s not recommended that side-facing seats use seat belts, as these can increase injury risk in the event of a crash.

Seat belts are one of the factors checked during a vehicle’s MOT. The tester will want to see that belts are present for each seat that requires one, and that the belt mounting point and 12-inch area surrounding it must not be damaged or corroded. This will apply to the seat belts that came with the vehicle and any added afterwards.

UK law on seat belts for children

Children must use a child car seat, which must have a three-point belt, until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall - whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.

The type of seat belt required depends on the weight of the child: see the gov.uk pageChild car seats: the law for details.

All child car seats must display the code ECE R44. Also note that if you’re placing a baby in a car seat on a front passenger seat, the airbag for the seat must be deactivated before setting off.

If you have an older motorhome (pre-2007) which doesn’t have seat belts, the following laws apply:

• The driver must not carry children in the vehicle who are under the age of three

• Children aged three and over can be carried in the motorhome, but must sit in the back (NB this is not recommended.)

Types of seat belts you can add to a motorhome

Front seats

The front driver’s seat and the passenger seat in your motorhome must each have a three-point seat belt.

Rear seats

Forward-facing and rearward-facing seats (as shown in Homelyvan above) in the rear of the motorhome must each have at least a two-point belt fitted. It’s not recommended to add a seat belt to a sideways-facing seat.

How to add seat belts to a motorhome

It’s not easy to fit motorhomes with seat belts. Most older motorhomes weren’t originally designed to include seat belts and therefore lack the anchorage structures required to withstand crash forces. This means your options might be limited if you want to buy an older motorhome and want to carry passengers.

One option for older motorhomes is to install crash-rated seats with the seat belt already pre-built into the seat. However, this will very likely involve bolting a steel structure to the floor, which greatly affects your legal payload.

The other option, for all ages of motorhomes, is to have the vehicle professionally modified to include seat belt anchorage structures. This may not be possible depending on the motorhome design, but is worth researching if you have your heart set on a particular motorhome.

Whichever option you go for, adding seat belts to a motorhome in the UK will require some research into seat belt installers and seat belt kit manufacturers first. For the former, you can go to a fitting service and have them assess whether seat belts can be added, or have a technician call out to you. For the latter, make sure any seat belt kit you buy comes with a detailed installation guide and that staff will help if needed. It’s a good idea to ask for recommendations on motorhome groups.

Earn a return on your motorhome

Adding seat belts to your motorhome is one of the things you can’t skimp on. But that doesn’t have to mean that your motorhome will be a cash drain! If you’re thinking about buying a motorhome, there’s a quick and easy way to start earning a return on your investment – hire it out on Camplify when it’s not in use. Have a look at ourhow to hire out your motorhome guide to get started.

Looking to save money on getting your motorhome hire-ready? Our motorhome conversion tips andmotorhome renovation tips guides are packed with expert info.

Why Camplify?

Camplify connects owners like you with local and international holidaymakers - all of whom are verified to maximise the safety when you hire out your motorhome. Discover more of our advantages for owners below:

• It's free to list your motorhome

• If you don’t have all-risk insurance, we can provide you with it when you sign up

• We give your van a 24/7 RAC breakdown cover

• You have complete freedom to approve or reject guests interested in renting your motorhome. Your wheels, your rules.

• We provide you with tips and step-by-step guides on how to improve your service and your motorhome to get more and more bookings!

The sooner you set up your listing, the sooner it will start to receive visits and bookings! See how much you could earn if you rent out your motorhome with ourfree income calculator or sign up now to start enjoying the above advantages today.

If you still have questions, want to discuss your income potential with an expert or get more information on how to list your motorhome, call us on ☎ 0330 808 1811 or visit www.camplify.co.uk. We’ll be happy to help you with anything you need!