With a driving licence, you can discover the world by car or motorhome. Road trips have become an increasingly popular way to travel, as evidenced by the popular social media hashtag #vanlife.
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Making road trips - by car or motorhome
Sure, you can discover the world by plane, train or cruise ship, but there's something special about road trips. When you're behind the wheel, you get to choose where you go, and you can change direction because the sun is currently shining more in the east or west, or because someone you meet on the road tells you about an unforgettable gem.
When we rented a motorhome at New Zealand In the winter of 2006/2007, we also discovered the beauty of travelling by motorhome. Now we not only had the freedom to suddenly change direction and destination - but also the ability to stop almost anywhere to eat or sleep.
When we weren't even dependent on hotel and hostel bookings, the sense of freedom increased even more and we became 'hooked' on this way of travelling and discovering the world. Since that motorhome trip on the other side of the world 15 years ago, we've managed to motorhome through about 15 European countries. Fantastic!
Who is behind the wheel of your car or motorhome?
In our motorhome, Peter is behind the wheel as he is the only one of the two of us with a driving licence. Since he is comfortable with driving, we are happy with that distribution and I (Helena) instead read the map or look for information about the next destination.
Peter can always choose how far he wants to drive at a time, and we pause if he gets tired. Men we have of course sometimes thought that it would be good to have a backup. Of course, in some situations it can be good to have two people with a driving licence.
Can you drive a motorhome with an ordinary B licence?
Many motorhomes can be driven with an ordinary B licence, but not all of them and not by all. A B licence allows you to drive motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes. If you got your licence before 1 July 1996, you can also drive heavier motorhomes, provided they are registered as passenger cars.
Easy ways to get a driving licence - and pass your driving test.
To get a driving licence, you need to pass both the driving and the theory. Many people may think that the theory part should be easy, but statistics from the Swedish Transport Administration shows that 50% fail the theory test. The questions can be tricky and you need to be prepared to pass them.
For those who find it difficult to study directly from a heavy book, there is now an alternative in the form of an app "Zutobi" from the company of the same name. The app takes you through all the driving licence issues that are in the book and that you need to know for the theory test, but in a more fun and accessible way. The app is free to download and free to try. If you want to continue using it, you will be charged a weekly fee until you decide to cancel.
Do you like road trips?
Do you like road trips, by car or motorhome? If so, what makes you prefer this way of travelling? If there are two or more of you with a driving licence, how do you share the driving?
Do you have a driving licence? Tell us about your experiences with driving lessons and the theory test! Was it easy, or did you struggle? Do you have someone close to you who has recently obtained a driving licence or is in the process of doing so?
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diana's dreams says:
My best road trip was in Italy/Lake Garda a few years ago hugs
23 March 2021 - 7:06
Helena says:
Great! Really nice in that area!
23 March 2021 - 16:39
Role o Carina says:
Motorhomes are great, we have had our own since 2005 and really like it!
You can go where the weather is best, fricamp and fish 🙂 .
It's mostly me (Rolle) who drives and likes it, has the whole driving licence register!
But sometimes the wife gets to drive too, good you can change if you want!
We rented motorhomes a lot in the 80s and 90s so we have been travelling for many years.
Take care...
23 March 2021 - 9:03
Helena says:
That's great! Yes, it's a freedom!
23 March 2021 - 16:39
Ama de casa says:
Love roadtrips in combination with hotel camping ðŸ™'
We both have driving licences but I haven't driven for at least 25 years, so it now acts as a very expensive licence. Have even spent money on converting it to a Spanish licence. Wonder why? Was close to getting behind the wheel again when Anders broke his arm in the Sierra Nevada just over a year ago, but not at all. The only thing I drove was the windscreen wipers because Anders couldn't reach them with his broken arm... (We have an automatic gearbox, otherwise it wouldn't have worked).
I got my driving licence in 1978 and had just moved from Skellefteå to Norrköping. In that city there are both a lot of roundabouts and trams and I had hardly seen them before. It would have been easier to take the licence in Ske-å where there were hardly even any red lights.
Also, my driving school teacher was blind in one eye and had regained his licence the same year, he had lost it because he had a fainting spell. Yes. It was an adventure 🙂
Looking forward to new road trips when restrictions are lifted!
23 March 2021 - 9:39
Helena says:
Of course, it takes some habit to drive, so I understand how you feel! Hope you get to go on new road trips soon!
23 March 2021 - 16:42
Ruth in Virginia says:
In the year I turned 18 (1946), my mum told me to get a kitchen card.
We didn't have a car and couldn't even dream of buying one, but...
Mom's opinion was that one day everyone would need a driving licence.
The driving licence had no expiry date at that time. I got my driving licence
and used it a few times in Sweden for fun.
What happened? My first job in the US was as a mate and driver for
an elderly lady. She paid for my driving school for a Massachusetts...
driving licence. I got a 2 seater Studebaker. She had a 4-door sedan.
So my dear foresighted mum was right.
When I wanted to go to California from Chicago and didn't have the money for a bus or a car.
or train, I saw an advert to drive used cars westwards. Said
and done! I only had to pay for petrol, which was incredibly cheap. Got a
car to deliver in Salt Lake City. After a few days there, I managed to get a car
to Las Vegas, but then it was a bus.
I love to drive and have crossed the USA several times plus up and down on the
both east and west coasts. Now I can no longer drive and miss it
incredible.
23 March 2021 - 14:20
Helena says:
Interesting to hear! And how right your mum was! I understand that many times a driving licence can be very useful, valuable and a freedom! 🙂
23 March 2021 - 16:44
Lena - good for the soul says:
Wow, what a cool story. It must have been very unusual in those days. You seem to be a tough guy! 🙂
Hug Lena
27 March 2021 - 7:00
BP says:
Got my licence when my parents were on holiday, as my mum was a bit protective and didn't want me to kill myself. At that time it was done in three weeks with one theory and 6 driving lessons. So when mum and dad came home from their holidays, I had the licence. With my first salary I bought a car, a small Fiat 600. It was a junk car, but it ran.
So in the host household, it is actually me who drives, and my husband is a live GPS;-)
23 March 2021 - 18:58
Helena says:
Wow, how quickly done! Great! 🙂
24 March 2021 - 7:43
Mia says:
It almost makes me - who has very little experience with motorhomes/caravans - want to try it. I can understand the feeling of freedom! But - the picture at the very beginning of the post, where is it from? Wonderful landscape, so longing for the mountains now and hoping to travel there this summer... (Living in Finland, so right now the Swedish mountains are hopelessly closed.)
23 March 2021 - 21:22
Helena says:
It is really a feeling of freedom! 🙂 The top picture is from Northern Norway. We were not there by motorhome, but we flew to Bodö and then drove around by rental car. Fantastically beautiful!
24 March 2021 - 7:44
Maggan says:
Driving licence taken in 1965, likes to drive a small car, but not a motorhome. When we are travelling, it is the husband who drives and I read the map, just like you. If I were to drive, we would probably disagree even before we left the country. My husband is a good driver so I sit calmly next to him. We have already concluded that a motorhome was the best thing for us and so much you get to see and experience and stay where we think it fits. Do not think I would pass the driving licence today, at least not the tricky questions on the theory.
23 March 2021 - 22:36
Helena says:
Yes, a motorhome is another thing after all, so I understand! And the division with a driver and a map reader works 🙂 ðŸ™'
24 March 2021 - 7:45
Lena - good for the soul says:
It's honest with road trips. The latest was last summer when we travelled around Värmland. With a regular car, but it went just as well.
I got my own driving licence when I was 18. In those days, you couldn't start practising until you were 17 years and nine months old. So I worked hard with my dad and took four lessons to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Then it went well on the first attempt. I should add that it was not as difficult then as now. I think.
All our kids have a driving licence and took it almost as soon as they could. Such freedom!
Hug Lena
27 March 2021 - 7:04
Lena - good for the soul says:
*glorious 😉
27 March 2021 - 7:05