When trying to rent a campervan, one of the first concerns many people have is, "Can I drive it with a regular driver's license?"
Campervans look large, so many people assume they might need a special large-vehicle license.
To cut to the conclusion, most campervans can be driven with a regular driver's license.
However, an increasingly common exception is the 4WD diesel cab-conversion campervans based on the Camroad, which may require a semi-medium-sized vehicle license.
Additionally, the range of vehicles you're allowed to drive can vary depending on when you obtained your license, which is a very important point to consider.
Under the current Road Traffic Act (as of 2025), the basic conditions for vehicles that can be driven with a regular license are as follows.
Most standard rental campervans fall within these limits, meaning they can be driven with a regular license.
This applies to kei campervans (based on kei cars), as well as van-conversion campervans and cab-conversion campervans based on the Hiace, which are generally compatible with regular licenses.
However...
The 4WD diesel version of the Camroad (based on the Toyota Dyna), one of the most common base vehicles for campervans, often has a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tons.
In other words, assuming that "campervan = drivable with a regular license" is risky. Whether the gross vehicle weight exceeds 3.5 tons is the key factor in determining whether a regular license is sufficient.
What makes this even more complicated is that the range of vehicles you can drive differs depending on when you obtained your license.
| Date of License Acquisition | Gross Vehicle Weight You Can Drive | License Category |
|---|---|---|
| On or before June 1, 2007 | Less than 8 tons | Medium-sized (limited to 8t) |
| June 2, 2007 – March 11, 2017 | Less than 5 tons | Semi-medium-sized (limited to 5t) |
| On or after March 12, 2017 | Less than 3.5 tons | Regular license |
People who obtained a regular license in the past may automatically have special notes in the conditions section of their license, such as "Medium-sized vehicles limited to 8t" or "Semi-medium-sized vehicles limited to 5t."
This means that even if you originally obtained a regular license, you may still be able to drive vehicles exceeding 3.5 tons.
The author obtained a regular license over 20 years ago at a driving school, and since the current license has the note "Medium-sized vehicles limited to 8t," I am able to drive what is now classified as a "semi-medium-sized" campervan.
If you obtained your license on or after March 12, 2017, you'll need to pay special attention when renting a vehicle.
Even if you are legally permitted to drive one, campervans are larger and heavier than regular cars.
Cab-conversion models in particular have a high vehicle height and feel more like driving a truck.
If you're not confident in your driving skills, it might be a good idea to try renting a kei campervan, a van-conversion model, or a compact "light" cab-conversion campervan.
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