Class A is the big bus-style motorhome, Class B is the camper van and Class C is the mid-size rig with a bed over the cab. That is the core of the difference between Class A, B and C motorhomes: size, chassis and how you drive and park them. Hire prices in the USA run from about $150 a night for a Class C to $225 to $450 or more for a Class A.
Difference between Class A, B and C motorhomes at a glance
| Class A | Class B | Class C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical length | 21 to 43 ft | 16 to 21 ft | 25 to 35 ft |
| Chassis | Bus-style or heavy truck chassis | Panel van (a converted van) | Cutaway van or truck chassis with a cab and a built-on body |
| Sleeps | 6 to 8 | Up to 4 | Up to 8 on paper |
| Fuel and driving feel | Thirstiest. Like driving a coach; wide turning circle | Most economical. Feels like a large van | In between. Like a big truck; long rear overhang |
| Campgrounds and parks | Needs a big-rig site at many campgrounds; some scenic roads are off limits | Parks more easily than any other class and fits most roads | Fits most campgrounds; some tight roads rule it out |
| Licence | Usually standard; rules for the heaviest rigs vary by state | Standard | Usually standard; varies by state for the heaviest |
| Typical hire price per night | $225 to $450+, premium diesel pushers at peak $450 to $700+ | About $250 on average | $150 to $275 |
| Suits | Large groups, comfort, one base | Couples, touring, towns and parks | Families and first-time hirers |
Lengths and sleeping figures are the industry ranges published by Go RVing. Individual listings vary, so always check the length and the number of proper beds on the one you are looking at.
How the classes got their letters
The letters are an American habit, and they do not rank the vehicles. Class A, B and C describe how a motorhome is built. Everything that is not drivable falls outside the three classes: those are the towables, covered further down.
The quickest way to spot a class is the front end. A Class A has a flat, windscreen-wide front like a coach. A Class B looks like a van, sometimes with a raised roof. A Class C has a normal truck or van cab with a box body behind it, and usually a bunk that sticks out over the cab.
Class A motorhomes
Class A is the largest and most house-like of the three. It sits on a purpose-built motorised chassis, often a bus-style one, with a full kitchen, a proper bathroom, a separate bedroom and slide-outs that widen the living area when parked. Many can tow a small car for day trips once you have set up camp.
The trade-offs are size and running costs. You sit high with a big windscreen, so visibility is good, but you need space to turn, space to park and a larger fuel budget. Many campgrounds have a length limit and some scenic roads ban long vehicles outright.
Suits: groups of five or more, longer stays in one place, and anyone who wants home comforts and is happy to drive something big. See the Class A motorhomes available to hire.
Class B motorhomes (camper vans)
A Class B is a standard van body with the living space fitted inside it. Expect a fold-away bed or a convertible seating area, a small kitchen, and a bathroom that is often a compact wet room. Some have a high roof so you can stand up. You can drive and park one much as you would a large van.
The cost is space. Most sleep two comfortably, and four only if two of you do not mind a pop-top or a convertible bed. Storage is limited and some models have no fixed toilet. Hire prices average about $250 a night, so a Class B can cost as much as a larger Class C.
Suits: couples, solo travellers, and anyone who wants to cover distance and still park in town. Look at Class B camper vans for hire, or the Sprinter-based camper vans that many Class B models use.
What is a B+?
A B+ is an unofficial, marketing name for a vehicle between a Class B and a Class C. Like a Class C, it is built on a cutaway van or truck chassis with a body wider than a Class B, but it has no full bed over the cab, just a low shelf or extra headroom. Technically most are Class C, so listings may call the same vehicle a B+, a small Class C or even a Class B.
Class C motorhomes
A Class C is built on a cutaway van or truck chassis, with the cab left as it came and a motorhome body fitted behind it. The bed over the cab is the giveaway, although some designs leave it out. Typical layouts have a rear bedroom or a rear bunk room, a dinette and a full bathroom.
This is the usual first choice for families because it gives real beds and a bathroom at a more approachable price. It handles like a large truck: easy enough once you allow for the length behind you. Typical nightly prices are $150 to $275.
Suits: families, groups of four to six, and first-time hirers who want space without a bus-size vehicle. Read about Class C motorhomes to hire.
What is a Super C?
A Super C is a Class C built on a heavier truck chassis, such as a Ford F-550 or Freightliner S2RV, often with a diesel engine. It is more powerful and usually longer and heavier than a standard Class C, with Class A-style features inside, and it keeps the bed over the cab. The term is informal rather than an official class, so check the listing for length and weight. The heaviest rigs are where some states start to treat licences differently.
Towables in brief
Towables have no engine of their own, so you need a suitable tow vehicle, or an owner who will deliver and set the unit up on a campsite. The main types are:
- Travel trailer: the most common towable, in a wide range of sizes. See the travel trailers to hire.
- Fifth wheel: a larger, two-level trailer that needs a pickup with a special hitch.
- Pop-up: a folding trailer that is light and low when towed. See pop-up campers.
- Teardrop: a tiny trailer, often just a bed and a rear kitchen. See teardrop trailers.
- Truck camper: a cabin that slides into a pickup bed, so it is carried rather than towed. See truck campers.
For a broader look, the camper trailer guide compares them. Most people who hire a towable ask the owner to deliver it to the campground, which is covered in the full guide to RV rental.
How to choose between the classes
Group size
Count beds, not the headline sleeping number. Two adults: Class B. A family of four: Class C. Six or more, or two adult couples who want their own space: Class A or a large Class C.
Driving confidence
If you have never driven anything bigger than a car, a Class B is the gentlest start. A Class C is manageable with a short practice session at pickup. A Class A needs more attention to turning, height and reversing.
Budget
Nightly rates are only part of it. Larger classes use more fuel, and bigger rigs often need larger campground pitches that cost more. For the full cost picture, see what an RV costs to rent.
Where you are going
Some famous roads limit vehicle size. On Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 ft (including bumpers) or wider than 8 ft (including mirrors) are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun, and vehicles over 10 ft tall may have difficulty west of Logan Pass to the Loop because of rock overhangs, according to the National Park Service. Most Class A and Class C motorhomes are longer than 21 ft, and many Class B vans are too, so check the listed length including bumpers. A short Class B or another unit under 21 ft is the safer choice for roads like this. Check the park's own page before you book. For smaller options, see small RVs to hire.
For the other end of the scale, luxury RVs with premium features are mostly Class A diesel pushers and Super C models.
Do you need a special licence?
Usually not. On Outdoorsy, the rule of thumb is that you do not normally need a special licence for an RV of 45 ft or less that is not towing more than 10,000 lb, although the rule varies by state. Very large or heavy rigs, such as some Super C and large Class A models, may need extra checks, so ask the owner and the state's licensing authority if in doubt.
If you are in the UK
British hirers will recognise the vehicles under different names. A Class A is the nearest thing to an A-class motorhome or what people call an American RV. A Class B is a campervan or van conversion. A Class C is closest to a coachbuilt motorhome with an over-cab bed. For UK options, see motorhomes to hire in the UK. For prices in pounds, see how much to hire a motorhome.
Why the class you choose matters
The advantages of choosing carefully
- You avoid paying for space you do not need, or booking something that does not fit your route.
- You know which campground sites and roads will be open to you.
- You can see why two listings at similar prices feel so different.
The limits of the labels
- The labels are loose, so a listing's class is not a promise about its size.
- Bigger is not always better: a large rig can be slower to park and harder to fuel.
- Prices overlap between classes, so a small Class A can cost less than a premium Class B.
How hire works
Search for the class and size you want, check the listing for mileage, generator hours, insurance deductible and delivery, then book through our partner Outdoorsy. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking, and 24/7 roadside assistance is an optional extra. You then collect the RV or have it delivered. For the general rules, read the complete guide to RV rental, or browse the main RV hub.
Class A, B and C FAQs
Which is bigger, Class A or Class C?
Class A is usually bigger and wider, though the ranges overlap. A large Super C can be longer than a small Class A.
Why is a Class B the smallest if B comes after A?
The letters do not reflect size. They are labels for the way the vehicle is built, which is why a camper van is a B and a bus-style coach is an A.
Which class is easiest to drive?
A Class B, because it is the closest to a van. A Class C is next. Class A feels like a coach and needs the most care.
Which class uses the least fuel?
Class B, then Class C, then Class A. Exact economy depends on the model, load and speed, so ask the owner.
Can I tow a car behind a motorhome?
Many Class A motorhomes can tow a small car once parked at camp. Whether a rental allows it is up to the owner, so check the listing first.
What are the towable alternatives?
Travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-ups, teardrops and truck campers. They need a tow vehicle or delivery.
Find one for your dates: search RVs near you.