‘The Travel’ Recaps California’s Rules Impacting Motorhomes – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
California has some of the best national parks in the U.S. for scenery and road trip adventures, but a new emissions law is about to shake things up, according to a report by The Travel. The upcoming regulation will impact RV travel and camping trips across the state — and now, it’s also reshaping how RVs are sold in the state.
If you’re in the market for a motorhome or thinking about upgrading before your next trip, the new standards could limit your options in the not-so-distant future. Although it’s become a touchy topic among RV and camping enthusiasts, California is not banning RV sales outright, but new environmental regulations are making it significantly harder to buy and sell certain models.
Here’s what’s really happening, which vehicles are affected, and how RVers can still navigate the changing landscape.
While there are plenty of lesser-known RV destinations in the U.S., California is home to some of the most-visited national parks by RV travelers, as well as top-ranked parks for camping in 2025. It’s no wonder the buzz about upcoming laws has become a hot topic among RVers.
But California RVers can rest easy. There’s no sweeping ban on RVs in the state, and you won’t be forced to give up your motorhome or cancel your future camping plans. However, a new emissions rule is making it harder to sell certain types of RVs, particularly new gas- or diesel-powered models built on heavier truck chassis.
The new rules have created some confusion, stemming from how the rule is being applied — not to RVs directly, but to the medium- and heavy-duty vehicles they’re built on. As a result, many Class A, Class C, and some Class B RVs are being swept up in a regulation originally designed for commercial trucks.
Because of this, several RV manufacturers have started pulling affected models from California dealerships, not because they’re banned, but because the companies can’t meet the strict zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) targets the new California law requires. This has created the perception of a “ban,” when, in reality, it’s more of a backdoor restriction that’s squeezing supply.
Click here to read the full report by The Travel.
