Starter battery of a van or motorhome: standing still, winter and replacement

A motorhome that stands in storage for months, or a van that makes short trips all day: both are hard on the starter battery. Below you can read why that battery goes flat, how to keep it charged and what we do for your van or motorhome.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 6 November 2026

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say

The short answer

The starter battery of a motorhome or van mainly goes flat because of standing still for a long time, cold weather and short trips. According to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, the best thing to do in winter is to remove the motorhome’s batteries and store them at home, fully charged and frost-free. If the motorhome stays connected to mains power, the ANWB says the battery charger can charge the leisure battery first and then the starter battery. If the engine starts with difficulty, have the starter battery tested before the first trip. Besides the starter battery, a motorhome has a leisure battery for the habitation area. For that you need a motorhome specialist.

Battery service at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug: we test the battery, the charging system and the starter motor first, and only replace what is needed. A new battery suits your car (AGM or EFB with start-stop) and we register it with the on-board computer if your car requires that. We tell you the price in advance based on your registration number. Call +31 10 479 00 00. You bring the car and we call you when it is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available. Saturdays too. Our team speaks English. More about our battery service

Starter battery or leisure battery: which one is flat?

A motorhome usually has two kinds of battery. The starter battery sits in the base vehicle, for example a van or a chassis cab. It starts the engine and powers the lights and electronics of the vehicle. The leisure battery, also called the habitation battery or auxiliary battery, belongs to the habitation area. It powers the lights, the water pump and other appliances in the living area.

Feature Starter battery Leisure battery
Where Starter batteryIn the base vehicle Leisure batteryIn the habitation area
What for Starter batteryStarting and the vehicle’s electronics Leisure batteryLights and appliances in the living area
What you notice when it is flat Starter batteryThe engine turns over slowly or not at all Leisure batteryLights and appliances in the living area do not work
Where to go Starter batteryTo us Leisure batteryTo a motorhome specialist

The ANWB uses the Dutch terms startaccu (starter battery) and boordaccu (leisure battery).

We test and replace the starter battery of the base vehicle. We do not work on the leisure battery or the electrical system of the habitation area. For that, a motorhome specialist is your best option.

Why is the starter battery flat after the winter?

Because a battery also goes flat when the vehicle is doing nothing. According to the ANWB, a battery can go flat if the vehicle stands still for a long time, and modern vehicles have many ‘sleeping’ systems that keep using power in the background. According to the ANWB, a disconnected battery also goes flat eventually.

Cold makes it worse. According to the ANWB, cold weather puts more strain on a battery. The ADAC, the German motoring organisation, writes that a battery takes up charge less well in frosty weather. If a motorhome goes into storage with a half-charged battery, that battery may be too weak to start the engine in spring.

With a van, something else is going on. Many vans make short trips with lots of stops all day. According to the ANWB, the battery then suffers much more, because it has to supply power for starting again and again and gets too little time to recharge. Add extra consumers, such as lights in the load area or chargers for equipment, and the battery runs down faster.

Age counts too. According to the ANWB, a battery lasts around three to six years, sometimes longer. The ADAC gives an average of about five years.

How do you keep the starter battery charged during storage?

Charge the battery fully before the motorhome goes into storage and keep it topped up after that. These are the options:

  1. Remove the battery and keep it at home: according to the ANWB, the best thing to do is to remove the batteries and store them at home, fully charged and frost-free.
  2. Leave it on mains power: if the motorhome can stay connected to mains power in storage, the ANWB says the battery charger can charge the leisure battery and then supply the starter battery. Whether your motorhome can do this depends on the installation in the habitation area.
  3. Use a battery charger or trickle charger: a trickle charger keeps the battery topped up. According to the ANWB, a few hours of charging a week is usually enough. Connect the red cable to the positive terminal first and then the black cable to the negative terminal.
  4. Disconnect the battery: that stops the vehicle from using power, but the battery itself slowly goes flat. So top it up now and then. Check the owner’s manual of the base vehicle to see whether disconnecting affects any settings on your model.

According to the ANWB, in its advice on trickle chargers, a completely flat battery is best recharged slowly. If your motorhome or van stands still for a long time, also read our article car left standing for a long time: what should you check?

Which starter battery does a van or motorhome need?

The battery that the manufacturer of the base vehicle specifies. The capacity and the starting power differ per make, engine and version. If the base vehicle has start-stop, the ANWB says it needs an AGM or EFB battery. A standard starter battery is not made for all that stopping and starting.

Also choose the capacity the manufacturer specifies, because the charging system is set up for it. According to the ANWB, a new battery in a modern vehicle must also be registered in the energy management system. That applies to many modern base vehicles too. How that works is explained in registering a new battery with the on-board computer. Based on the registration number (kenteken), we look up which battery belongs in your vehicle and whether registration is needed.

Can I still drive with a weak starter battery?

Yes, if the engine starts and no red warning light is on. Use this rule of thumb, especially before you set off on a trip with the motorhome:

  • The engine starts after storage and runs a little unevenly for a while: you can drive. According to the ANWB, the engine runs unevenly for some time after starting if the starter battery and the leisure battery were disconnected for a long time. That settles after a few kilometres of driving.
  • The engine starts, but turns over slowly: you can drive, but have the starter battery tested before you go on a trip. A battery that struggles to start the engine now often lets you down on the road.
  • The red battery warning light is on while you drive: do not drive on. According to the ANWB, you must stop and pull over when a warning light is red. The alternator is then probably not charging.
  • The engine will not start: have the motorhome or van brought in. According to the ANWB, a jump start on modern vehicles can damage the electronics if it is not done correctly. If in doubt, call the ANWB Wegenwacht (the ANWB’s roadside assistance service) or your breakdown service.

If your motorhome or van will not start, your breakdown service, the Wegenwacht or a recovery company can bring it to us. A vehicle that will not start goes into our schedule as soon as possible.

How we help with the starter battery of your van or motorhome

We have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and vans up to 3,500 kg. So your van or motorhome can come into our workshop. We first test whether it really is the battery and only replace what is needed:

  1. Battery test: with a battery tester we measure the charge and the condition of the starter battery.
  2. Charging system and starter motor test: we check whether the alternator charges the battery properly and whether the starter motor is running too heavily.
  3. Replacement: if the battery is worn out, we fit a starter battery that suits the base vehicle, AGM or EFB with start-stop.
  4. Registration: if the vehicle requires it, we register the new battery with the on-board computer.
  5. Alternator and starter motor: if they are the cause, we test and replace them in our own workshop.

We tell you the price in advance, as one amount based on your registration number, and we only replace parts with your approval. You can read more about our work on motorhomes and vans on our pages about motorhome repair in Rotterdam and van repair in Rotterdam. How we test a battery is explained on our page about car battery testing in Rotterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Do you also replace the leisure battery of my motorhome?

No. We test and replace the starter battery of the base vehicle. The leisure battery and the electrical system of the habitation area are a job for a motorhome specialist.

Does my motorhome’s battery charger also charge the starter battery?

Yes. That is possible if the motorhome is connected to mains power. According to the ANWB, the battery charger can then charge the leisure battery first and then supply the starter battery. Whether that works on your motorhome depends on the installation in the habitation area.

Is it better to disconnect the starter battery in winter?

Yes. That stops the vehicle from using power. According to the ANWB, a disconnected battery also goes flat eventually. That is why the ANWB advises removing the batteries and storing them at home, fully charged and frost-free, or keeping them on a charger.

My motorhome runs unevenly after storage. Is that a problem?

No, not if the batteries were disconnected. According to the ANWB, the engine runs unevenly for some time after starting if the starter battery and the leisure battery were disconnected for a long time. That settles after a few kilometres of driving. If it continues, have the motorhome checked.

How long does a starter battery last?

According to the ANWB, a battery lasts around three to six years, sometimes longer. The ADAC gives an average of about five years. Standing still for a long time, cold weather and short trips shorten its life.

Does my van or motorhome fit in your workshop?

Yes, if it weighs up to 3,500 kg. We have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and vans.

Will you come to the storage site to start my motorhome?

No. We are not a breakdown service and we do not give jump starts on location. The Wegenwacht, your breakdown service or a recovery company can bring the motorhome to us. A vehicle that will not start goes into our schedule as soon as possible.

Van or motorhome won’t start?

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. We test the starter battery, the charging system and the starter motor, and we tell you the cost in advance.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.

Nederlands? Lees dit artikel in het Nederlands.