Camping is booming. For decades, holidays in the great outdoors have been the dream of many travellers. With the pandemic, demand has increased even more. You can easily see this in the prices of campervans, caravans and campsites. Here you can find out which of these options is more worthwhile: buying or renting a campervan.
Renting or buying campervans: a comparison of the different aspects
Costs
A new, fully equipped campervan can be very expensive. Campervans are costlier than a normal car. Are you a hobbyist and want to convert your vehicle into a camper van by yourself? Then consider the costs you will incur into: You usually need sleeping places for more than a single person. You need a gas system, a water system and the possibility of heating the vehicle in winter. The campervan must be equipped with a power supply. You may want to be self-sufficient and well supplied with solar energy. In addition to the purchase costs, there are the annual inspection costs, the insurance costs and the one-off registration costs.
When you rent a campervan, you usually pay a daily rate or, if you rent for a longer period, a weekly or monthly rate. This can be expensive for a longer holiday. The rental price includes all costs in most rental contracts.
However, renting or buying campervans makes no difference when it comes to fuel costs: These costs remain the same.
Model: age and equipment
Renting or buying campervans is not the same when it comes to the choice of vehicle. Which model you can buy depends on your budget. You can find used campervans from around 5,000 to 50,000 euros. New campervans cost around 50,000 to 100,000 euros, depending on the equipment. If you don’t buy from a dealer, you bear a private risk. And if you are unlucky, you will only drive the used vehicle for one or two years. Once you have chosen and bought a model, you have to adapt to it. A campervan with an alcove cannot be converted into a van and vice versa. With an alcove you have more space inside, but you are more limited on roads, parking spaces and garages. Retrofitting is expensive: additional seats, sleeping berths, a shower, a toilet, a more powerful supply etc. cost money.
If you rent a campervan, you won’t have to do that. You spend a holiday with a certain vehicle category and try it out first. If something doesn’t suit you, you can always choose a larger or smaller, higher or lower category next time. However, when you rent a campervan, you have no say in the choice of the vehicle. If the model you chose is not available, the rental company has the right to assign you a larger model within the same or a higher category.
Camper
Furgoneta
Autocaravana
Knowledge
And what’s better for camping newbies: Renting or buying campervans?
Of course, many decide to rent a campervan for their first trip. This is because they get an introduction and first test whether they like a camping holiday or not.
In the process, they come up with all kinds of things to look out for. You first have to “get to know” a campervan. Rented vehicles are usually fully insured.
Anyone buying a campervan should already have a certain level of experience. Due to a lack of experience, a hose can quickly freeze off, the supply battery discharged, the toilet overfilled or a gas tap forgotten.
Care and maintenance
Renting or buying campervans are two completely different things when it comes to vehicle care and maintenance.
As a owner, you have to follow a certain routine before, during and after the ride. Water tank must be filled and emptied, the battery must be charged, grey and black water tanks must be cleaned. Before winter, all hoses and tanks must be emptied and the batteries removed (danger of frost and deep discharge). Regular cleaning inside and out is also necessary.
If you rent a campervan, you will receive the vehicle in clean, roadworthy conditions. After the holiday, you return it as it is (unless cleaning is expressly required in the rental contract). Care and maintenance require not only time but also some manual skills.
Pitch
The search for a parking space should not be underestimated if you want to buy a campervan. Campervans with alcoves are high and do not fit in an underground garage. Nor do they fit under a carport. In addition, they are usually more than 6 m long. So the campervan – unless it is a van – must be parked outside. You are not in the fortunate position having your own house or plot of land? Then you will have to pay a pitch.
If you rent a campervan, you don’t have to worry about it. You do, however, have to make the trip to the rental company to pick up and return the vehicle.
Renting or buying campervans – A summary
Conclusion – Renting or buying campervans: Which is more worthwhile?
Everyone has a different family situation. Everyone has different ideas about the ideal camping holiday and the costs involved. Therefore, it is not possible to make a clear statement about which option is more worthwhile between renting or buying a campervan. It is a personal decision. However, the arguments above can make your choice easier after considering the advantages and disadvantages of both.