From spontaneous weekend getaways to tours of Britain’s scenic countryside and dramatic coastline, campervans are a fun, functional, and fashionable way to travel. If you’ve been dreaming about the campervan lifestyle, our complete guide to buying a campervan will walk you through all the key considerations and help you find the right vehicle for your needs.
Whether you’re summer festival goers or want to explore every corner of the UK and are dedicated to the ‘VanLife’ lifestyle, we’ll help you find the right camper to keep up with your adventurous spirit.
1. Essential questions to ask yourself
It’s easy to focus on all the fun elements of a campervan, from the kitchen gear to the custom paint job – but to make sure you invest your finances wisely, ask yourself the following questions about how to buy a campervan:
What will it be used for?
How do you plan to use your new campervan? With their generous space, campervans are wonderfully versatile.
A campervan is perfect for day trips for the outdoorsy family. There’s plenty of room for the picnic hamper, deck chairs, wet suits, paddle boards, and spare clothes. If you plan to predominantly use your campervan for this purpose, you’ll probably be happy with a basic kitchen setup, prioritising storage space and perhaps a comfy spot to sit.
When you’re excited about life on the open road and want to spend nights away in your campervan, you’ll need to include practical elements like the kitchen, personal washing facilities, and a cosy bed.
How often will you use it?
An extra-large campervan that offers all the bells and whistles may be top of the wish list when you’re buying a campervan, but if you’ll only use it a couple of times a year, is it worth the outlay? Something a little more modest or second-hand may be better suited.
If you’re retired or have the coveted work-life balance just right, regular campervan trips could certainly be elevated by choosing a roomier, high-spec model.
What size do you need?
If it’s just you or you and your partner, a mini campervan is a budget-friendly option. Though you’ll compromise on storage space, they’re easier to park and are a good choice if you’ll also be using the camper for daily activities as well as weekend wanderings.
If you’re a couple who want enough space for a kitchen and toilet, a small camper offers a little more room for your weekend jaunts. A medium campervan is designed to sleep up to four adults, while a large or extra-large model will give four of you more space alongside the kitchen and bathroom – ideal for week-long trips or when you have lots of gear to bring along with you.
What’s your budget?
When you’re buying a campervan, it’s not just about how much you have to spend, it’s also about where you want to channel that budget. Some might prioritise the quality of the facilities within the campervan over spare space. For others, extra space and a comfy bed might be much more important, especially if you plan to spend your evenings sampling the local pub menu rather than heating soup on the campervan stove.
Another important point to remember is that the cost of the campervan isn’t the only outlay associated with owning one of these vehicles. Your budget will also need to accommodate:
- Insurance – to protect your pride and joy against damage, theft, and vandalism as well as the legal requirement for all road-going vehicles to be insured
- Interest payments
- Servicing, annual MOT, repairs, parts, and any upgrades you make along the way
- Kitchen, sleeping, and bathroom equipment
- Refuelling – remember, your campervan is probably going to cost more to run than your car
- Storage and parking when not in use.
If you find that buying a campervan is currently outside your budget, don’t worry. You can still enjoy an annual campervan trip with a hired camper. Be sure to sort out your insurance before you set off as this may not be covered by the hire company.
2. Where will you buy your campervan?
Campervans can represent a significant financial investment and because they’re designed to enhance your lifestyle, you want to make sure you’re purchasing from a reputable seller.
Buying a campervan from a dealership
You might feel more confident buying a campervan from a dealership, especially one that belongs to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders or the British Independent Motor Traders Association.
A dealership offers:
- More payment options
- Warranty – both new and used campervans from a dealership will usually offer a manufacturer-backed warranty for your peace of mind
- MOT – many dealerships sell used vans with an MOT
- Vehicle history vetting – a good dealership will be able to furnish you with a campervan’s service history, registration, and mileage to help you make your choice when you’re looking at used models
- Experience – the dealership sales team knows their vans inside out and will be able to recommend the best campervans for your needs
- Consumer protection – whether you pay the deposit or the full price on your credit card, you’ll benefit from the rights afforded by the Consumer Credit Act.
These plus points do come at a premium though, and you can expect to pay more for a campervan at a dealership.
Private sellers
Remember to be safe when you’re meeting a private seller. Take your partner or a friend with you and be sure to examine the vehicle’s documents carefully. If they know about engines and what to look for to make sure it’s in a safe, driveable condition then so much the better!
You don’t benefit from as much consumer protection through a private sale and unfortunately, you must be wary of scams. Does the price seem too good to be true? Then it probably is. That said, there are plenty of campervan owners looking to make a sale who have taken meticulous care of their vehicle and want to see it move on to a good new home. When you find a trusted private seller, you benefit from:
- A more casual sale – you won’t be getting the sales pitch and selling pressure you would at a dealership, and it may be easier to go away and think about your choice
- A better price (you may also have a bit of ‘wiggle room’ for some haggling to get the price down).
3. Practical considerations
The next step in our campervan buyers’ guide is practical considerations. If you think you’ve narrowed down your list of campervan choices, it’s time to consider which one will work for you.
Do you have somewhere to store it? Will it fit in your driveway or garage? If you need to park on the street outside your property, how much will this impact your insurance? Is there somewhere you can pay to have it stored? Is it within your annual budget?
You won’t want repairs to get in the way of a campervan holiday. Do you have a local mechanic who’s good with your model and is there money in the kitty to deal with emergency repairs?
When you’re planning a campervan holiday, whether it’s in the UK or Europe, remember to factor in the refuelling costs. If you’ll be clocking up the miles, your large vehicle will be using more fuel.
If you’re travelling in the UK, you need to keep the weather in mind. Though the summers can be blissfully balmy, if you’re planning an Easter outing or an autumn expedition, consider the need for additional heating in the campervan – and check that everything is watertight!
4. Average campervan costs
How much is a new campervan? Campervans start their life as a van, with the model of the van impacting the price, especially with classic models like a VW. This means you could pay anywhere between £20,000 and £100,000 for a camper. Average campervan costs sit at around £35,000 for a good quality new campervan conversion.
5. Different types of campervans
In the consideration phase of buying a campervan, you’ll need to think carefully about which make and model of van you’d like. High-end brands for campers include Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Ford, while there are more budget-friendly options from Citroen, Fiat, and Peugeot.
Another choice you’ll need to make is the style of your camper. You might like to consider a:
- Fixed roof – which tends to be the cheapest style
- Elevated roofs – sometimes known as ‘pop tops’, these have concertina-type roofs which give you more headroom and may accommodate a sleeping space
- High-top campervan – which also gives more headroom and significant additional storage. Just be mindful of height restrictions as these styles can reach up to three metres in height
6. Key checks to make
If you think you’ve tracked down the perfect campervan for you, there are important steps to take to ensure you’re buying a safe vehicle.
Before buying a campervan, check the service history. Annual services are desirable, but gaps in the service history may indicate an underserviced camper. That means it may have serious hidden issues. What happened at the last few MOTs and is there an existing one in place?
For elevated roof models, activate the roof several times to check the mechanism and, importantly, to ensure that it locks back in place securely.
Take a test drive to get a feel for the vehicle and to detect any major issues with the steering, brakes, or suspension. If you’re new to campers, bring a friend along who has experience of driving one.
If things look good, your next best step is a private inspection. Make sure this includes an assessment of the electricals within the van.
7. Do you have the right licence?
People who passed their driving test before the 1st of January 1997 are entitled to drive vehicles up to 7,500 kg or 8,500kg with a trailer.
If you got your driving licence after that date, you’re allowed to drive a vehicle up to 3,500kg. This is also the case if you passed by January 1997 but are now over 70. If your campervan exceeds 3,500kg you will need to take an additional driving test to add category C1 to your licence.
8. Get the right insurance
The final step in our campervan guide is securing the right insurance. Standard motor vehicle insurance will not cover a campervan. You can’t insure it with the same insurance you would choose for a car as it does not adequately reflect the risks associated with owning, driving, and using a campervan.
You must have insurance to drive legally on the road. Specialist campervan insurance will tailor a policy that best meets your needs. You’ll be able to select the level of cover you need (third party, third party, fire and theft, or comprehensive), specify how you’ll be using your campervan, and ensure the right level of coverage for the equipment within the camper.
You can even secure insurance for DIY campervan conversions, including coverage for the renovation phase.
FAQs
Can I take my camper off-grid?
If you enjoy off-grid camping, choose a model that can accommodate your cooking and personal care needs, with space for an additional gas cylinder, a freshwater tank, and a spare leisure battery. If you really want to go off-grid, why not choose a van with solar panels? You need to be careful about your campervan size though. Some off-grid sites only allow smaller-sized campervans.
What are the best beds for a campervan?
You’ve got a few sleeping options within a campervan. Many people like make-up beds that also function as sofas or dining benches during the day. Drop-down beds (stored in the roof space) are practical because they’re space savers. If you place your bed at the back of the van, you can open the back doors to enjoy magical sunrises each morning.
A larger camper may accommodate a fixed bed. If you plan to have one, consider going for a raised bed area as you can benefit from that all-important extra storage – just right for shoes, pantry items, and smaller equipment.
Do I need a kitchen in my campervan?
If you’d like to use your campervan year-round in the UK, a basic kitchen set-up means you’ll be able to prepare food even if a campfire is out of the question because it’s raining.
Once you’ve found your dream campervan, Park Insurance can help you keep this lifestyle asset safe with campervan insurance. With over 30 years of experience tailoring specialist policies, we’ll ensure your campervan receives the bespoke cover it needs.
If you’d like to find out how to keep your campervan safe, whatever happens, get in touch with our friendly insurance experts today.