Frequently Asked Questions about Campervan Hire in the UK

How much does it cost to hire a campervan in the UK?

If you hire a campervan in the UK during the winter the cost will be less that £100.00 per day. If you hire a campervan in the UK during the summer or peak times then the daily rental rate will be above £100.00 per day.

To get the cheapest rental rate, book well in advance. The cost goes up the closer you get to collection date and can be as much as double the price compared to booking a year in advance.

Customers who book a campervan for the Glastonbury Festival will book up a year ahead as there is very limited availability when booking last minute.

The Cost of Renting a Campervan in the UK depends on:

• The Size of the Campervan. Smaller campervans are cheaper than larger motorhomes.
• The Age of the campervan. The older campers and Motorhomes are cheaper to rent than newer ones.
• Book well in advance.. Bookings can be made up to a year ahead. This will be chaper than leaving it until the last minute especially at peak times.
• Avoid Summer holidays, School Holidays and Public Holidays if you can. Prices go up because of high demand during this time.
• Compare prices between depots. London has a huge range of campervans and motorhomes to rent. This makes the London based rental companies very competitive. You may find that changing the depot location will show you a list of cheaper campers for hire.
• One-way Rentals in the UK will add a one-way fee. Save money and return to the same depot.
• Leave your car at the depot. If you plan on touring Scotland, drive to the Scottish depot and leave your car there. Driving the length of the UK only to get to the Scottish depot if you live in England is much more cost effective.
• Take your own extras. If you live in the UK, take your own bedding, sleeping bags, outdoor chairs. Check the list of additional options and only rent what you need and take the rest with you.

Is extra insurance necessary when renting a campervan in the UK?

When you collect your campervan rental in the UK you will be asked how much insurance excess you would like to cover. If you take no additional cover then the amount of the excess will be deducted from your credit card and when your return this amount will be refunded in full if there has been no damage to the camper.

If you are not happy with having this amount deducted from your credit card at the start of your rental, then you can pay an additional fee to reduce the excess. You won't be able to reduce the excess to nil. So expect to have a deduction made to your credit card.

Refunding your credit card at the end of the hire may take up to two weeks to appear on your statement.

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If I take the maximum amount of insurance will I still need to leave a security deposit?

Yes, the Security Deposit is not related to the Insurance Excess. It is levied to ensure that you return the campervan to the correct location at the agreed time in a good and clean condition.

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Can I pick up my campervan in London and return it to Edinburgh?

Yes, this is an option and there are many other one-way rentals within the UK. Spaceships have depots throughout Europe too. So a one-way rental to Europe is also a possibility.

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Where are the depots for campervan hire in the UK?

The most popular locations for renting a campervan in the UK are:

• Edinburgh in Scotland
• Greater London
• London Heathrow Airport
• London Luton Airport
• Luton - north of London. Not far from the M1
• Manchester a good location to access the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.

London has the most depots and the widest choice of campervans, motorhomes and RV's. There are depots near Luton airport, Stanstead airport, Gatwick airport and Heathrow airport.

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There are campervan and motorhome rental depots right across the UK. Here is our full list.

• Aberdeen Aiport (ABZ)
• Belfast Campervan Hire
• Belfast airport
• Belfast Europa Bus Station
• Birmingham Campervan Hire
• Birmingham airport
• Blackburn Campervan Hire
• Brighton Railway station Campervan Hire
• Bristol Campervan Hire
• Chichester Campervan Hire
• Edinburgh Campervan Hire
• Edinburgh airport
• Glasgow Campervan Hire
• Glasgow Airport
• Glasgow Prestwick Airport
• Greater London Campervan Hire
• Horsham Train Station
• Kendal
• Larne
• Leeds Campervan Hire
• Liverpool - Bootle Campervan Hire
• Liverpool Airport
• London Gatwick Airport
• London Heathrow Airport
• London Luton Airport
• London Stanstead Airport
• Luton Campervan Hire
• Manchester Campervan Hire
• Manchester Airport
• Newcastle
• Peterborough Campervan Hire
• Portrush Campervan Hire
• Preston Campervan Hire
• Rye Campervan Hire
• Southampton Campervan Hire
• Southampton Airport
• Wigan Campervan Hire

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Do we have to overnight at a campsite every night and should we book ahead?

We recommend that you book ahead to stay at a campsite in the UK. Also join one of the campervan clubs to enjoy access to privately owned sites in more rural and unusual places.

We have a UK route planner with lots of helpful links.

Free camping is more popular in Scotland. Always check that you have permission to camp overnight where ever you are. You may be on private land. Always leave no trace that you have stayed there.

Can I hire a campervan for a rock festival like Glastonbury or a sporting event?

Yes, our campervans and motorhomes can be rented for music festivals, sporting events and other major events. Check out the cancellation policy. Some of our rental suppliers will return your booking deposit if you don't get a ticket.

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Can I take my dog with me in the campervan?

Yes, this is on a request basis and there are sometimes additional costs for extra cleaning.

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What types of campervans and motorhomes are there to rent in the UK?

Camping-cars, Low-tops and Hi-top camper vans - VW Campers

These are small campers suitable for two to four people. You can sleep and eat comfortably in these campers. Some have solar showers that you can hang off the back and others offer portaloos. But you are not able to free-camp in these campers as they are not self-contained ie there is not a toilet or shower on board and you won't have holding tanks for waste-water and effluent.

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Two, three, four, five, six and seven berth campervans and motorhomes have built-in toilets and showers.

How do the toilets work in a campervan or motorhome?

There are cassette toilets that are clean and easy to use. Empty them regularly by disposing of the contents at "dump stations" on campsites or in public toilets. Hose out each time and replace the blue liquid to keep the odours to a minimum. Keep the fresh-water tank topped up.

What are the different types of Water Tanks in a Campervan or Motorhome?

There are two on-board tanks:

• Clean water tank.
• Fill this with the water from taps. Boil it for drinking. This provides water for the shower and for the sink for washing up.
• Waste-water from the shower and the sink is collected in a grey water tank. You must empty this at a dump station on a campsite or at a public dump station.

Some vehicles have on board displays to show how much water is in the tanks.

Note: If you are in an area where the temperature drops below zero, the fresh water tanks will automatically empty to prevent pipes freezing.

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Is driving a campervan or motorhome in the UK like driving a car?

When you are driving a low-top or hi-top camper van it is just like driving a large car. Don't take the corners quickly and don't try to drive as fast as a car. You are carrying your sleeping and cooking equipment so it is heavier than a car.

The campervans that have onboard showers and toilets are easy to drive too. They have big mirrors for good visibility. Get someone to watch you reverse. The vehicles are longer and higher than cars and you can't always see bollards etc.

Motorhomes with "Lutons", the bed that is above the cab, are also easy to drive too. These vehicles are easy to manoevre but you will find that they are slower than cars and you need to take corners slower than you would in a car.

Watch out when driving close to hedges that you don't bump the overhang above the cab. Damage to the Luton is sometimes not covered in your insurance. Also, get someone to watch when you are reversing. Again, damage caused by reversing into something that causes damage to the campervan may also not be covered by your insurance.

These vehicles all have power-assisted steering. The seating position is higher than in a car for great views.

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Normal rules apply when driving. Watch your speed limit as some restrictions apply. Check that you don't have a maximum speed limit of 60mph on main roads and motorways as there are sometimes limits set for vans and campervans.

Do I need an International Driving Licence when renting a campervan in the UK?

If you hold an overseas driving licence you will need to present an international driving licence that has been translated into English when renting a campervan or Motorhome in the UK.

If you hold a British Driving Licence then the DVLA will be contacted to verify your licence when you collect your rental campervan.

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Are there automatic campervans and motorhomes to rent in the UK?

There are automatic transmission campervans and motorhomes in the UK. Please check that you are renting an automatic if your licence only permits driving and automatic. Most campervans and motorhomes in the UK have manual transmission.

Driving rules in UK.

Will the campervan be stocked with basic cooking supplies?

Some rental companies provide complimentary supplies such as dishwashing liquid, dishcloth, coffee, tea and sugar. However, we recommend stocking up soon after you collect your campervan. Ask at the desk where the nearest supermarket/shop is. Don't forget the essentials such as cooking oil, salt, pepper, butter, milk, bread.

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Where can I put my luggage, personal belongings and clothes in a campervan?

We strongly recommend you use soft bags instead of suitcases for your luggage. Soft bags take up less room and fit more easily into the storage cupboards and lockers in the vehicle.

Some larger motorhomes have "garages" big enough for bikes, surf gear etc.

If you are returning your campervan to the depot that you collected it from then there is usually a locked storage area to keep your luggage while you are on your holiday.

There are cupboards and a wardrobe with hangers. There are storage lockers under the seats too. Pack light as campervan holidays are usually informal affairs.

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Is there a spare tyre and will I be able to change it if I need to?

All vehicles come with a spare tyre and equipment needed in the event of a tyre change. You should make sure you have a roadside assistance phone number when you collect your campervan in the rare event you need help.

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What is the cost of fuel in the UK?

Petrol (Gasoline) in UK is unleaded, and is sold by the litre. Most larger campervans and motorhomes are diesel vehicles. The smaller camping-cars are petrol driven. We found this site that is quite up to date but there are a lot of ads.

Useful Link:Fuel Costs in UK

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Are there toll roads in the UK?

Yes there are toll roads and toll bridges in the UK. You also need to know about the London Congestion Charge. Toll Roads and Bridge Charges in the UK. London Congestion Charges.

You are responsible for paying toll fees, so it is important to be aware of these roads before you travel.

Useful link: Toll Roads in the UK.

You can pay by cash and card. Some smaller toll roads and bridges only accept cash.

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How old do have to be to rent a campervan in the UK?

Most companies will not hire to drivers under 21 but there are some exceptions. There is an upper age limit of 75 years old as long as the driver has a valid driving licence.

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Are all taxes included in the rental rate?

VAT (Value Added Tax) is included in all quotes for campervan and motorhome rental in UK.

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How do I get the best quality motorhome in the UK?

• Choose the newest campers or motorhomes.
• Book with a reputable company that has enough motorhomes on its fleet to provide a substitute camper in the event of breakdown.
• Our Special Offers and Discounts are updated frequentlyDiscounts on Campervan and Motorhome Rental in the UK

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Can I drive to Europe from the UK in the Campervan?

Extra insurance and breakdown cover is required before you can take your campervan to Europe. Most rental companies will arrange this and we can book ahead and advise that you will be travelling to Europe. There are some countries that you won't be permitted to visit. We can check before you book to help you.