The lowdown on VW Campervan hire

Everyone loves VW Campervans! They bring to mind sunny road trips, happy camping and freedom. There are many places in the UK that you can rent a campervan for the weekend or longer which makes for a brilliant holiday or short break. Here we give you the low down on VW Campervan hire.

VW Campers

VW Campers are popular because they are unique and cheerful. They are perfect for a versatile camping trip: you can go wherever the road takes you stopping off wherever you like on the way.

VW Campervans are great fun to drive and they don’t go that fast (max speed of 55 to 60mph) so you have to relax and enjoy your journey. These are vintage vehicles: they typically don’t have electric windows, power steering, central locking or air conditioning, although some may have been retro fitted with these things. Every camper is different, but this is all part of their charm!

You may hear them referred to as a Kombi, Combi or Transporter, which were their original German names, or a Splitty which refers versions produced before 1967 that had a split front windscreen.

All types of campervan are available to hire, from very early old models to more recent modern campervans, like the very popular VW T5. It’s up to you whether you would like to romance of a classic vintage model or the convenience of a modern one.

Depending on the camper you hire, they usually sleep two to six people (often at a squeeze unless 2-3 of these people are children). If you need extra space you can hire an awning and extra sleeping berth or you could bring along or hire a tent. If you are taking your kids with you, it’s a great idea to bring a tent so you can have two separate sleeping compartments on your trip.

Hiring a VW Campervan

A quick google search will reveal companies all over the country that hire out VW Campervans. You might choose to rent a van in the county or region in which you wish to holiday, in which case most companies will have somewhere you can leave your own car if you have one and can collect you from public transport nearby if you don’t. You could also choose to hire near where you live and do the whole road trip in the van.

There are other options too. The Camperbug website brings together owners of lovely campervans with people who wish to hire them. They have over 500 campervans for rent in the UK and Europe and the vans are usually already insured and have breakdown cover. These are privately owned vans which will be dearly loved by their owners, rather than vans that are hired out by companies, so you can find wonderful and original options on this site.

In general there isn’t a huge amount of variation in price wherever you hire a van. A typical 4-6 berth campervan will cost around £300 to £750 a week to hire and £150 to £350 for a weekend, depending on the season. Expect to pay more for a seriously decked out camper and less for a basic model. The hire prices are more expensive in July and August at the busiest times of year and cheaper at the start of the year or the end of the year in winter months when the weather is colder.

Most rentals include insurance and full breakdown cover within the price. Additional drivers may have an extra charge. Anyone aged 21 to 75 years old with a full driving licence can drive a camper but drivers below 23 years old may attract an insurance premium. Most campers will have unlimited mileage included in the price, but some may have a reasonable cap.

You will be expected to pay a security deposit which will be held (but not charged) for the duration of your rental, these can be fairly substantial due to the value of the vans (often upwards of £500). You will also need to show your driver’s license at some point and maybe proof of address.

What is included?

It is important to check the details of the specific van you are hiring to see what is included. Usually the camper vans are kitted out with cooking equipment, such as cutlery, pans and a kettle. Some campers include a gas cylinder if it has a gas cooker and a grill.

The camper will also normally have a fridge and a mains electric hook up. They will probably include an extra outdoor table and chairs. Some luxurious campers include DVD players, televisions, bike racks, roof rack, board games and deck chairs. There is no limit to what a suped-up camper might include.

Bedding is usually included in the price, as well as extra bedding, but some companies might charge for this or expect you to bring your own so make sure you are clear on this.

Extra equipment, such as an awning or extra sleeping compartment will sometimes cost extra, from about £25 for a weekend to £50 for a week.

If you have a small child you may need to bring your own booster seat. Bring your own towels, children’s bedding or cots. You may wish to buy your own travel insurance for personal belongings.

Be aware that you may be charged extra if you want to bring your dog (around £20 for a week).

VW Campers are far out

If you want a fun, relaxing adventure in a retro or modern VW Camper, it is easy to rent and hire vans across the country at very reasonable prices. This is a brilliant choice for a holiday that will give you tons of fun and freedom. Happy Holidays!