How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Campervan?

Dreaming of the open road, a freshly brewed coffee with a mountain view, and a handmade campervan that feels more “cosy cabin on wheels” than “plain white van with a mattress”?

Lovely. Same.

But before you start packing the walking boots, card games and emergency biscuits, there’s one very sensible question to answer:

How much does it actually cost to hire a campervan?

The honest answer is: it depends. Campervan hire costs vary depending on the time of year, the size of the van, where you’re collecting it from, how long you’re travelling for and how many lovely little extras you choose.

As a broad guide, campervan hire with Quirky Campers typically starts from around £90–£100 per night. You can find exact prices shown clearly on each campervan listing. Smaller campervans are usually the most budget-friendly, while larger family vans and luxury off-grid homes on wheels tend to cost more.

This guide breaks down what affects the cost, what’s included, what extras to budget for and how to plan a campervan holiday that suits your purse strings beautifully.

Why hire a campervan?

Hiring a campervan gives you all the freedom of vanlife without:

• Having to buying
• Converting
• Insuring
• Storing and looking after your own home on wheels

No hotel check-ins. No dragging bags from place to place. No arguing with a tent pole in the rain while questioning all your life choices.

With a campervan, your bed, kitchen, kettle, snacks and adventure base come with you. You can wake up by the sea, cook dinner beside a loch, chase sunshine across the map or simply stay an extra night somewhere because the view is too good to leave.

It’s flexible, fun and full of “shall we just see where this road goes?” energy.

New to campervan holidays? Our guide on how to hire a campervan with Quirky Campers walks you through the whole process, from choosing your van to picking up the keys.

So, how much does it cost to hire a campervan?

Campervan hire prices vary from van to van because every Quirky camper is individually owned and wonderfully unique. One might be a compact two-berth weekender with clever storage and a dinky kitchen. Another might be a family-sized adventure bus with heating, hot water, a toilet, a shower and enough fairy lights to make a woodland elf jealous.

The best way to get an exact price is to enter your dates, location and number of travellers on the Quirky Campers website. But for planning purposes, here’s a simple way to think about it:

Campervan type	Typical best for	Rough weekly planning budget
Compact campervan	Couples, solo travellers, short breaks, budget road trips	From around £630–£900+
Family campervan	Families, groups, longer UK holidays	Around £900–£1,500+
Luxury campervan	Extra comfort, off-grid features, showers, toilets, heating	Around £1,000–£2,000+

These are broad planning figures only. Actual pricing depends on the individual campervan, season, location, trip length and availability. Always check the individual van listing for the most accurate quote.

What affects campervan hire prices?

1. The time of year

Season makes a big difference. Summer holidays are popular for a reason: longer days, beach dinners, wild swims and that golden “out of office” feeling. But peak season usually means higher prices and more competition for campsites.

As a guide, Quirky Campers’ seasonal pricing is usually split like this:

Season	Dates	What to expect
Low season	1 November–16 December and 11 January–31 March	Best value, quieter roads, cosy vanlife vibes
High-mid season	1 April–21 July	Spring adventures, Easter breaks and early summer escapes
High season	22 July–31 August	Peak summer, school holidays and maximum beach-picnic energy
Low-mid season	1 September–31 October and 17 December–10 January	Shoulder-season magic, autumn colours and festive getaways

If you’re flexible, travelling outside July and August is one of the easiest ways to make your campervan holiday budget go further. September, in particular, is a bit of a gem: quieter beaches, softer light, calmer campsites and still plenty of adventure in the air.

Planning a quick escape rather than a full week away? Our guide to last-minute summer campervan hire in the UK has handy tips for keeping things simple, spontaneous and deliciously faff-free.

2. The size of the campervan

A two-berth campervan will usually cost less than a six-berth family van, simply because there’s less space, fewer beds and often fewer onboard facilities.

When browsing, check both:

Berths – how many people the campervan sleeps
Belted seats – how many people can legally travel in the campervan

This bit matters. A van might sleep four but only have three belted seats, or vice versa. Less romantic than choosing fairy lights, yes, but rather important.

Travelling with children, extra snacks and approximately 47 “essential” soft toys? Browse our family-friendly campervans to find vans with enough room for your whole little crew.

3. The level of comfort

Every Quirky campervan comes ready for adventure, but the facilities vary.

A compact camper might include a comfy bed, kitchenette, storage and cooking essentials. A luxury camper might also have heating, hot water, a toilet, an indoor shower, solar power, a fridge/freezer, an oven or a full off-grid setup.

Basically, the more “tiny boutique cabin” the van feels, the more you can expect to pay.

Trying to work out which setup suits you best? Our guide to campervan layouts is a handy place to start.

4. Location

Campervan hire prices can vary by location. Popular pick-up points near national parks, coastlines and major cities may be in higher demand, especially during school holidays and sunny weekends.

That said, collecting a van closer to home can save money on fuel and travel before your holiday even begins. Less “getting to the adventure”, more “already in it”.

Need some route inspiration? Have a nose through our top UK campervan road trips for ideas worth adding to the map.

5. Trip length

Longer trips can sometimes unlock better value, especially if the campervan is eligible for long-term discounts. A week-long hire will obviously cost more overall than a weekend, but the nightly rate may work out better on longer bookings.

Worth a peek if you’re planning a proper “disappear into the good kind of nowhere” adventure.

6. Add-ons

Some campervans offer extras such as bedding, towels, bike racks, BBQs, awnings, fire pits, camping chairs or dog-friendly add-ons. These vary by van and owner, so check the listing before you book.

Little extras can make a trip feel deliciously easy, but they’re worth budgeting for upfront.

For a little packing inspiration, our campervan accessories guide is full of handy bits and bobs for UK adventures.

What’s included when you hire with Quirky Campers?

One of the joys of hiring through Quirky Campers is that you’re not left trying to decode a jungle of mystery fees.

As standard, bookings include:

• Insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Kitchen equipment
• Cooking gas where needed
• Clear pricing on each campervan listing
• Carbon-balanced miles with Temwa

Most bookings also include mileage of 160 miles per day, with extra miles charged at 20p per mile. Mileage details are shown on each listing, so you can plan your route without any nasty “oops, we accidentally drove to the Outer Hebrides” surprises.

What extra costs should you budget for?

The hire price is the big one, but it’s not the whole picnic basket. Here are the main extra costs to think about when planning your campervan holiday budget.

Fuel

Most campervans are collected with a full tank of fuel and need to be returned full too. Campervans are bigger and heavier than your average car, so fuel costs can be higher than you’re used to.

As a rough snapshot, at July 2026 UK fuel prices, a reasonably efficient campervan doing around 42mpg may cost around 16–18p per mile, depending on whether it runs on petrol or diesel. A larger van doing around 30mpg could be closer to 25p per mile.

Fuel costs change often, so treat this as a guide rather than a promise carved into a Welsh slate. For the most accurate estimate, check your van’s fuel type and likely mpg, then map your route before you go.

Money-saving tip: Choose a region and explore it slowly. Less time on motorways, more time parked beside excellent views with a brew in hand.

For help planning your route, offline maps and overnight stops, have a peek at our guide to the best apps for travel and road trips.

Campsites and overnight stays

Campsite costs vary hugely depending on location, facilities and season.

As a rough guide:

Overnight option	Typical cost
Simple campsite or basic pitch	£20–£30 per night
Campsite with toilets, showers and electric hook-up	£30–£50 per night
Larger holiday park or premium campsite	£50–£100+ per night
Approved night stop or aire-style parking	Often around £5–£15 per night
Free overnight spots	Sometimes available, but always check rules and permission

A back-to-basics campsite can be perfect if you want quiet, stars and somewhere to make porridge in peace. A holiday park might be better if you’re travelling with children, want showers, laundry, a pool or a pub within flip-flop distance.

Need somewhere lovely to stay? Our campsite guides are packed with campervan-friendly places for every flavour of trip, from romantic hideaways to family-friendly fields of fun.

You can also browse our roundup of 10 must-visit campsites for campervans if you fancy a little tried-and-tested inspiration.

Can you wild camp in a campervan?

This is where things get a little less “romantic misty lay-by” and a little more “please read the sign”.

In most of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there is no general right to sleep overnight in a campervan outside official campsites without permission. Scotland has different access laws for tent camping, but these do not automatically give motorhomes and campervans the right to park overnight wherever they like.

Some places welcome self-contained campervans overnight through official schemes, stopovers or designated parking areas. Others do not allow overnight parking at all.

The golden rule? Check local signs, respect landowners, use approved spots where possible and leave every place better than you found it. Gorgeous views are not improved by litter, toilet waste or rogue BBQ scorch marks.

For a deeper dive, read our UK campervan overnight parking guide or our tips for wild camping in a campervan before you go.

Food and drink

One of the loveliest things about campervan travel is being able to cook wherever you are. All Quirky campervans come with cooking facilities, though the setup varies from simple hobs to full little kitchens with ovens, fridges and clever storage.

Your food budget depends on your travel style:

Food style	Rough daily budget
Mostly cooking in the van	£10–£25 per person
Mix of cooking and casual eating out	£25–£45 per person
Regular pub lunches, restaurants and treats	£45–£60+ per person

Cooking in the van is usually the cheapest option, but it also happens to be one of the most joyful. Pasta with a sea view? Breakfast wraps beside a lake? A one-pan curry eaten in woolly socks while rain taps on the roof?

That’s not budgeting. That’s living.

For meal ideas, setup tips and what to pack, have a rummage through our guide to cooking in a campervan or our newer guide to the best ways to cook when camping.

Activities

A campervan holiday can be brilliantly low-cost once you’re on the road. Many of the best bits are free: hiking, beach days, swimming, stargazing, forest walks, village wandering, scenic drives and sitting outside the van saying “wow” at regular intervals.

Free or low-cost activities include:

• Walking and hiking
• Wild swimming where safe and permitted
• Beach days
• Cycling your own bikes
• Free museums and galleries
• Heritage walks
• Forest trails
• Picnic stops
• Stargazing
• Local markets and farm shops

Paid activities might include castles, historic houses, boat trips, paddleboarding, climbing, surf lessons, bike hire, theme parks or family attractions. If you’re travelling with children or planning lots of big days out, set aside an activity budget before you go.

Future you, standing in a gift shop with a tiny wooden puffin and three hungry people, will thank you.

For outdoorsy inspiration, our ultimate guide to UK National Parks is a great place to start plotting walks, views and picnic spots.

Tolls, ferries and clean air zones

Depending on your route, you may need to budget for toll roads, bridges, ferries or city driving charges.

In the UK, some cities have Clean Air Zones or Low Emission Zones. London’s ULEZ, for example, charges non-compliant cars, vans and specialist vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes £12.50 per day. Other cities have their own rules, so it’s always worth checking before you travel into urban areas.

Google Maps and road trip apps can help you avoid tolls, but they are not a substitute for checking official local guidance. A few minutes of planning can save a lot of post-holiday grumbling.

Insurance, excess and deposits

Insurance andbreakdown cover are included as standard when you hire with Quirky Campers.

The insurance excess usually ranges from £1,500 to £2,000, depending on the vehicle, insurer and driver details, with most hires at £1,500. A £500 security deposit is placed as a hold on your card two days before your booking starts and is usually released around one week after your trip, provided the campervan is returned safely and in the same condition.

UK and EU residents may also choose to take out an excess reimbursement policy through Quirky Campers’ recommended third-party provider, Questor. This is separate from your Quirky Campers booking and is arranged directly with Questor.

We also recommend taking out your own travel insurance for extra peace of mind. Because nothing says “relaxing holiday” quite like knowing you’re covered if life decides to throw a soggy sock in the works.

How to keep campervan hire costs down

Want the adventure without your bank account quietly weeping into its tea? Try these:

• Travel outside peak summer if you can
• Choose a compact campervan
• Pick up a van close to home
• Explore one region slowly instead of covering huge distances
• Cook in the van rather than eating out every day
• Mix campsites with approved low-cost overnight stops
• Bring your own bedding and towels if the van allows
• Book early for the best choice
• Plan your route to avoid unnecessary mileage
• Check what’s included before adding extras

A campervan holiday can be as affordable or as treat-yourself as you make it. That’s the beauty of it. You can have beans on toast by a loch one night and a seafood supper by the harbour the next. Balance, darling.

Example campervan holiday budget for one week

Here’s a rough example for a couple hiring a campervan for a week in the UK:

Cost	Budget estimate
Campervan hire	£700–£1,200
Fuel	£100–£250
Campsites/overnight stays	£150–£350
Food and drink	£150–£500
Activities	£0–£300
Tolls, parking and extras	£20–£150
Total estimated budget	£1,120–£2,750

This is only a guide, of course. A cosy off-season trip with simple meals and low-cost park-ups will look very different from a peak summer family holiday with campsites, surf lessons and “just one more ice cream” every afternoon.

Both are excellent. Both count as adventure.

Is hiring a campervan worth it?

We might be a tiny bit biased, but yes. Absolutely.

Hiring a campervan is not just about transport or accommodation. It’s about the freedom to wake up somewhere new, cook with the doors open, change your plans because the weather looks better west, and turn the journey into part of the holiday.

With Quirky Campers, you also get something a little different: a hand-crafted campervan with proper personality. No identikit beige boxes here, thank you very much. Just unique, privately owned campervans built with care, creativity and a whole lot of love.

From compact campers for two to family adventure buses, dog-friendly vans and off-grid beauties, there’s a Quirky camper for every kind of road trip.

And because every mile driven is carbon balanced with Temwa, your holiday helps support tree planting and community-led climate projects too.

Find out how your campervan trip can make a real difference

Ready to find your campervan?

Whether you’re planning a shoestring weekend, a family summer escape or a luxury off-grid adventure, the easiest way to find out exactly how much your campervan hire will cost is to search your dates.

Pop in your location, choose your travel dates and find a campervan that fits your trip, your budget and your daydreams.

FAQS