A transparent breakdown of what it actually costs to own a campervan, from insurance and tax to fuel and storage, plus a comparison with hiring to help you decide which makes financial sense.
Buying a campervan is exciting, but before you start browsing the classifieds, it pays to understand what ownership really costs beyond the purchase price. This guide breaks down every recurring expense you can expect, with real figures from 2025/26 so you can build an accurate budget.
Whether you’re weighing up ownership against hiring, or simply want to know what to budget for, we’ve gathered verified data from official sources, insurers, and real owner experiences to give you the complete picture.
Road Tax (Vehicle Excise Duty)
Campervans and motorhomes are taxed as ‘private/light goods’ vehicles rather than cars, which generally works in your favour. The amount you pay depends on your vehicle’s weight and engine size.
VED rates (last updated: January 2026 – rates typically change each April):
Vehicles under 3,500kg (most campervans):
- Engine up to 1,549cc: £220 per year
- Engine over 1,549cc: £360 per year
Vehicles over 3,500kg:
- Flat rate of £171 per year (regardless of engine size)
Good news if you’re looking at a classic: vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1985 are completely exempt from road tax. For a characterful vintage camper, that’s a meaningful saving.
One thing to watch: if your campervan had a list price over £40,000 when new, you’ll pay an additional £410 per year for the first five years of its life (years two through six). This applies to vehicles registered from April 2017 onwards.
Annual cost: £171 to £360 (plus £410 luxury supplement if applicable)
MOT Testing
Campervans require an annual MOT once they reach three years old, just like cars. Motor caravans fall under Class 4 testing, with a maximum fee of £54.85 set by the government. In practice, most garages charge between £30 and £45, with promotional deals sometimes dropping as low as £20.
The test itself covers the same basics as a car MOT: brakes, lights, tyres, emissions, and structural condition. It doesn’t examine the living accommodation, which is why a separate habitation service is important (more on that below).
Annual cost: £30 to £55
Insurance
Campervan insurance tends to be cheaper than you might expect, partly because these vehicles cover fewer miles than daily drivers and are often driven more carefully. Specialist insurers understand this, which keeps premiums competitive.
Typical annual premiums (last updated: January 2026):
- Basic campervans (value under £15,000): £250 to £400 per year
- Mid-range motorhomes (£15,000 to £40,000): £350 to £600 per year
- High-value vehicles (over £50,000): £500 to £1,200 per year
Your actual quote will depend on the vehicle’s value, your driving history, age, where you store it, and what security features are fitted. As a rough guide, every £5,000 of vehicle value typically adds £150 to £200 to your premium.
Storing your campervan at a CaSSOA-accredited secure storage site can reduce premiums noticeably. Adding a tracker, alarm, or steering lock may also help. Some policies include European cover and breakdown assistance as standard, so check what’s included before adding extras separately.
Annual cost: £300 to £600 (typical)
Fuel Costs
Fuel is where the size of your campervan really shows in your running costs. The difference between a compact van conversion and a large coachbuilt can be substantial over a year’s travels.
Real-world fuel economy from owner forums:
- Compact campervans (VW T5/T6, small panel vans): 30 to 40 mpg
- Panel van conversions under 6 metres: 28 to 35 mpg
- Coachbuilt motorhomes under 6 metres: 25 to 32 mpg
- Large coachbuilt and A-class (over 3,500kg): 22 to 28 mpg
To estimate your annual fuel spend, multiply your expected mileage by the current price per litre, then divide by your vehicle’s mpg (and multiply by 4.546 to convert). The average campervan owner covers between 3,000 and 5,000 miles annually.
Annual cost: Varies with fuel prices. Budget based on your expected mileage and vehicle economy.
Servicing and Maintenance
Campervans need two types of regular servicing: the base vehicle mechanics, and the living accommodation (habitation check). Both are important for safety and maintaining value.
Base vehicle service:
This covers the engine, gearbox, brakes, suspension, and other mechanical components. Expect to pay £150 to £350 annually, depending on the complexity of your vehicle. Diesel engines on low mileage benefit from regular oil changes to prevent problems, even if the manufacturer’s interval hasn’t been reached.
Habitation service:
This annual check covers the gas system (legally required every 12 months if you use LPG appliances), electrical systems (both 12V and 240V), water systems, damp inspection, seals, vents, and appliance testing. Prices typically range from £180 to £400. Some warranties require an annual habitation service to remain valid, so check your documentation.
Beyond scheduled servicing, budget for wear items like tyres (campervans can be hard on tyres due to weight), leisure batteries (lasting three to five years typically), and occasional repairs to habitation equipment.
Annual cost: £350 to £650 (servicing), plus occasional repair fund
Storage
Not everyone has space on their drive for a campervan, and even if you do, secure storage can reduce your insurance premium and protect your investment from the elements.
Storage costs vary significantly by region (last updated: January 2026):
- Northern England: from £350 per year
- Midlands: from £600 per year
- South East: £400 to £800 per year
- London: from £1,200 per year
CaSSOA (Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association) accredited sites meet security standards that many insurers recognise, potentially offsetting some of the storage cost through lower premiums. Indoor storage costs more but offers the best protection.
If you can keep your campervan at home, this is an expense you can avoid entirely.
Annual cost: £0 (home storage) to £1,200 (London secured)
Breakdown Cover
While not legally required, breakdown cover is sensible for campervans. Breaking down on a Scottish hillside in a vehicle that doubles as your accommodation is a different prospect from calling a cab home from a car breakdown.
The major providers (AA, RAC) cover campervans and motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes on their personal policies, though check width and length limits before buying. Specialist caravan and motorhome cover removes these restrictions.
Expect to pay anywhere from £60 per year for basic cover from budget providers, up to £150 or more for comprehensive cover including European travel. The range is wide, so shop around.
Here’s a money-saving tip: breakdown providers are among the easiest companies to haggle with. The majority of customers who phone to negotiate their renewal successfully get a reduction, with many saving significantly. Never accept the first renewal quote.
Some campervan insurance policies include breakdown cover, and some bank accounts bundle it in too, so check what you already have before buying separately.
Annual cost: £60 to £150
Depreciation
Depreciation isn’t money that leaves your bank account each month, but it’s a real cost of ownership. Understanding how campervans hold their value helps you make a smarter buying decision.
Typical depreciation rates:
- Year 1: Expect around 20% depreciation (the steepest drop)
- Year 3: Retains roughly 70% of original value
- Year 5: Retains roughly 50% of original value
- After 5 years: Depreciation rate levels off significantly
Compact van conversions (Class B) tend to hold their value better than large coachbuilts, with VW-based campervans particularly resilient, often retaining 80% of their value after three years. Premium European brands like Hymer, Carthago, and Dethleffs also depreciate more slowly than budget manufacturers.
This is why buying a well-maintained three to five-year-old campervan often makes excellent financial sense. Someone else has absorbed the steepest depreciation, yet you’re still getting a relatively modern vehicle with years of life ahead.
Mileage matters too. The average motorhome covers 3,000 to 5,000 miles annually; significantly exceeding this can accelerate value loss, while below-average mileage supports resale prices.
Approximate annual depreciation: 10% of current value (average across ownership)
Total Annual Running Costs
Adding everything together (excluding fuel, which varies too much to generalise), here’s what you can expect to spend annually on a typical campervan:
Cost estimates last updated: January 2026
| Cost Category | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
| Road tax | £171 | £360 |
| MOT | £30 | £55 |
| Insurance | £300 | £600 |
| Servicing (base vehicle + habitation) | £350 | £650 |
| Storage (if applicable) | £0 | £1,200 |
| Breakdown cover | £60 | £150 |
| Total (excluding fuel) | £911 | £3,015 |
Add your estimated fuel costs based on expected mileage and your vehicle’s economy. For a campervan covering 4,000 miles at 30mpg, fuel might add £600 to £800 annually at typical prices.
This gives a typical range of £1,500 to £3,000 per year in ongoing costs, before accounting for depreciation. For a £30,000 campervan depreciating at roughly 10% annually, add another £2,000 to £3,000 in annual value loss for the first few years, reducing as the vehicle ages.
When Does Ownership Make Sense?
The breakeven point between owning and hiring depends on how often you actually use a campervan. Based on hire rates starting from around £64 per night in low season and averaging £100 to £150 per night over the year, ownership starts making financial sense if you’re using the vehicle for roughly six weeks annually.
Three-year comparison example:
Assume a £25,000 campervan, £2,000 annual running costs, selling after three years at £17,500 (70% retention). Your total cost of ownership would be roughly £13,500 over three years (purchase minus sale value, plus running costs).
At an average hire rate of £120 per night, that £13,500 buys you 112 nights of campervan holidays over three years. If you’d use a campervan for more than that, ownership wins financially. If you’d use it less, hiring makes more sense on pure numbers.
Of course, the calculation isn’t purely financial. Ownership means your van is ready whenever you fancy a spontaneous trip. You can customise it exactly how you like. You don’t have to pack everything out after each adventure. And there’s something rather satisfying about owning your own home on wheels.
Making Your Decision
The running costs of owning a campervan are manageable and predictable, with most owners spending between £1,500 and £3,000 annually on insurance, tax, fuel, servicing, and other essentials. Depreciation adds to the true cost, but buying wisely (looking at three to five-year-old vehicles with full service history) minimises this impact.
If you’re on the fence, hiring first is a sensible way to confirm that campervan life suits you. Once you know it does, the numbers often stack up in favour of ownership, especially if you’ll be getting out there regularly.
Ready to take the plunge? Browse our marketplace of hand-picked campervans for sale, each one vetted for quality and craftsmanship.
Related Guides
Planning to buy? These guides will help you make a confident decision:
- Pre-Purchase Campervan Inspection Checklist – what to check before you hand over the money
- Campervan Layout Guide – fixed bed vs convertible, rear kitchen vs side galley, and what works best
- Campervan Insurance Explained – comprehensive guide to getting the right cover
- Campervan Electrics Explained – understanding 12V systems, leisure batteries, and solar
- Campervans for Sale – browse our curated marketplace of quality campervans
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run a campervan per year?
Most owners spend between £1,500 and £3,000 annually on running costs, excluding fuel. This covers road tax (£171 to £360), MOT (£30 to £55), insurance (£300 to £600), servicing (£350 to £650), and breakdown cover (£60 to £150). Storage adds £350 to £1,200 if you can’t keep it at home. Fuel costs depend on your mileage and the vehicle’s economy.
Is it cheaper to own or hire a campervan?
Ownership typically becomes cheaper than hiring if you use the campervan for more than six weeks per year. A three-year ownership of a £25,000 campervan (including running costs and depreciation) costs roughly the same as 112 nights of hiring at average rates. If you’ll use it more than that, ownership makes financial sense.
How much is road tax on a campervan?
For campervans under 3,500kg, road tax is £220 per year for engines up to 1,549cc, or £360 for larger engines. Vehicles over 3,500kg pay a flat rate of £171 regardless of engine size. Campervans manufactured before 1 January 1985 are exempt. If the vehicle had a list price over £40,000 when new, add £410 per year for years two through six.
Do campervans depreciate quickly?
Campervans lose around 20% of their value in the first year, then roughly 10% per year thereafter. After three years, a well-maintained campervan typically retains about 70% of its original value; after five years, around 50%. Compact van conversions (particularly VW-based) and premium European brands hold their value best.
How much does campervan insurance cost?
Annual premiums typically range from £250 to £600 for most campervans, depending on the vehicle’s value, your driving history, and storage arrangements. Basic campervans under £15,000 usually cost £250 to £400 to insure; mid-range vehicles £350 to £600. High-value motorhomes over £50,000 may cost £500 to £1,200.
What servicing does a campervan need?
Campervans need two types of annual service: a base vehicle service covering the engine, brakes, and mechanical components (£150 to £350), and a habitation service covering gas systems, electrics, water, damp, and appliances (£180 to £400). The gas system check is legally required every 12 months if you use LPG appliances.
Not ready to buy just yet? Why not hire one of our quirky campervans and take it for a spin first? Head to Scotland for dramatic highlands and wild beaches, or explore the castles and coastline of Wales. It’s the best way to find out if campervan life is for you.
