The dream of owning your own camper: tips for buying and financing

Whether down to Lake Garda or up to the North Cape, whether with a used bus or the latest VW model: camping holidays with a van mean traveling flexibly, enjoying the feeling of freedom and simply always being exactly where you want to be at that moment like best.  

So that your dream can be realized on four wheels, we have summarized the best tips for you that you should definitely keep in mind when buying and financing your camper vehicle. A new camper can quickly cost up to 45,000 euros. The luxury liners can even reach six-figure sums. All tips about purchasing and financing in the article.  

With these tips you can buy a camper

1. Rent first, then buy  

Are you even into camping? Is the vehicle you want really something for you? Newcomers in particular should have gone on holiday in a camper van at least once before buying. It definitely makes sense to rent a camper for a short vacation and then decide what is important to you when buying it or what you can do without.

2. Keep an eye on your vacation destinations and travel duration

If you have decided to buy a camper, then you should ask yourself: Are you looking for a camper for weekend trips or do you want to travel for several months a year? Should your van be used more in the summer or for mountain tours and winter excursions? Are you traveling alone, as a couple, with your family or even with larger groups?  

So there are a lot of things you should consider before you decide on the right vehicle. But the more accurately you can assess your travel goals and plans, the easier it will be to search for and buy the dream van. Be sure to plan enough time here.

3. The correct driving license class

The weight of a camper is not immediately apparent. The 3.5 tons can quickly be exceeded. The B driving license is only permitted for up to a 3.5 ton truck. If the vehicle you want is heavier, you will also need the C1 driving license. But be careful: If the camper weighs more than 3.5 tons, you are only allowed to drive at a maximum of 100 km/h. So check your driver's license beforehand and be sure to ask about the weight of the camper.

4. Select the appropriate size of the vehicle

This step is about the size of your camper vehicle. Here it depends on the length and height. On average, camper buses are between 4.80 and 7.50 meters long. The width varies between 1.70 and 2.10 meters and the height can even be 3 meters.  

Automobile manufacturers usually ask you about size classifications. For example, from L1 to L4, which stands for the length and H1 to H3 as the height. But one thing should be certain: the larger the camper is, the more power is required and therefore more fuel. If you prefer to save money, you should opt for a smaller camper. However, you have to pay attention to the exact plan and then make the selection. A distinction is made between the following camper categories: mini camper, the classic camper, large camper.

The mini camper

The mini camper is a leisure or all-purpose vehicle. These include, for example, the following car models:

• VW Caddy

• Fiat Scudo

• Peugeot Rifter

• Renault Kangoo

A pull-out bed is built over the bench. This means that the van can be converted into a mini camper in no time. The advantages of this camper model are, on the one hand, the cheap financing, the lower fuel consumption and the faster progress thanks to the higher speed limit.  

A mini camper is ideal for weekend trips or short trips over a few holidays. However, the living space in which one can develop is smaller here. There is less space for cooking. If the weather is not so good and you have to spend the time in the camper, then it can be quite crowded with several people. Nevertheless, the mini camper is very popular. Students and couples in particular appreciate this model.

The classic camper model

In the 1960s and 1970s, the VW T2 was a legendary classic camper model, also known as a panel van. Today this includes:

• VW T5

• Mercedes Vito

• Ford Transit

• Toyota minibus

Due to their length and height, these models belong to the L1H1 and L1H2 categories. The classic camper model is particularly popular for bus adventure fans. Compact, plenty of living space and even in constant rain you can easily spend time in the camper with friends. You can also drive around off-road with the classic mobile without any problems. Thanks to the moderate vehicle height, underground car parks and parking garages are easy to navigate.  

Another advantage of the classic camper model is that the model can be equipped with an additional pop-up roof. This gives you more storage space or additional sleeping spaces. The classic camper is therefore very practical for smaller families, but expensive to purchase. If you want to sell your piece of jewelry later, the resale value is high.

The big camper

The large camper is considered a special class among camper models. These include, among others:

• Mercedes Sprinter

• Fiat Ducato

• Renault Master

• VW Crafter

The automobile dealers refer to the large camper as L2H2 or L3H3. The cargo area offers plenty of space for further expansion options as well as storage space for a mountain bike or surfboard. Standing inside the vehicle is also possible. The disadvantage is the size of the vehicle in smaller towns or narrow streets. Turning could be a real challenge and nerve-wracking. When it comes to parking garages, you should definitely think about the height of your camper. That could be just right sometimes.

5. Pay attention to the condition of the camper

Old camper buses have a great charm. Tech freaks love tinkering with these cars and can get a lot out of the T3 models. But you need to be careful, especially with the old models. It can happen that your beloved camper van breaks down while you are driving. Then the emergency breakdown call is often the last resort. Therefore, the following should be taken into account when purchasing: year of manufacture and age, mileage, engine, rust, underbody, test reports, previous owner.

Your freedom on four wheels  

This infographic makes it clearer what you should pay attention to when buying your own camper. We will also give you valuable savings tips on financing and which areas in Europe are worth camping in.

Financing options for your camper

Nothing happens without moss! Once you have found a camper, the next step is finances. Often there is not enough equity, but there is no reason to panic. There are several ways you can finance your dream camper. The car loan and the installment loan are among the classic financing options. With an installment loan, you can be the proud owner of your own camper before the end of the loan term.  

The car loan is a loan with a specific purpose. The vehicle serves as security for the lender. This means that the bank receives the vehicle registration document until the end of the repayment. The interest rates are significantly cheaper for a car loan compared to an installment loan.  

Another financing option would be leasing. This financing is ideal if you want to really try out your camper before actually buying it. You have to pay a monthly fee to use the camper over a certain period of time. When the leasing contract is coming to an end, you can continue leasing the camper, return the vehicle directly to the dealer or purchase your dream on four wheels yourself by paying the remaining amount.

When it comes to financing, it doesn't matter whether you want to buy a new or used camper. Caution: However, the interest rates on used models can be higher because the vehicle value decreases more quickly than on new cars.

What do you also think about 3-way financing? This would be another financing option. At the end of the term, you have three options to repay the loan. You can either pay the remaining amount as a one-off final installment, settle this with follow-up financing or buy the camper directly.

Compare financing offers – it’s worth it

Can't see the forest for the trees anymore? With so many financing offers on the Internet, you can lose track of everything. A car loan comparison creates a good overview and offers a good opportunity to compare different options.

Determine the monthly rate and term for the financing type yourself. However, make sure that the monthly rate is not too low. This would significantly increase the running time. Here it is important to find your own middle ground.  

Conclusion: Take your time, compare and don't rush anything

Depending on what ideas you have about traveling and how many people you are taking with you on vacation - the price range often depends on this. A good financing option would be a car installment loan, leasing or a loan directly from the car dealer.

Take your time when calculating costs and financing options and don't rush into anything. Likewise, it doesn't always have to be a new car. Used is always possible and saves you a lot of money.

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