motorhome rental is already widespread. Many companies, whether smaller or larger, offer different types of motorhomes, trailers or vans for hire. There has also been a big boom thanks to the corona. motorhome holidays offer a new form of accommodation. It allows you to travel freely, exploring places you might not even get to.
Motorhoming is growing like mushrooms after the rain. We started with a motorhome in 2015. After 10 years of experience travelling with a car around campsites, hotels and guesthouses. At that time there were only a few motorhomers. And only a few companies that offered campervan hire. Therefore, if someone wanted to rent a motorhome, they had to pick it up in another town. Maybe even at the other end of the country. Now there are more and more motorhome rental companies, which makes this type of travel and holiday more accessible to people from smaller towns and villages.
motorhome hire for holidays
Renting a motorhome and going on a trip is the best way to experience this kind of holiday, travel or life. Try travelling without restrictions, live on the beach, in the mountains or in an ancient town. Try a modern campsite or free-standing in the countryside with your family or friends. Experience a holiday full of freedom without expensive decisions. Renting a motorhome will help you check that it fits your lifestyle and that it suits the rest of the crew. motorhomes are rented by families and even groups of friends.
Hire a motorhome before you buy
Hiring a motorhome is, in my opinion, the cheapest way to find out if motorhoming is for you and what motorhome to actually buy. Probably every motorhomer I know has had at least one motorhome. Not because the previous one didn’t work, but because something didn’t suit them. Over time, he found that he actually needed or wanted something else.
That was the case with ours as well. We started with a semi-integrated motorhome and ended up with a camper van with a bathroom.
I would definitely recommend renting a motorhome before actually buying a motorhome. Rent 3 different types – a huge campervan, a micro campervan and something in between. You’ll find out for yourself what the pros and cons are. What suits you best, for your way of travelling
I know people who have rented a big alcove but ended up buying a VW California.
Renting a motorhome
In Europe today you can rent any type of motorhome. Whether a small VW California campervan or a Mercedes Marco Polo. You can rent a semi-integrated campervan or an integrated motorhome. New models are available, but also older “old skool” versions for less money.
“Renting a motorhome is much cheaper in the off-season”
It is possible to rent a motorhome, even for a weekend. In low season it is of course more expensive and you need to rent a motorhome for at least a week. Rental companies sometimes give discounts for long-term rentals in the off-season. Sometimes they also set a maximum mileage.
The price nowadays starts from 50 EUR per day for a trailer or some old skool motorhome. It goes up to €150 per day for a more luxurious version or top season.
When renting a motorhome, you usually pay a refundable deposit of around 1000 EUR. Sometimes there is also a one-off service charge for cleaning and washing the motorhome. This fee varies, usually between EUR 50 and EUR 100.
When renting a motorhome, you will usually get a fully equipped kitchen and outdoor furniture as well. A full gas bottle and water tank. Basically, you come to the motorhome as an apartment, where you just bring your clothes and food.
motorhome hire abroad
“In addition to renting a motorhome at home, you can also rent a motorhome abroad.”
This will save you a lot of time and maybe even money. You fly to Spain, for example, and there you are already driving the motorhome. Some rental companies also offer surfboards, paddleboards, bicycles or other equipment for a small fee.
This was very popular in Portugal, for example, where you could choose from lots of different kinds of vans. Depending on the size and number of beds. Check out the company Indiecampers, they have vans in several places in Europe.
There are also specialist motorhome hire companies right in tourist destinations. You get there comfortably by motorhome and at that point you just cruise slowly with the motorhome and enjoy your motorhome holiday. I’ve only seen such rentals in Italy so far, but I’m sure they exist in other countries as well.
Book a date
Although there are plenty of motorhomes for rent, don’t delay unnecessarily in booking your dates. The date depends on your travel flexibility. If you are tied to summer holidays or exact dates for choosing a holiday, it is better to book your motorhome rental well in advance. Otherwise, you may be left with some inferior pieces, unnecessarily large or older ones.
The top season in motorhome hire is definitely summer. However, if your crew isn’t tied to the summer holidays and you like the southern landscapes, don’t be afraid to go on holiday in September. You’ll get a better price for your rental. There are fewer tourists everywhere at that time and the weather by the sea is ideal until the end of September.
In addition to such longer holidays, you can also rent a motorhome for weekends or holidays. Don’t limit yourself to summer. motorhoming is beautiful in every season. Winter is also no problem in most new motorhomes.
If you decide to rent a motorhome from a town further away from you, keep in mind that you have to pick up the motorhome at the motorhome rental company on the exact day and return it there afterwards. You need to drive your car to the rental company, pack up and leave your personal car there while you holiday in your rented motorhome.
Choose your motorhome hire
“Holidaying in a rented motorhome is no cheap luxury and so the price of the rental may be the most important factor”
You can choose a motorhome hire company based on location, references, type of motorhomes and their equipment, available dates, price and recommendations.
The terms and conditions may vary minimally but in essential ways. Make sure you don’t underestimate them and read them in advance instead of Facebooking.
In addition to choosing a motorhome rental company, you also have to choose a specific type. Well, this is where the biggest dilemma comes in. Now you start making compromises. Big or small? Introverted or prefer a van? From personal experience, I can tell you that something different suits everyone. I clearly had the idea right from the start that the length had to be under 6m. We did get to look at some lovely huge cars at the show though. They are nice and comfortable, but our roads are mostly in countries and places where the roads are narrow. That’s why we stuck to the strictly predetermined parameters – the length of the car and the length of the bed. At my 194cm this is not easy. That’s why it’s so individual, because everyone has their own style of travel, different needs and wants to see something different. For more information, see other articles, such as how to choose a suitable motorhome for hire.
Take a motorhome in a rental company
What about the car you bring to the rental company to pick up your motorhome?
You have to arrive at the rental motorhome on the agreed date. Make time and an extra person available. Unless the motorhome rental company is a few streets away, where you can also walk. So you need a person to chauffeur your car back home. Yes, you can also take a taxi. Some motorhome hire companies may have customer parking and so you will leave your car parked with them for the duration of your holiday. It is definitely worth considering the safety of such parking. It’s individual and you should ask your motorhome hire company if they recommend it and if they even have space for it.
Time for training and what’s where in the motorhome
“Set aside about 1 – 1.5 hours for them to introduce you to the motorhome, show you what is in the motorhome and how it is used”
It might not hurt to take someone else from the crew for training. At the motorhome hire shop they’ll show you where to fill up with water etc. A motorhome is such a hut on wheels and apart from filling up with diesel you need to do other servicing around it, or know how to operate its equipment. So for the perfect motorhome holiday, we’ve put together some guides to help you get to grips with the motorhome. You won’t have to call anyone at midnight to find out how to turn on the water.
Most motorhome hire companies have a servicing point so they’ll hand the motorhome over to you ready for camping. This means it will have at least a partially filled drinking water tank, an emptied waste water tank and a toilet. A charged house battery, a full gas bottle. The motorhome will be cleaned and washed. Nowadays, you can find rental companies that use ozone for cleaning or use eco-friendly bedding cleaning services. They also take for granted a technical service before the rental, in which they fix any defects or minor damages to the motorhome. The rental company will also carry out a check of the operating fluids of the motorhome.
Price for motorhome rental
The price depends on the season, age and equipment of the motorhome. A service charge is usually added to the motorhome rental price for cleaning, full gas cylinder, assistance on call. motorhome hire companies have a security deposit in their terms and conditions in case of damage, breakdowns and the like. Newer motorhomes for hire have breakdown insurance. (If a rental company doesn’t have this, they’re gambling a bit with their motorhome.) For older motorhomes for hire, taking out breakdown insurance can be problematic.
Rental companies may have a minimum number of days to rent a motorhome, which may be different for different seasons
“A maximum mileage limit per day is also common”
Camping accessories may or may not be included in the price. For example, camping chairs and a table may be provided by motorhome hire companies at an extra cost. Some will also rent sports equipment such as SUPs, bicycles or electric scooters. This is usually extra equipment at an extra cost.