Car, hire campervan , camper or motorhome rental and travel in Oz.  This article focuses on Australia rental conditions and what things or terms you might expect to come across.

Hire campervan and motorhome rental In Australia

Although Australia is an island it is also a continent and for this reason alone it is large. Very large. To get around the country there is a very large and competitive air travel network. The southern parts of the country also offer fairly substantial train travel while the more remote areas of the northern part of the country mainly only offer bus travel.

One other option which is becoming very popular in Australia is a hire campervan or motorhome.

Considering that with today’s prices a single bed in a hostel dormitory averages around $27.00AUD per night per person. So for three people traveling together that equals an average daily cost – just to rest your head for the night – of $81.00.

It is no wonder that a hire campervan is so popular.

A basic hire campervan vehicle can take two forms. The budget level is the Campa Car which is often a large Ford or Holden Station wagon (you may know this type of vehicle as an Estate) which comes equipped with full camping equipment including tents,  Gas cooker, cookware and crockery and camp chairs for each person.

The next type of hire Campervan is the Mini.

Not all Rental Companies have Mini’s so if this van is the type of thing your looking for then you may need to view a number of websites until you find one that handles Mini campers. MINI’s can come as a very basic unit – a bed and maybe a couple of rough made cupboards – too well made units with beds, sinks, fitted stove and the standard linen, crockery and cookware. 

The most popular type of hire campervan is the HiTop. These units are similar to the MINI but have an extended raised main roof, so you can stand inside. They are very popular units – over 85% of the rentals that I get are for the HiTop unit. They are fairly similar across the different companies and have the same standard “basics” , like the Mini. In addition they will also have Air conditioning – while driving – and a 2 way fridge system (works on 12Volt DC and 240V AC power).

Are there “Other Costs” in Renting a Campervan?

Yes. So we’ll  take a look at what costs are really involved for you. Iif you understand this better you will be able to make a better choice when you go to book your hire campervan Holiday.

Daily Rate

This is the actual cost per day to hire the vehicle and usually includes basic insurance. Basic insurance will cover you and your passengers in the event of an accident with another vehicle. Some rental companies do not include “Single Vehicle Accidents” – where you drive into a tree or a wall – and may charge an additional fee to cover this. If it is not explained to your clearly what the Insurance covers – ASK!

Stamp Duty

In Australia the Government charges a 2% fee on any contracts relating to the rental of gods or services. This includes unit/apartment/house rental, car hire and Campervan rental. It is not a secret little fee that Camper rental companies have created to squeeze a few more dollars from you. It is a Mandatory charge by the government. Some rental companies may offer to waive this fee - which simply means they have included it in the cost of the rental.

One Way Fee

This is usually applied if you are renting the van from one city or state location to another – for example – Sydney To Cairns.

Security Bond/Excess

The Security Bond or Excess is the amount you are liable for in the event of a major accident. In other words this is the maximum amount you would have to pay if the vehicle was damaged beyond repair.  

A Word Of Caution

Most hire campervan and Motorhome rental websites advertise vehicles that are 6 berth Winnebago Motorhomes. However often these are not actually available and I have, on many occasions while acting as an agent for another Australian company in Cairns, found the customers have just stepped off a plane to discover that what they are getting in the way of a 6 berth motorhome, just is not what I have shown them.

So if you are booking your trip from outside Australia please really make sure that the vehicle you are getting is what you actually saw on the website and believed you will be getting. Have the company email you a picture of the type of vehicle. You may need it!

Also watch out for “false descriptions”..eg: The company’s confirmation email to you reads… “We take pleasure in confirming your booking for a 6 berth Mercedes Motorohome”. You may just be getting a large van that sleeps 6, and it may very well be an Iveco or a Fiat and not a Mercedes.

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