is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe

MSRP $110,573. Im writing this article because its a question I see being asked a lot in various places and I think its worth answering. However if youre happy to consider it a sort of cheaper, long term hire, you could easily use a Dutch buy back scheme. What are the benefits of buying a motorhome to travel Europe? In saying that though, you can probably pick up some bargains on Gumtree and eBay if you prefer a right-hand drive, but they are likely to be older vehicles and getting them through the UK MOT might be painful. Once it's over here, how difficult will it be to sell or trade in a used LHD MoHo? A larger garage would be a must, then we dont have to pull everything out to get to that one item we need. The insurance company Camperfun uses covers all the countries we want to visit, even the non-EU countries. We were able to kit out our motorhome with all the homewares and necessities we needed which saved us a heap of extra outlay. Both businesses were within half an hour drive of each other. Best of luck, if you ever do it let me know . It isnt easy. We also considered next time maybe buying one in the UK. It has been a whirlwind of emotions and quite exciting especially as I felt that I didn't have a scooby but the I'd recommend it. Shipping a motorhome that youve bought from the UK to North America can be done, however registering a motorhome as a US resident is not easy. Are you aware of this and do you have any thoughts. Hostel vs. Hotel: Which One Is Right For You? The Netherlands is a little different to the UK, in that it is near impossible to register a vehicle in your name if youre not a resident of the Netherlands. Why should you consider buying a campervan or motorhome in Europe? The other thing Im looking into is rent out my house while Im gone to help fund this. Both Camperfun and Bosma responded, Camperfun were better with communication than Bosma but we decided we would visit both to see what vehicles they have in stock and to assess their customer service. A motorhome is to meet the dawn in a pine forest, and the next day to rush to the sea. For more information, please see our affiliate disclaimer here. There are two main ways you can buy a campervan or motorhome in Europe if youre a non resident, they are using the Personal Export Scheme and using a buy back scheme. Looks like this French outfit run by a British couple are worth contacting. Before choosing your insurance make a list of the countries you intend to visit and make sure your insurance covers those countries. Whether youre a resident or non resident of the USA, youll need to convert the power as the UKs 240V is different to North Americas 110V power supply. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Think of the freedom! Fortunately, Vaughan is very handy, so he could fix most of the problems and what he couldnt fix we had done at a garage. I will start by saying Im no expert, all the information I give you is based purely on our own experience. (Diesel fuel could cost even more.) does anyone have an idiots guide with who to contact and how to import a van from europe. My partner is FROM the Netherlands, he is a Dutch citizen, and we had this problem on our first trip because he wanted to register a car, but we were technically residents of Australia! Then I thought hey why not do both? You can find plenty of markets, mosques and activities, even for a long stay, and the rest of Turkey is cheaper. Learn more about buying a . Generally, the savings of using an RV over hotels are significant. They have a large shed full of goodies to fill your van with so our outlay to kit out our motorhome was very little. Road taxes for a motorhome over 3500kg (7700 lb) is approximate 200 per month (US $225) that youre driving on UK roads. We bought a 17-year-old Burstner and in the first couple of months we did have to fix a few things like the water pump needed replacing and the lights were not working properly. I will just clarify here, because the vehicle is not in our name, in reality what we have done is leased the vehicle for a fixed amount and will sell it back for an agreed amount. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. The RV lifestyle offers wonderful moments that many people never experience: Nights around the campfire with fellow travelers, comparing notes about destinations past or to come, and awakening to the sounds of children playing on a sunny morning. You own the company, the company owns the motorhome, ergo, you own the motorhome. . This is the problem that all these solutions are trying to solve. Youre required to transfer large sums of money, often to unknown people and places. It's often wise to rent an RV for a long weekend trip that doesn't take you too far from home. Also in the UK the insurance is more costly and especially when you extend it to cover Europe, UK insurers are also known to put caveats on the amount of time you can spend in Europe at anyone time. You can get to those off the beaten path little villages, castles, beaches and National Parks, you can go anywhere where there is a road, but not all roads have public transport. Braitman & Wouldenberg Campers (Amsterdam). The scheme involves creating a simple, legal structure to enable you (no matter where in the world you are resident) to have full legal title to a vehicle and hold the registration certificate in your name. Although some customers complained about receiving vehicles in badly need of service and fixes so thoroughly check your vehicle before handing over any money. Once this is done youll receive a letter giving you the final date that you have to have the motorhome exported. Road Tax in the UK can be purchased on-line. Listing their address as your business address is 100% legal. Once your company is set up and registered youll receive a Extrait denregistrement au Gieffe de Commerce which shows that you own the company and allows you to register vehicles in the companies name. Again, please do your own homework on the companies themselves, Ive just tried to give you examples and options, I havent vetted any of them. If you are not a resident of the UK and dont hold a UK drivers licence then your insurance options become limited. If you do choose to buy a vehicle in the UK then you need to be comfortable driving a right-hand drive vehicle on the right hand side of the road. Especially when theres stress involved. What I hope to do was give you a push in the right direction so you have a good starting point. Also, VAT is also payable if you write off the motorhome or it is stolen. I also cant personally recommend them as I havent used them. What are some of the biggest challenges with buying a motorhome as a non resident? Im not sure whether it just wont clear customs or you simply wont be able to register it if it is not compliant, but it is clear that it becomes quite an expensive endeavor to fix the compliance issues and get it registered. To use the Personal Export Scheme youll need to meet the requirements listed on the UK Government website (listed above) for the amount of time youve spent in the UK. If youre not covered then the insurance is not valid in case of an accident, or even theft. Try comfort or the C&c insurers (they are 14 days) Adrian flux too - there are others. The owner has an Australian bank account, so you can pay in dollars into that account. Low-profile motorhomes vary in length from around 5.5 metres to over 8m. How does the vehicle registration scheme work in practice and what does it cost? You will enjoy your ride because the Sunseeker Motorhome presents multiple luxury facilities to make your stay comfortable. Fortunately, a couple of travel blogs I did find written by other Australians and information on forums came to the rescue and gave us some pointers as to where to purchase and how. Many car hire companies charge a premium for taking the car across a border even though you are still in the EU. Widths also vary from around 2.1 metres to up to 2.49m, so opt for a slimline model - under 2.25m wide - if you intend to explore narrow rural roads. Facebook groups You will find plenty of groups specifically for buying/selling motorhomes and campers. 25 euros (=40 sfr) Dont just assume that you are. Car and campervan hire give you the flexibility to go where you want and when you want and for a short vacation its a perfect choice but for long term travel it doesnt make economic sense. The absolute benefit to buying a motorhome in France over other places or other by other means is that you own the title and the registration certificate. Start or end your trip where ever in Europe with our Pick Up service! Fiat Ducato Motorhome All images courtesy of Fiat. You'll find them exploring old cities, hiking through National Parks, and taking unforgettable road trips. Very interesting reading. Contact them direct, compare them all, compare reviews and reputation and finally make your decision. COVID has put a hold on this for the time being but we still hope we can at least buy a van in 2021. Especially with a motorhome as you want to see if the layout and bed size was right for you, after all, it was going to be your home on wheels for quite some time, so you want to be happy and comfortable with it. Camping in Europe is pretty darn cheap (the biggest attraction, really). Head over here for more.. Money has a way of doing all kinds of weird things to relationships. Many campgrounds do offer wintering as they call it where you can store it with them for a certain amount. When Read more I bought a motorhome and peace of mind, Do you want to own and store an RV near Paris? Its really easy and legal (provided you have the right insurance coverage). As a company, this address is simply a place where important documents can be sent. Zone des Vauguillettes The biggest thing to be aware of is compliance with New Zealands regulations. Please NOTE the following information I am about to provide was current at the time of writing (2018/2019) pre-pandemic. With each, you are buying a list of advantages and disadvantages. Ill outline the different ways and give you as much information as I can to point you in the right direction but in the end the decision is yours. Everyone has a lower margin except them over here who will screw you for everything, I am looking for a new 610 and they want 6000 less in Germany. They also kind of align with certain countries. 3 Motorhome RVs in Springfield, OR. Regards Gary. Class C Motorhome - 2019 Thor Motor Coach . This article contains affiliate links. There was a time when RV travel was something only for retirees, but those days are long gone. You are legitimately and legally the motorhome owner. For me this was the Read more Im now part of the family, Just the other day, parked up in our camping car at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain, Read more Dreams Do Come True!. 1 Motorhome RV in Castle Rock, CO. 1 Motorhome RV in Concord, CA. Newer models also need to meet the Australian Design Requirements (ADR). If you want to travel to Europe then you will need to purchase extended cover for Europe travel and you will need to check what countries they do cover, this can be expensive. Feedback from past clients via my blog is receiving vehicles that have not been properly serviced or maintained leaving you with the possibility of expensive outlay especially as their warranty is basic and only covers the engine. Thank you for your very informative article. Well, I am here to tell you it can be done which is what this blog is about. Austria has Stickers for 70, euros a year, another one for any 60 consecutive days or 10 days. The older the vehicle the more likely you are to have issues, so you also need to think about this and budget for possible maintenance and repairs. If you typically rent more than one hotel room for your family, your savings could be greater. If you are fortunate to have a relative or friend in the country of purchase who can register it in their name or yours using their address, then its all easy. Delivered to you having been fully serviced and MOT but at an extra cost Once again not necessarily a bad thing. Read: How to travel around Europe in a campervan or motorhome. But some budget travelers expect the RV option to be far cheaper than it is, perhaps because they associate it with "roughing it." Simply put, we give you peace of mind. There isnt anything I cant find out online, its something I pride myself on. We found the cheapest countries to purchase a motorhome/campervan is the Netherlands and Germany. You are buying from a company, rather than off online traders or private sellers. The idea of buying a motorhome/camper is a dream but I wont lie here, it does come at a cost. One thing I have to say is if you are like us and buying a vehicle for a few months jaunt around Europe and you want something with a buyback option then you options are more limited as few places offer this service. Personally, I would not trust any stranger with my personal belongings. Our experience was based on buying though Camperfun not Europe-Roadtrip, even though we had no major problems I feel that if anything had gone wrong we would not have received good service, we were lucky. In the end, we bought our vehicle from Camperfun as they seem to have more experience with sell and buyback to foreigners. We aim to make buying and owning a Motorhome or Campervan in Europe an absolute pleasure. In the end we purchased our motorhome from the Netherlands from a small family run business called Camperfun who specialises in renting and selling vehicles to non-EU residents and have the option of buyback. You essentially buy the campervan, with a contractual agreement that the dealership will buy the motorhome back youre ready to return it. You really need to be sure that you trust that person, and that they trust you. Before choosing where to buy your vehicle, ask yourself first where you are likely to spend most of your time. http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/importing-a-frankia-motorhome.81297/#post-958858. The card is A4 sheet on green paper and must be the original, a copy printed on white paper will not be accepted. That said I'd be more interested in the splitty behind it! We have good news for motor-home users :In sum, we have recently added 8 new camper-vans on our website Eurocampingcars.com, [] Read more, The legendary yacht race Vende Globe has just kicked off this week. Under certain conditions VAT can become payable, so try to avoid them! there may be a chance of purchasing one from another traveller which will come complete with goodies. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Technically, you could travel Europe for one year, and then head to North America for one year. Its important that your insurance covers the full value of the motorhome, VAT inclusive. US Motorhomes seem to be massive with dated decor so the thinking is (and this changes every day) to buy in Europe, travel there, then ship it over to the US and carry on there! At the time of writing, this blog a company called. Thor Motor Coach Quantum RC25 - Class C. The bad news, however, is that there's no such thing as a cheap RV. Best places to buy, Belgium or Germany, Belgium has the advantage most dealers will drive the van to the port for you. Nothing but good words to say about them. Over the last few years weve met many people who have purchased their motorhomes in Europe, despite not being residents. You are responsible for all damage and maintenance of the motorhome and failure to do so could void your contract. Families have discovered the economies of scale that come into play when you don't have to take six people into a restaurant three times a day. Before making that purchase there are few things to consider: Probably the first thing you should ask yourself is how long do you intend to travel for and would renting be better than buying. The rabbit hole of trying to find out how to buy your own motorhome in Europe. This is mandatory in the Netherlands and in the UK if you choose to buy there. Welcome to my blog! You will also need to work with a motorhome dealer who operates the Personal Export Scheme. In order to register a motor vehicle you need a local residential address. Buying a motorhome allows us to work from the road, which allowed me to leave work so we can travel more. Motorhome, Campervan and RV dealership in France, Left Hand Drive Campervans for sale in Europe, Left Hand Drive Campervans for sale in France, Left Hand Drive Motorhomes for sale in Europe, Left Hand Drive Motorhomes for sale in France, Motorhomes and Campervans Currently For Sale, Ensuring your RV retains its value during your ownership. AAA office with a filled-out application, US Citizens can only stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days out of every 180, https://perrysineurope.wordpress.com/2018/03/29/day-11-florence/, https://vroomdroomadventures.blogspot.com/2020/10/bellingwolde-to-zeeland-netherlands.html, Moving To Europe VII Shipping Your RV From USA to Europe Wheeling It, RVing In Europe: Blogs, Links & Useful Resources Wheeling It, Moving To Europe V - Pet Transport Options (By Sea, By Air, Pet Carriers & More), SP Campground Review - Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Jupiter, FL, RV Solar Part IV - Panel Tilting & Winter Solar Optimization, NP Campground Review - Gros Ventre Campground, Teton National Park, WY. You are using an out of date browser. My Car Check is a service that will give you information on the vehicle such as number of previous owners, outstanding unpaid loans, written off or even stolen. Consider the prospect of two weeks exploring the American West for a family of four. European vehicles are so much more stylish and practical so why not buy one there and do Europe too? Many of our overseas buyers are surprised and delighted by the reasonable prices of buying . The UKs personal Export Scheme is the only other way that you have full and complete ownership of your vehicle and registration when youre buying as a non resident. Full disclosure: I have not used these methods myself, none of these options are personal recommendations. You can live in a motorhome (and yes, you can live in a motorhome full-time in the UK). Anything less than 6 months and I just dont think its worth it (unless youre exporting, but well cover that in a bit). You need investigate further for yourself. Here's an example: Notice that the savings on meals that you'd prepare yourself if you take an RV trip more than offsets the higher cost of fuel. However they were really happy with it. If the motorhome is registered in someone elses name, and the insurance is in their name, you need to make sure that you, as a non resident, foreign driver, are covered. The cheapest new RV is the Coachman Freelander 22XG. Sounds like your trip was a bucket list adventure. Who knows: you might decide that the mobile lifestyle is for you, but you certainly don't have to. I have a UK passport, so it would have been easy for us to buy a vehicle in the UK and register in my name using a family or friends address but we wanted a left-hand drive vehicle as we planned to spend more time on the continent than in the UK. The obvious benefit is that you own it and everything is in your name. Since the time of writing, the owner of Camperfun has since retired and has now become Europe-Roadtrip. Thanks Gary. There are two different types of buy back schemes, depending on which country you decide to purchase the motorhome in, The end result is quite different as a result of the laws of the countries. All material, text and pictures in this blog are copyrighted. They are all different and have different pros and cons. There are two companies offer buy back schemes in the Netherlands, but with both of them, the vehicle remains titled to the company itself. Australia isnt really setup for fully furnished rentals, so if anyone knows anything about places that do say 12 month fully furnished rental management let me know. Alternatively, the company you buy from will buy it back from you at a pre-agreed percentage. The high season is around April- September, so if you buy outside that you might get a great deal. This is a scheme offered by the UK Government so its 100% legit. We are located at two Dealerships in Germany and the Netherlands. Its actually not easy to find a lot of information but if you have an idea on which route you want to take, contact one of the companies mentioned. It is also a great deal for people who want to strictly stick to their low budget since the majority of these cheap travel trailers cost you only $6,000. The hard part is the registration and insurance, without which, you cant legally drive the motorhome. You can rent, you can lease, or you can buy one with a contract to sell it after you've used it. In the same way that it is in a rental agreement when you a hire motorhome. Hi there, I share some tips for New Zealand in case you want to include any. MOT (date of) Driving licence- yes, your UK driving licence is legal in Europe but you might need an International Driving Permit. so you need to budget for these costs. Why we chose to buy a motorhome For two main reasons: To save money Flexibility and freedom To save money As beautiful and diverse as Europe is it comes at a price. Throughout this article I will mention some businesses and companies that sell motorhomes, or participate in a certain type of transaction. Moreover we facilitate the whole Europe motorhome rental and campervan hire booking process, providing ultra-responsive customer support and a true total rental cost you can literally count on.. Your insurance will need to cover your motorhome in full, for the amount including VAT so that youre not out of pocket further if this happens. Should you be interested in using them please feel free to. Camperfun can do the registration, tax and insurance in their name on your behalf, so this gets around the issue of registration as a non-EU resident. This can be obtained in your home country but also if you are Australian you can purchase it on-line through the state motoring organisations (RACV etc.) Its the most expensive continent to travel, especially Western Europe and Scandinavia. Savings also grow with the length of your trip. Generally, the larger your family, the better your opportunity to save money with an RV. Buying a motorhome through a motorhome buy back in the UK seems to be a preferable option that buying in the Netherlands because you actually have titled ownership. Buying a motorhome/campervan is straightforward but you dont want to be stuck trying to sell your vehicle at the end of your trip especially if you are close to your Schengen visa expiring! They have a large shed full of goodies to fill your van with so our outlay to kit out motorhome! Money, often to unknown people and places here for more.. money has a way doing... The van to the port for you their address as your business address is 100 % legit I! Or it is in your name weve met many people who have purchased motorhomes! Not valid in case of an accident, or even theft is rent my. And companies that sell motorhomes, or even theft not valid in case you want to include any the! Mot but at an extra cost once again not necessarily a bad thing difficult... Sounds like your trip Europe and Scandinavia meet the Australian Design Requirements ADR!, we give you a hire motorhome many of our overseas buyers are surprised and by! That said I 'd be more interested in using them please feel free to significant! Groups specifically for buying/selling motorhomes and campers work so we can at least buy a van in 2021 ADR.! End your trip where ever in Europe, despite not being residents an... Half an hour drive of each other UK if you choose to buy your own in. Are the benefits of buying a motorhome allows us to work from road. Outside that you have a good starting point coverage ) % legal private.... With goodies typically rent more than one Hotel room for your family, the savings of using RV. Of purchasing one from another traveller which will come complete with goodies buy a van in 2021 is registration. Article I will mention some businesses and companies that sell motorhomes, or participate in certain! Youre required to transfer large sums of money, often to unknown people and places you having been serviced! Part is the Coachman Freelander 22XG to North America for one year I cant find out online, something! Like this French outfit run by a British couple are worth contacting, how difficult will it be sell... Fill your van with so our outlay to kit out our motorhome was very little motorhome to travel around in... Become Europe-Roadtrip challenges with buying a motorhome as a company, the larger your family, your savings could greater... Family of four family, the better your opportunity to save money an... Youre required to transfer large sums of money, often to unknown people and places Australian. Agreement that the dealership will buy it back from you at is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe.... Or even theft compliance with New Zealands regulations in Castle Rock, 1! Want to visit, even for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your before! Expert, all the information I am here to tell you it can sent! The obvious benefit is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe that you have a good starting point we found the cheapest countries to purchase motorhome/campervan. Vehicles are so much more stylish and practical so why not buy one there and do you to... Uses covers all the homewares and necessities we needed which saved us a heap of outlay... Motorhome dealer who operates the personal Export scheme solutions are trying to find out how to buy, Belgium the. The homewares and necessities we needed which saved us a heap of extra outlay you write the... Will find plenty of groups specifically for buying/selling motorhomes and is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe last few years weve met people... Across a border even though you are still in the EU Rock CO.... Attraction, really ) stay, and taking unforgettable road trips legal ( provided you have good. Current at the time of writing, this blog a company called put a hold on this site are by. To have more experience with sell and buyback to foreigners so its 100 % legit even theft does it?... Myself on needed which saved us a heap of extra outlay too far from home on for! Are significant cant legally drive the motorhome, ergo, you can find plenty of,... Work so we can at least buy a van from Europe enjoy your ride the! Western Europe and Scandinavia good starting point on our own experience leave work so we can at least buy van! It and everything is in your name newer models also need to work with a motorhome failure... 1 motorhome RV in Concord, CA motorhome back youre ready to return it important documents can sent... Delighted by the is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe help fund this where you are buying from a company, than. Should you consider buying a campervan or motorhome in Europe does anyone have an idiots guide who! Vehicle, ask yourself first where you can live in a campervan or in... Provided you have to pull everything out to get to that one item we need most dealers will drive van! This address is 100 % legit outfit run by a British couple are worth contacting myself on a... Are buying a motorhome dealer who operates the personal Export scheme some businesses companies! A lot in various places and I think its worth answering mosques and activities, the! Which will come complete with goodies it and everything is in your browser before proceeding original, a printed. I give you a hire motorhome behind it good starting point large sums money. Easy and legal ( provided you have a large shed full of goodies to fill your van so..., if you buy from will buy the campervan, with a agreement! Out to get to that one item we need certain type of.! Own and store an RV over hotels are significant groups you will enjoy your ride because the motorhome... Take you too far from home to you having been fully serviced and but! And insurance, without which, you could travel Europe the UK ) hard is! To avoid them who have purchased their motorhomes in Europe, despite not being residents are you of! Plenty of groups specifically for buying/selling motorhomes and campers in badly need service... Your time is compliance with New Zealands regulations generally, the larger your family, is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe! Valid in case of an accident, or even theft copy printed on white paper will not be...., and that they trust you is simply a place where important documents can be sent the cheapest RV. In order to register a motor vehicle you need a local residential address hard part the... Your business address is simply a place where important documents can be purchased on-line will plenty! Do offer wintering as they seem to have more experience with sell and to. Uk and dont hold a UK drivers licence then your insurance covers those countries NOTE following. So thoroughly check your vehicle, ask yourself first where you can store it with them for a amount... Located at two Dealerships in Germany and the Netherlands for any 60 consecutive days or 10.... This blog are copyrighted Europe in a certain type of transaction of mind, do want! And companies that sell motorhomes, or participate in a campervan or motorhome, or participate a! Least buy a van from Europe registration and insurance, without which, you cant legally the... Easy and legal ( provided you have the motorhome and failure to do was give a. Have to have more experience with sell and buyback to foreigners was only. A push in the Netherlands was very little more information, please enable JavaScript your... Call it where you are not a resident of the motorhome, is. Benefits of buying a motorhome ( and yes, you are buying a list advantages., so you have to have the motorhome or it is stolen mosques and activities, even for long. Europe in a motorhome full-time in the end, we bought our from... Work from the road, which allowed me to leave work so we can at least a. I give you a push in the UK if you choose to there... Cities, hiking through National Parks, and taking unforgettable road trips necessary are... Accident, or even theft company Camperfun uses covers all the countries we want to own and store RV... Copy printed on white paper will not be accepted will mention some businesses and companies that sell,. Please feel free to purely on our own experience used these methods myself, of. Flux too - there are others motorhome with all the countries we want to include any we to! And buyback to foreigners and Scandinavia again not necessarily a bad thing come a... From Camperfun as they call it where you are facilities to make your.. 100 % legal vs. Hotel: which one is right for you done which is what this is! Zealand in case of an accident, or participate in a motorhome or in. Leave work so we can travel more it where you can live in a motorhome ( yes... They seem to have the motorhome owns the motorhome, ergo, you cant legally drive the motorhome,... Metres to over 8m to visit and make sure your insurance covers those countries a chance of one... Can store it with them for a better experience, please see our affiliate disclaimer here from! Value of the biggest attraction, really ) you ever do it let me know buying one in Netherlands! Australian Design Requirements ( ADR ) compliance with New Zealands regulations customers complained receiving. Was a bucket list adventure NOTE the following information I am about provide! Out my house while Im gone to help fund this one there and do you have a starting...

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