Travelling in a campervan is one of the best ways to do adventure around Australia. You can live by the beach and get off the beaten path, all the while saving money by combining your transport and accommodation costs. So, if you’ve chosen the van life (or van life has chosen you), you may be asking yourself the age-old question on every budget backpacker's lips: to rent, or to own?
If you plan on travelling to Australia in a campervan for more than 2 months, it is worth looking to buy rather than rent a van. However, for road trips under 2 months, renting a campervan is definitely the easiest option.
Renting VS Buying Pros & Cons
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Admin & Organisation
The most notable advantage of renting a van is the lack of organisation and time required to find the right van prior to hitting the road. You can simply arrive, pick up your fully-equipped rental and hit the road in a single day. Whereas, to buy a van, you have to shop around, get mechanical checks, insurance and a transfer of ownership to finally own your dream chariot. We recommend giving yourself at least two weeks for this process.
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Saving Money
However, if you’re planning on staying in Australia on a working holiday visa for longer than 2 or 3 months (or an indefinite period), buying a second-hand, already decked-out campervan will save you heaps of money. You’ll have a home away from home for your whole time Down Under; accommodation, transport, a kitchen and a place to store your stuff: sorted!
So, let’s compare the prices and sunk costs of renting a van, compared to buying one in Australia! We’re looking at the prices for types of most common vans you’ll see converted to campers on the coast.
Buying A Campervan In Australia
Average prices of secondhand campervans in Australia
Please note that second-hand car prices vary hugely depending on the age and condition. They have also notably gone up post-pandemic, which is bad for buying but great for selling. Upon purchasing, it’s so hard to tell whether a beautifully decked-out van is mechanically okay, so taking it to a mechanic prior to purchase is imperative.
Older vans will naturally be cheaper, but more likely to have mechanical issues, while newer, converted vans can fetch really high prices. Be wary of deals that are too good to be true, but also remember that backpackers can sell their vans for super cheap as they’re on a tight schedule when leaving Australia!
Smaller vans
Toyota Hiace, Mitsubishi Delica, Hyundai iMax, Ford Transit Connect
Aka low-top vans that you can’t stand up in. Most can fit in underground carparks and in parking spots. Some have “pop-top” roofs built in for extra height when parked.
- Less than 10 years old (with conversion): $25,000 - $60,000 AUD
- More than 10 years old (with conversion): $8,000 - $25,000 AUD
Larger vans
Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, Ram Promaster, Renault Master
Aka longer, high-top campervans that you can stand up in. These don’t fit in underground carparks and mostly can fit in a parking spot (just!), depending on their length.
- Less than 10 years old (with conversion): $35,000 - $100,000+ AUD
- More than 10 years old (with conversion): $10,000 - $40,000 AUD
Extra costs when you own a vehicle in Australia
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Registration (“rego”) - $300+ for 6 months
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Insurance
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Roadside assistance
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Transfer of ownership charge
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Mechanical checks before buying
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Services during your ownership period
Reselling your van
The resale price of secondhand cars is pretty good in Australia at the moment, so if you score a secondhand car you can resell it for about 10% less than you bought it within the year if it is in good condition. So, you can get most of what you bought the van for back at the end of your Aussie road trip adventure! However, it’s quite dependent on the condition of your van and market demand at the time.
Renting a campervan in Australia
Average prices of rental campervans
Low-top campervan
(often a Toyota Hiace or Tarago) - sleeps 2
- $90 - $110 per day
- $3100 per month (no insurance)
- $4000+ per month (with insurance)
Campervan with a pop-top
(often a Toyota Hiace or Tarago) - sleeps up to 4
- $100 - $140 per day
- $3200 - $4440 per month (no insurance)
- $4100 - $5300 per month (with insurance)
Extra possible costs when renting a campervan
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One-way travel fee (a cost to return the campervan to its original depot) - $150+
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Comprehensive insurance & excess reduction - from $30 to $45 per day
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Under 25 yrs driver fee
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Additional driver fee
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Extras like tables, chairs, gas bottles, etc.
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Fuel
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Campsite costs
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Costs for potential damage if you don’t opt for insurance
Which van should I rent?
If you’re opting for a rental van for your trip Down Under, we recommend Spaceships for value and JUCY for perks! Both have two and four-sleeper options, with the possibility of one-way travel. Check out our discounted range of campervans or get in touch with our travel agents to organise your next inclusive road trip.
Van Life Australia FAQs
Can I buy and drive a car in Australia as a tourist?
Yes, you can buy a car in Australia on a tourist, study or working holiday visa! We recommend making sure it’s properly registered, otherwise, you can’t drive it. Similarly, you need a valid license to be able to get behind the wheel. That can be an official translation of your home license, a registered official international license or an Australian license. You need to apply for an Australian license after a certain period of time in Australia. Check out our guide to driving licenses in Australia for more info, as it varies from state to state.
Is living in a van really free?
Living in a van can be nearly free, especially if you make a conscious effort to stay in free campsites and live on the cheap side! There are some small costs you can’t escape like fuel, food and the odd campsite fee, but it’s absolutely the cheapest way to do Australia. Check out our guide for more information on how to live in your van for free.
Summary: Campervan Buying VS Renting
So, is renting or buying a van cheaper?
For a road trip holiday on a tourist visa in Australia, renting a van for a month to explore the gorgeous beaches, forests and deserts will set you back at least $4000. With two travellers this is obviously halved ($2000 pp for a month in Australia), and quite an affordable trip when you consider accommodation and transport sorted.
However, renting a van for any longer than two months becomes quite an expensive undertaking. For long-term travel in Australia, buying a car is cheaper and better value. If you’re in Australia on a working holiday and want to buy a van, you will need at least $10k to $15k upfront for a smaller camper. But, you will get most of that cost back when you sell the van upon your departure. You won’t get the costs for registration, insurance and mechanical work back, but buying still ends up being worth it for more than two months.
