Campervan hire in Australia: how to compare the options

Campervan hire in Australia comes down to four things: the size of the van, the kilometre limit, the bond and excess, and the pickup rules. Two hire quotes can show the same daily price and still cost very different amounts once you add these up. This guide shows what to compare, using the published terms of two operators as worked examples.

It is written in May 2020, when most trips are on hold. Plan now, check each company's current terms, and book only when travel in your state is allowed again.

Sources for this section: Travellers Autobarn, Security Bond Options and Exclusions; Wicked Campers, Rental Conditions.

Start with van size and berths

Hire companies describe vans by berths, which means sleeping spaces. A 2 berth van suits a couple. A 2 to 3 berth van gives a little more room. Family vans are listed as 4 to 5 berth, and they cost more to hire and to fuel.

Travellers Autobarn, for example, lists hi-top campervans as 2 to 3 berth and 4 to 5 berth. Wicked Campers lists standard 2WD cars and campervans separately from 4WD and AWD vehicles. That split matters later, because 4WD hire has its own rules on bond and roads.

Be honest about space. A small van is fine for two people on a short trip. On a long trip, a bigger van can save money if it means you cook and sleep without stress. Also check whether the price includes bedding, a stove and a fridge, or whether those cost extra.

Sources for this section: Travellers Autobarn, Security Bond Options and Exclusions (vehicle list); Wicked Campers, Rental Conditions.

Check the kilometre limit

Some companies offer unlimited kilometres. Travellers Autobarn advertises unlimited kilometres on its rentals, with no young driver fee for drivers from 18 to 80.

Others set a daily allowance. Wicked Campers' rental conditions, version dated 1 November 2017, describe a daily allowance of 250 km. Unlimited kilometres there are still subject to minimum hire periods and the agreed area of use. If a hirer travels outside that area, the conditions set a charge of 35 cents for each kilometre over the allowance. Its car hire range is smaller still: 200 km a day, with extra kilometres at 20 cents each.

Do the sum before you book. A trip from Sydney to Cairns is a long way, and a 250 km daily cap over ten days gives only 2,500 km. If your route is longer than your allowance, an unlimited deal may cost less overall, even at a higher daily rate.

Sources for this section: Travellers Autobarn, Security Bond Options and Exclusions (site banner); Wicked Campers, Rental Conditions, sections 6 and 15.

Compare the bond and the excess

The bond is money held on your credit card when you pick up the van. The excess, which some companies call liability, is the most you could pay if the van is damaged. Both can be large, and both can usually be lowered by paying a daily fee.

Travellers Autobarn shows three levels on its bond page, which was live in March 2020.

The hold lasts about 14 days from pickup. If damage happens, the bond amount is taken from your card and you must provide a second bond to carry on. The company also lists exclusions, such as damage on unsealed roads or beach driving, water damage, and damage to the awning, roof or underbody.

The Wicked Campers conditions show the same pattern. On a 2WD vehicle the standard bond is A$3,000 with a liability of A$5,000. A reduction option at A$25 a day removes the bond. For 4WD and AWD vehicles the standard bond is A$5,000 with a liability of A$7,000. The document says 95 percent of hirers choose the standard option.

Add the daily fee to the hire cost before you compare. A van that looks A$20 a day cheaper may not be, once you lower the bond. Check your own travel insurance too, and read what it excludes for rental vans.

Sources for this section: Travellers Autobarn, Security Bond Options and Exclusions; Wicked Campers, Rental Conditions, damage cover table and section 13.

Read the pickup and return rules

Depot hours can shape your trip. Wicked Campers' conditions say vehicles must come back to the nominated depot before 3 pm on weekdays and 12 pm on Saturdays. Depots close at midday on Saturdays and do not open on Sundays, although an after hours drop off may be arranged on Saturdays. Late returns are charged as extra days.

Travellers Autobarn runs pickups in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Some companies let you return to a different city and may charge a fee for it, so price a one way trip and a return trip both.

Ask about these points before you pay:

• Which depots are open on the day you land or leave.
• The deadline for the return and the charge for being late.
• Whether a one way hire adds a fee.
• What the company says about driving at night in country areas. The Wicked Campers conditions list driving rural highways between sunset and sunrise as an exclusion to damage cover.

Sources for this section: Wicked Campers, Rental Conditions, sections 1 and 13; Travellers Autobarn, Security Bond Options and Exclusions (booking form).

Booking in May 2020

On 8 May 2020 National Cabinet agreed a three step plan to ease the COVID-19 restrictions. Step 1 allows some local and regional travel. Step 2 and Step 3 come later. States and territories can move at different speeds, so each one sets its own rules.

For a campervan trip, this means you should check the rules in every state you plan to cross, and the rules for the caravan parks and campgrounds on your route. Ask each company about change and cancellation terms before you pay a deposit, because plans may shift.

A simple plan helps. Pick your route, count the kilometres, compare the bond and daily fees, and check the depot hours. Then ask each company to confirm its current terms in writing.

Sources for this section: Prime Minister of Australia, Update on Coronavirus Measures, 8 May 2020; ABC News, 8 May 2020

Sources

1. Travellers Autobarn, Security Bond Options and Exclusions (archived 9 March 2020): web.archive.org
2. Wicked Campers, Rental Conditions, version OZ01112017: comparecampervanhire.com
3. Prime Minister of Australia, Update on Coronavirus Measures, 8 May 2020: scottmorrison.com.au
4. ABC News, Coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, cafes to be eased in first step outlined by National Cabinet, 8 May 2020: abc.net.au