Maybe you own your RV and have wondered what it would take to ship it over to Europe for a long vacation or stay. Perhaps your interest has waned after discovering the enormous differences between U.S. RV’s and European campervans and motorhomes and what it would take to use your RV over there. Others become discouraged after discovering the paperwork and costs involved and have hung up their dreams of not just seeing but living in Europe.
However, renting campervans and motorhomes (the term “RV” is not used in Europe), is fast becoming a traveler’s dream. When you compare the costs of air fare ($500 - $1500 typically), hotels (avg. $100 - $200+ per night), and frugal spending in the countries ($70-$100/day not including transportation) plus the cost of a car rental, it adds up fast.
But there are new solutions in town: WOWAIR (air fares from the U.S. to European destinations as low as $100) combined with a campervan/motorhome rental company such as AutoEurope.
Says Jamie of AutoEurope, “We’ve really seen an increase in rentals of 75% or more from U.S. residents since we have upgraded our systems to the 21st century. However, we’ve also seen an increase inside of Europe; Europeans have always enjoyed camping, but rentals have been on the rise for the past few years [along with the increase in manufacturing new designs]. Today, the process is very straightforward and simple with booking and paying for the campervan or motorhome online. The most popular destinations currently are Iceland, New Zealand, and Australia.” It is best to book six months in advance.
The reasons for this uptick come from seasoned world motorhome travelers who insist that to really experience Europe, renting a campervan or motorhome is the only way to go.
1. Vehicle design. The campervans and motorhomes are designed to travel most narrow roadways that a U.S. RV would be unable to navigate.
2. Privacy and freedom. Due to the large number of campgrounds and free camping (boondocking) throughout all countries, the ability to see more sights outside of the standard tourist fare is incomparable.
3. Cost. It’s considerably cheaper to rent a campervan or motorhome with Germany being the cheapest. The charges vary drastically depending on size, seasonal rates, country, and other inclusions varying from $350-$4700/wk. with $1,000/wk. being the norm. Additionally, shopping at local food plazas allow for cooking your own meals instead of paying for meals out.
4. Places to stay. Besides campgrounds and boondocking (European terms are “wild camping,” “free parking” or “free camping”), European hostels welcome campervans and motorhomes for $30-$40/night. Additionally, many farmers allow overnight stays for free or a small fee or barter.
5. Although you will need to obtain a visa, your U.S. driver’s license is acceptable for driving in most European countries.
Dining and cooking area inside a caravan pop-up camper, which is the most economical way to go.
U.S. RV’s vs. European Campervans and Motorhomes
It isn’t only that European RV’s are smaller and designed for the roads and weather of Europe, they contain hidden surprises; some welcome, some just very different from what is seen in the U.S. models. Many people have said that newer U.S. Airstreams compare favorably to European counterparts.
Photos online of various types of campervans and motorhomes show clean lines and beautiful design elements you not often seen in U.S. rigs. On the other hand, U.S. Winnebago’s cause heads to turn and onlookers to request a tour. Generally, European RV’s don’t have microwaves or ovens, for example; they contain only a two-burner stove.
Simply put, some of the apparent differences in a European model consists of separate twin-size beds, “garages” that house bikes, refrigerators, and most other large camping equipment (like our larger pass-throughs but not like toy haulers), cassette toilets, and lack of air conditioning which is a rarity due to the additional weight and more reliance on fans in their climates. Solar power is the most common upgrade with inverters taking a back seat to 12v DC and propane.
The ingenuity of their European design is not only homey and comfortable as is beautiful, elements are often multi-function being easily moved, converted, or altered such as a bathroom door that also serves as a bedroom door. Every spot of space is utilized for function, so storage is surprisingly ample with drawers, cabinets, drop-down beds, and incorporated cubbies and bins built in the walls.
Considerations When Renting a European Campervan or Motorhome
Prepare yourself to adapt to change when renting a campervan or motorhome in Europe. It can be quite the education, but fun as well, and part of the overall experience. Everything from amenities at campgrounds to smaller sewage and water tanks will be foreign. Hot water will be a luxury and long showers are out of the question.
The rental charge, as previously mentioned, varies wildly according to size, age of the vehicle, and how many it sleeps with pop-up top campervans being the cheapest. Campervans are also the most economical when it comes to fuel with diesel being cheaper than gas (“petrol”). Also, less expensive models are manual stick-shift instead of automatic, running about $715/wk. in the high season mid-July in Milan, Italy as an example. The best times to rent a campervan or motorhome is in the off-season, right after the European summer holidays or during winter.
Make sure you understand where you can drive and that you check that taxes are included in the final charge and if insurance is included or a separate fee. Allowances with fuel are like the U.S. upon return of the vehicle with some requiring a fill-up while other companies allow you to return it empty.
Campground privacy is limited due to the smaller size of spaces and our ‘slide-outs’ are non-existent in European campervans and motorhomes unless they are modified, or luxury builds. However, again, those are limited to where they can park unless “wild camping” is the goal.
European rigs most often do not come with the comforts and incidentals of home. Be aware that towels, linens, toiletries, soap, and pillows are not included in the base price. They are add-ons. Many folks head to thrift shops and purchase their own at local markets.
This is an example of what you can get renting a motorhome in Frankfurt.
The Popularity of European RV Rental Continues to Rise
If you are contemplating spending time in Europe and traveling through the countries, renting a campervan or motorhome is an attractive proposition for not only the budget-minded, but also for those who wish to experience Europe on their own terms without having to awaken to a check-out time or confined to guided tours.
Gorgeous, out-of-the-way scenic areas to camp for free are abundant with campground builds increasing due to the escalation of campervan and motorhome purchases at their all-time high since 2016, and full-timing becoming an exciting, new lifestyle for many Europeans.
With the lower rates from the U.S. to Europe with airlines such as WOWAIR, renting a rig in Europe is a viable option, especially for groups of 4-5 people instead of going through the paperwork and costs associated with shipping a U.S. rig you own over there.
It’s just as important to be aware of the differences in the rigs as well. While being an economical choice, renting a European RV will be as new of an adventure as the cultures you will experience.
Relax, enjoy, and experience it all on your terms with where and when you desire in your European RV travels with renting their version of a comfortable home-on-wheels.