Hiring a motorhome or campervan with a dog is straightforward once you know where to look: the owner of each van decides whether pets are allowed, so the job is to find listings marked as pet friendly, read the rules and confirm the details before you book. Vans on this site are listed by owners and local hire businesses and booked through our partner Outdoorsy, and the search below lets you narrow them down to vans that accept dogs.
How to find a van that accepts dogs
Start with the search box on this page, which is set to show pet-friendly vans, and enter where you want to collect the van and your dates. Outdoorsy shows a "Pet friendly" tag on listings that welcome animals, and repeats it under the rules and policies section further down the page. If a van does not carry that tag, assume dogs are not welcome until the owner tells you otherwise in writing.
Pet policies are set van by van, so two similar campervans in the same town can have different rules. Some owners allow one small dog, some allow two, and a few have a size limit. A van that suits a Labrador is a different proposition from one that suits a terrier, so be honest about your dog when you message the owner.
If you are still deciding on the type of van, our UK campervan hire guide explains the main options, and you can browse hire by area from the UK hub. Popular dog-walking regions have their own pages, including the Lake District, Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk, Wales and Scotland.
What to check on the listing before you book
- The pet-friendly tag and the written rules. Read the whole rules and policies section, not just the badge.
- Number and size of dogs. Ask the owner to confirm in the booking messages that your dog or dogs are accepted.
- Pet fee. Some owners charge a fixed fee, some charge nothing, and some build it into the price. Check it appears in the total before you pay.
- Where the dog can go. Some owners keep dogs off beds and soft furnishings. Ask whether a throw or blanket is expected.
- Cleaning. Find out what counts as returning the van clean, and what happens if there is extra hair or mess.
- Space for a crate or harness. Check the floor plan and photos for where a crate or seatbelt harness can sit safely.
- Insurance and damage. Chewed trim or scratched flooring is a damage question. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking, but read what your deposit and excess cover. Our guide on what insurance you need for campervan hire goes through it.
- Travel abroad. If you plan to take the van and the dog overseas, ask the owner whether the vehicle is allowed to leave the UK.
Pet fees and rules
There is no single pet fee. On this site's price guides, a fixed pet fee is typically around £30 to £120 per hire, though some owners charge per night instead and some charge nothing. Whether it is a flat fee or a daily charge depends on the owner, so check the listing. Our guide to how much it costs to hire a motorhome shows where the fee sits among the other extras, and the breakdown of what is included in campervan hire helps you spot what is already covered.
Campsites set their own rules too. Many charge a few pounds a night per dog, some limit the number of dogs per pitch, and some holiday parks restrict dogs to certain pitches or certain weeks. Check before you arrive, particularly at holiday parks, where the rules often differ from a simple touring field. For ideas on where to go once you have a van, see our companion guide to dog-friendly campervan holidays in the UK.
Travelling safely with a dog in a van
Restraint
Rule 57 of the Highway Code says that when you are in a vehicle, you should make sure dogs and other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while driving or injure you or themselves if you stop quickly. It names a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard as ways of doing that. In a motorhome, the cab seats are the safest place for a harness, and a crate must be secured so it cannot slide or tip. A dog loose in the living area is not restrained, even if the van is large.
See the Highway Code's rules about animals for the wording.
Heat
The RSPCA warns that a car can become as hot as an oven even when the weather does not feel that warm: when it is 22 degrees Celsius outside, a car could reach 47 degrees within an hour, and parking in the shade or leaving the windows open does not make it safe. A van with large windows and a metal roof behaves the same way. Read the RSPCA's advice on dogs in hot cars, which also explains what to do if you see a dog in trouble. On hot days, plan walks for early morning and evening, carry plenty of water and park in shade for breaks, taking the dog with you whenever you leave the van.
Leaving a dog in the van
Even on a mild day, a dog left alone in an unfamiliar van can bark, panic or overheat. Many campsites also ban leaving dogs unattended, and the owner may have a rule about it. Plan the day so the dog comes with you. If you must leave the van, keep it to short periods, in cool weather and in the shade, and only where campsite rules permit.
Packing checklist for a dog in a van
Most of the usual advice in our guide to packing a campervan applies. For the dog, add:
- Harness or crate that suits the van, plus a spare lead
- Your dog's own bed and a throw for the van's seats
- Food for the whole trip, plus a little extra, and a non-spill water bowl
- Poo bags and a lidded bin bag
- Towels for wet and muddy paws, and a doormat
- Vaccination records, microchip details and your vet's phone number
- Any regular medication, plus flea and tick treatment
- A collar tag with your mobile number
- Window shades for rest stops
- A recent photo of your dog, in case they go missing
Taking a dog abroad from the UK in a hired van
First check that the owner allows the van to leave the UK, then check your dog's paperwork. The rules below are for travelling from England, Scotland or Wales to an EU country, as set out in the government's guidance on taking your pet abroad. Rules for other countries differ, so read the page for your destination.
- Microchip. Your dog must be microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination. Your dog must be vaccinated, and you must wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling.
- Animal Health Certificate. You need one from an official vet for each trip. It is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, then 6 months for onward travel within the EU and for re-entry to Great Britain. Book the appointment close to your travel date.
- Pet passports. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued in the EU.
- Tapeworm treatment. To return to Great Britain, a vet abroad must treat your dog for tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days before you arrive. You do not need this if you come directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway. See the guidance on tapeworm treatment for dogs.
The UK and EU have said they intend to agree a deal that would allow a multi-use pet passport instead of a new certificate for every trip. As of early October 2026, that is not in force, and the single-use certificate is still the rule on GOV.UK. The government's latest guidance says it expects the agreement to take effect from mid-2027, with details still being finalised. Check the gov.uk page again shortly before you travel.
For a trip across the Channel, the Europe hub and our France page are good starting points. Ferry and tunnel operators have their own pet rules, so confirm them when you book your crossing.
Dog-friendly motorhome hire: common questions
Are all campervans on Campervanhire.com dog friendly?
No. Each owner sets their own pet policy. Use the search on this page, which is set to show pet-friendly vans, and read the rules and policies section on any listing you are considering.
Do I have to pay extra to bring a dog?
Often, but not always. A fixed pet fee of roughly £30 to £120 per hire is typical in the price guides on this site, some owners charge per night instead, and some charge nothing. The fee should be shown before you pay, so check the total.
Can I leave my dog in the van while I go out?
It is best not to. A van can heat up quickly, and the RSPCA warns that a car can become as hot as an oven even when the weather does not feel that warm. Check the owner's rules and the campsite's rules, and plan activities that include the dog.
Can I take a hired van and my dog to France?
Only if the owner allows the van to leave the UK, and your dog's paperwork is in order. You will need a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days earlier, an Animal Health Certificate for the trip, and tapeworm treatment before you return to Great Britain.
Where should I go with a dog in a campervan?
Our guide to dog-friendly campervan holidays in the UK covers walks, beaches and the countryside rules to follow. For Scotland, start with the Scotland campervan hire guide.
Use the search box at the top of this page, which is set to show pet-friendly vans, to find vans that accept dogs.