Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to hire in the UK, listed by private owners and local hire businesses. See prices, photos and reviews, then book online with insurance included.
Enter your pickup location and dates in the search box above to see campervans and motorhomes listed by private owners and local hire businesses across the UK. This guide to campervan hire in the UK and motorhome hire in the UK covers all four nations and Ireland: where to collect, which routes suit which size, the licence and speed rules, and how overnight parking differs.
| Typical nightly prices | Campervan or 2-berth £50 to £180; 4-berth £55 to £230; 6-berth or large £70 to £270 (low season to peak). Luxury and A-class motorhomes run from about £120 to £300 or more. |
|---|---|
| Best months | May, June and September for quieter roads and lower prices. July, August and school-holiday weeks are the busiest and dearest. |
| Licence | A category B car licence covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg. Heavier motorhomes need category C1, unless you drive a zero-emission van under the 4,250 kg rule. |
| Overnight rules | Scotland's access rights do not cover sleeping in a vehicle. In England and Wales, overnight parking on private land needs the landowner's permission, and lay-bys and car parks follow local rules. |
| Booking lead time | Three to four months ahead for July and August; four to six months for school-holiday weeks, larger vans and remote routes. Two to three months in shoulder season. |
| Driving abroad | A UK hire van can go to Europe only with the owner's written permission and a VE103 certificate. See taking a motorhome abroad from the UK. |
| Pickup hubs | London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds in England; Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness in Scotland; Cardiff in Wales; Belfast in Northern Ireland. |
Campervan hire by nation
Each nation has its own hub with the full list of pickup towns.
England
The widest network of owners, from the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales in the north to the New Forest, Devon and Cornwall in the south. Start with the England hub, or go straight to London, Manchester, Bristol or Cornwall.
Scotland
Highland scenery, island ferries and some of Britain's emptiest roads. The Scotland hub covers access rights, permits, ferries and single-track driving in detail. Popular pickups are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Fort William.
Wales
Compact and varied: mountains, long beaches and the Pembrokeshire coast, easy to cross in a day. See the Wales hub, or the pages for Cardiff, Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire.
Northern Ireland
The Causeway Coast, the Glens of Antrim and the Mourne Mountains, with Belfast the main pickup city. The Northern Ireland hub and the Belfast page are the starting points.
Ireland
Not part of the UK, but many UK travellers cross the Irish Sea for the Wild Atlantic Way. The Ireland hub links Cork, Galway and Kerry. Taking a UK hire van across needs the owner's agreement first; see the ferries section below.
UK campervan road trips
Each route below has its own guide with a day-by-day plan, where to stay and driving notes.
- North Coast 500: the 516-mile Highland loop from Inverness, best with a smaller van.
- Scotland west coast and Skye: Loch Lomond, Glen Coe and the road to the islands.
- South West Coastal 300: a 300-mile loop through Dumfries and Galloway, quieter than the Highlands and a good first Scottish trip.
- Lake District: a compact loop of about 125 to 155 miles that suits four to seven days, with National Trust campsites nearby.
- Cornwall and Devon coast: a 7 to 10 day loop of about 450 miles, with narrow lanes and steep hills.
- Causeway Coastal Route: about 120 miles from Belfast to Derry~Londonderry past the Giant's Causeway, over three to five days.
- Wild Atlantic Way: Ireland's west coast, reached by ferry from Great Britain.
- Ring of Kerry: a 179 km loop from Killarney that fits two to four days.
To choose a route by days, season and van size, read campervan hire trips in the UK, or browse every route on the road trips page.
Choosing a campervan or motorhome
A campervan is a converted van that drives much like a large car. A motorhome is a larger, purpose-built vehicle, usually with a fixed bed and a bathroom. The roads you plan to use matter more than the number of passengers.
- 2-berth campervan. The easiest to drive, park and fit into narrow lanes. A good fit for couples and single-track roads.
- 4-berth. Room for a family of four, with more to think about when parking in towns.
- 6-berth or large motorhome. Comfortable on main roads and for longer stays, but some famous routes suit smaller vehicles.
Single-track roads with passing places are common in the Highlands, the islands, west Wales and parts of Cornwall and Devon. If you would rather not reverse a long vehicle for several hundred metres, choose the shorter van.
Dog policies are set listing by listing, so check them before you book; the dog-friendly campervan hire guide covers where to go with a dog. For a full comparison of vehicle types, read the guides to campervan hire and motorhome hire.
Where you can stay overnight, nation by nation
The rules differ across the UK, and tent rules do not carry over to a van. Plan each night in advance in July and August.
Scotland
Scotland's access rights allow lightweight camping in a tent, but they do not cover sleeping in a vehicle. Most overnight stops are campsites, permitted stopovers or Brit Stops hosts. The Scotland hub sets out the local restrictions in full.
England
Overnight parking on private land needs the landowner's permission. Lay-bys and car parks follow local rules, and many councils and landowners post their own signs, so read them before you settle for the night.
Wales
Visit Wales asks motorhome and campervan owners not to park anywhere other than a designated camping site, and says wild camping without the landowner's permission is not allowed anywhere in Wales. Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Authority says staying overnight in a campervan in its car parks is not permitted, and advises against camping on roadsides or in lay-bys. Official guidance is on the Visit Wales motorhome and caravan page.
Northern Ireland
Overnight options are more formal in Northern Ireland. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, for one, says overnight stays by motorhomes are not permitted in its car parks or amenity areas, and points owners to licensed caravan and motorhome sites. The Forest Service runs camping and touring pitches at forest parks, and Drum Manor, Glenariff and Tollymore can be booked online for stays of up to 14 nights, depending on availability.
Site types worth knowing
- National Trust campsites. Several take campervans and motorhomes, with a length limit that varies by site; Great Langdale in the Lake District, for example, accepts vans up to 6.5 metres.
- Caravan and Motorhome Club sites. The Club runs more than 145 sites across the UK, and its smaller Certificated Locations (CLs), which take no more than five vans, are open to Club members only. The Camping and Caravanning Club runs similar five-van Certificated Sites for its own members.
- Brit Stops. A paid annual membership that lists pubs, farm shops, vineyards and attractions that welcome motorhomes for the night. Buying something from your host is optional. Membership is separate from your hire, and you only need it if you want to use the scheme.
Ferries and islands
Check that the owner allows ferry trips before you plan one. Some listings restrict where the van can go, and a crossing to the Republic of Ireland counts as taking the van abroad. Operators set fares by length and height, including bike racks and roof boxes, and a van larger than booked can cost extra at the port.
- Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Stena Line sails Cairnryan to Belfast in about 2 hours 15 minutes, and P&O Ferries sails Cairnryan to Larne in about two hours. Stena Line also sails Liverpool to Belfast overnight and by day, a crossing of about eight hours.
- Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland. Holyhead to Dublin is the main route, with Stena Line (about 3 hours 15 minutes) and Irish Ferries both sailing it. In the south, Stena Line runs Fishguard to Rosslare and Irish Ferries runs Pembroke to Rosslare, each a crossing of about three and a half to four hours. Since 28 September 2026, Stena Line and Irish Ferries ask every passenger on these routes, children included, for a valid passport at check-in.
- Scottish islands. CalMac serves Mull, Arran and the Outer Hebrides, charging motorhomes by length. The Scotland hub explains booking and length bands.
- Isle of Wight. Wightlink sails Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Lymington to Yarmouth, and Red Funnel sails Southampton to East Cowes. All three routes carry motorhomes, and vehicle size bands apply, so give the true length and height when you book.
- Isles of Scilly. Vehicles travel as freight from Penzance rather than on a normal drive-on service, so ask the owner and the shipping company before you plan a trip there.
Campervan hire costs and when to go
Prices vary by van size, season and owner. These are typical nightly ranges. Low season is roughly November to March, shoulder season covers spring and autumn, and peak is July, August and school holidays.
| Van type | Low season | Shoulder | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan or 2-berth | £50 to £90 | £70 to £125 | £90 to £180 |
| 4-berth | £55 to £110 | £85 to £160 | £110 to £230 |
| 6-berth or large | £70 to £130 | £100 to £190 | £130 to £270 |
| Luxury or A-class | £120 to £200 | £160 to £250 | £200 to £300+ |
In shoulder season, a week in a compact 2-berth works out at about £490 to £875. Excess is typically £500 to £2,500 and the security deposit is about £500 to £1,500, so check both on each listing before you book. For a fuller breakdown, see how much it costs to hire a campervan and how much it costs to hire a motorhome.
When to go
- May, June and September give long daylight, quieter roads and lower prices, with most campsites open.
- July and August bring the best chance of warm weather and the highest demand. Term dates differ between the nations and between councils, so the busiest weeks start at different times in different places.
- November to March is the low season. Prices drop, but many seasonal campsites close, days are short and high roads can be icy, so ask whether the heater runs without a hook-up.
Book three to four months ahead for July and August. For school-holiday weeks, larger vans and remote routes, start four to six months ahead. In shoulder season, two to three months is usually enough, or a few weeks outside the school holidays.
How campervan hire works
- Search. Enter your pickup location and dates in the search box at the top of this page.
- Check the listing. Compare size, sleeping layout, dog policy, mileage allowance, excess, and the owner's reviews.
- Book through our partner Outdoorsy. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking. 24/7 roadside assistance is an optional extra, so add it if you want it.
- Collect or have it delivered. Depending on the listing, you collect the van or arrange delivery. Ask for a handover that covers the heater, water and toilet.
Licence and speed basics
GOV.UK lists category B as covering vehicles up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, which takes in most campervans and many motorhomes. Category C1 covers 3,500 to 7,500 kg. A licence passed before 1 January 1997 usually includes C1, though keeping it from age 70 means renewing with a D4 medical report every three years. Since 10 June 2025, category B also covers zero-emission vehicles up to 4,250 kg in Great Britain, but hybrids are excluded. Our guide to driving a campervan on a car licence has the detail, and the GOV.UK driving licence categories page has the official wording.
Speed limits depend on weight. A motor caravan up to 3.05 tonnes unladen follows car limits: 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. Over 3.05 tonnes the limits drop to 50 and 60 mph on single and dual carriageways, with 70 mph on motorways. Built-up areas are 30 mph, except in Wales, where the default is 20 mph. The official table is on the GOV.UK speed limits page. Some cities also run low emission or clean air zones that can apply to older diesel vans, so ask the owner whether the van meets the Euro 6 diesel standard and check the scheme before you drive into a city centre.
If this is your first hire, the beginner's guide to campervan hire in the UK walks you through the trip from handover to return.
UK campervan and motorhome hire FAQs
Which licence do I need for a motorhome, and does it matter if the van is electric?
For most hire vans, a standard category B licence is enough. If a motorhome is over 3,500 kg and runs on petrol or diesel, you need category C1, or a pre-1997 licence that still carries it. If it is a zero-emission vehicle up to 4,250 kg, a category B licence covers it in Great Britain. Few hire motorhomes fall into that last group, so check the weight on the listing.
Is wild camping legal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Not in a van without the landowner's permission. Visit Wales says wild camping without permission is not allowed anywhere in Wales, and England follows the same principle on private land. Dartmoor allows backpack camping in some areas, but not overnight stays in campervans or motorhomes. In Northern Ireland, Fermanagh and Omagh council bars overnight stays in its car parks, and other councils may do the same. Lay-bys and car parks often have local rules too, so use campsites, Certificated Locations, Forest Service pitches or Brit Stops hosts instead.
Can I take a hire campervan to Ireland or Northern Ireland?
Only if the owner agrees. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so no VE103 is needed once the owner has said yes. The Republic of Ireland counts as abroad, which means the owner's written permission and a VE103 certificate, as covered in our guide to taking a motorhome abroad from the UK.
Does a bike rack or roof box change what I pay on a ferry?
It can. Wightlink and Irish Ferries both ask for the total length and height including bike racks and roof boxes, and they price in bands. A van that is bigger than you declared can cost more at the port, and on a busy sailing you may not get the space you booked.
How far can I realistically drive in a day?
Plan on a shorter day than in a car. Narrow lanes, hills and ferry timetables slow a van down, and campsites often close their gates in the evening. A few hours of driving a day is a comfortable pace, and slower still in Wales, the Highlands and the south-west.
What do the excess and deposit mean, and how much should I budget?
The excess is what you pay towards damage before insurance covers the rest, typically £500 to £2,500. The security deposit is held for the hire and is about £500 to £1,500. Check both, plus the mileage allowance, on the listing.
Ready to go? Use the search box at the top of this page, or start with our UK and Ireland road trips.