Driving Motorhomes – Motorhome Insider

Hiring a motorhome is a great way to dip your toe in the water if you are thinking of buying a motorhome or a campervan. Alternatively, it may just be for a one-off for a family holiday. Either way, there are some things to look out for to make sure you have a great time. How to Go About Hiring a Motorhome or Campervan? Hiring a motorhome or campervan for a week or two is a great introduction and way of testing whether you enjoy the lifestyle. You can hire from a specialist company, privately from an individual owner, or from a broker who represents owners. Taking a motorhome on the road for the first time could be slightly daunting unless you have researched and prepared for a trip. Let’s look at what you need to know. Why Should I Hire a Motorhome? Many people hire a motorhome for the first time for a family holiday. The thought of taking to the open road and moving from place to place has a great appeal. Perhaps you want to explore the wilds of Scotland or disappear down country lanes in Cornwall. Drive and stop at formal campsites or pull off the road and wild camp overnight – the choice is yours. A hired motorhome gives you the opportunity and flexibility to explore at your leisure. Alternatively, you may be considering the motorhome lifestyle, but are uncertain whether you will like it and don’t want to commit to buying a van straight away. Hiring gives you time to try motorhome or campervan before committing to what could be a significant capital outlay. You could have decided that one day you want to buy a motorhome. Hiring for a few days gives you the opportunity to try out internal layouts. Hire a few times and you’ll eventually find the ideal set-up. Whichever camp you fall into, there are plenty of things to watch out for and the odd mistake to make too. Where Can I Hire a Motorhome From? Motorhomes and campervans can be hired from a range of places in the UK and abroad. The choices are to hire from a professional specialist hire company and there are a number across the country. Here you should expect a professional service and a well-maintained van. Some private owner rent out their vans at times of the year that they are not using them. In addition, there are some brokers who act as the middleman between you and a private owner. Let’s take each option in turn. Hiring a Motorhome from a Hire Specialist The advantage of using a motorhome hire specialist is that there are a number of them across the United Kingdom, so hopefully, there isn’t one too far away. Vehicles are likely to be less than three years old, that’s pre-MoT, and should be well maintained. Motorhome Hire companies will have a range of vans from two-berth up to as many as eight. Beware here, that although a motorhome can sleep eight, it won’t have eight seat belts. Hire companies will insure the vehicle, although you will generally have to specify each driver and they will generally need to be over 25 years of age. Some hire companies may not accept drivers over the age of 70. Something to take care of with a hire company is what is and isn’t included. You may have to pay extra for bed linen, toilet chemicals and toilet rolls, towels, outside chairs and tables, use of a sat-nav, child-seat, bike racks, down to having to hire coat hangers. All these extras can add up. The hire company should show you around the motorhome, especially how to fill and empty water and how the toilet cassette works. However, we frequently hear of hire companies whose show round is minimal. Using a hire company will be the most expensive way to hire a motorhome, but they do come with a sense of security. That said, some hire companies are better than others. Hiring a Motorhome Privately This will be significantly cheaper than renting from a specialist hire company. Generally, privately hired vans will be in fair condition, but the private owner isn’t likely to have insurance for you to drive. You will need to insure through your own policy, but make sure you advise your insurance company that you don’t own the vehicle. A private owner is more likely to spend time with you to explain how everything works so you understand and that you are less likely to damage anything. One downside with private motorhome hire is that it will be a single van and you will have to collect from the owners home, wherever that may be in the county. Hiring a Motorhome from a Broker A halfway house between a specialist motorhome hire company and a private owner, are brokers. Brokers will have access to a range of privately-owned motorhomes from various parts of the country. The mix of motorhomes and campervans will vary in size and age, where you could hire a van that is almost new or a classic motorhome that is over two decades old. On cost, expect these hires to be somewhere between a direct private hire and a specialist company. Can I Take a Hired Motorhome Across into Europe? Some hire companies allow you to take their motorhomes and campervans over to mainland Europe, or to Ireland. There may be extras to pay over and above the ferry or tunnel fee, such as additional insurance and especially breakdown cover. Insurance for a Hired Motorhome When you hire from a motorhome rental company, they will arrange the insurance for you through their own policy. Expect to present your driving licence when you collect the van, along with a proof of address which needs to match the one shown on your licence. Most hire companies will also cover breakdown insurance but check what is covered. You can expect an accidental damage excess to be applied in the case of an accident. When you are hiring privately, you will need to ask the owner about insurance, as different people will manage this in different ways. Check any arrangement for breakdown insurance as well. Should you just insure one driver because that is cheaper? It is far better to register two drivers, even if that costs more. Consider what you would do in the wilds of Scotland if the only insured driver was taken ill or was injured in some way. Even if a second driver isn’t intending to drive, it is wise to have them on the policy just in case. If you have points on your licence, these need to be disclosed to the hiring company, otherwise, the insurance may not be valid should you have an accident. Picking Up Your Hired Motorhome Today’s the day and you are on your way to pick up the motorhome you booked. Question: Have you brought your driving licence with you? No? Nip home quickly! If the hiring company has specified any additional proofs of identity, make sure you have the details for each driver. Whether you have hired privately or through a speciality motorhome hire company, a proper hand-over is essential. Some hire companies will try and rush you here as they have several people collecting vans at the same time. Don’t be fobbed off with a five-minute chat - you need more than that. At a the barest minimum, you need to know the following: Breakdown and emergency phone numbers How to fill with fresh water How to empty the waste-water How to empty the toilet cassette Where to open the bonnet Diesel or petrol Opening the fuel inlet Connecting an electric hook-up cable Using the gas bottles Lighting the hot water heater The three ways the fridge works Check that the keys open the outside lockers How to light the gas hob Location of the gas cut-off switches Switching on the 12-volt supply for lights etc. Setting up any pull-out beds Check inside and upside the van for any minor damage or marks and agree on these before you leave, so you are not accused of the damage and lose any deposits Ask for details of the width, length, and height of the van. Write them down in feet and metres and watch for those low bridges and narrow roads How does the reversing camera work? Check the water taps in the sink and the shower work Expect to do a full inventory of items such as plates, cutlery, and other loose items Check safety equipment, such as triangles and high visibility jackets Can I Hire a Motorhome for Just One Night? A single night might be tricky, but off-season you may strike lucky with a hire company. Generally, three days is the minimum, with seven days being more typical. Of course, you can hire for more than a week if you want to do some distance or perhaps hop over the channel to France. Hiring an RV in the United States The wide-open spaces. Wide straight roads. Route 66. Wonderful weather. One day, I am going to hire an RV in the USA for a couple of months and drive across from east to west coast. I’m sure I am not alone in wanting to live that dream! There are so many places to wild camp in the boondocks you will never run out of somewhere for the night. Whether you want a standard sizes motorhome or a huge Winnebago, you will be able to hire one in the States. Send me a postcard, please. Motorhome and Campervan Hire in New Zealand New Zealand is a very popular place to hire a motorhome or campervan. I have driven around New Zealand’s North Island by car, and it is a wonderful place. My nephew and his new wife spend their honeymoon in a motorhome touring the South Island in a hired campervan and highly recommend it. Take a while on your New Zealand tour and you will have a great time. What Driving Licence do I Need to Hire a Motorhome? In the United Kingdom, you will need a full driving licence with category B as a minimum. This will cover you for a vehicle with a weigh up to 3,500 kilos. Over that weight, you will need to have category C1 on your licence. If you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997, you won’t have C1 unless you have taken a supplementary test. Also, if you are hiring a van over 3,5000 kilos and are over 70, you will need to have passed a medical for C1 to continue your licence. More on motorhome driving licences here. If you are hiring a motorhome outside the UK, rules will vary. Ask your hire company for details well in advance, in case you need to upgrade your licence or apply for a suitable international driving licence. Things to Check When Hiring a Motorhome How many people can sleep in the van? How many seatbelts are fitted? The number of seatbelts won’t always match the number who can sleep. Is the mileage unlimited? Should the fuel tank be empty, full or the same as when we picked it up? Does the van use diesel or petrol? Can you leave your car(s) at the hiring company while you are travelling? In addition, there are numerous questions to ask when you pick up your hired motorhome or campervan, see above. How Do I Travel to a Motorhome Pick-up Point Some hire companies have space for you to park and leave a car while you hire a van. Others do not have facilities. You might be picked up from a local rail station at little or no cost. If you are travelling to an airport, some hire companies will come and pick you up and charge accordingly. Loved the Motorhome I Hired, Can I Buy It? You might well be able to do so. At the end of each season, motorhome and campervan hire companies will refresh their fleets and sell off a proportion of their stock. Consider however that the mileage may be quite high, which isn’t really a downside and there are likely to some marks and scratches. Whether you are buying from a dealer or from a hire company, the vehicle will have to be in full roadworthy condition and any defects declared. And Finally . . . Hiring a motorhome for a day or a month will give you a great taster and I look forward to meeting you on the road soon! Safe travels!