This may have changed with Brexit so you will need to follow up. I can see no why so many people are confused. Youre required to transfer large sums of money, often to unknown people and places. We are located at two Dealerships in Germany and the Netherlands. Shipping a motorhome that youve bought from the UK to North America can be done, however registering a motorhome as a US resident is not easy. You essentially buy the campervan, with a contractual agreement that the dealership will buy the motorhome back youre ready to return it. Built on the Genesis Framework. Think of the freedom! Australia isnt really setup for fully furnished rentals, so if anyone knows anything about places that do say 12 month fully furnished rental management let me know. If they dont have a motorhome you like, they may also be able to help you find one for a small fee. This is about 65 (US $74). Having a raised bed to make space for a large garage is a great design. Some people argue that because they own it, you have no legal right to the motorhome. Common European Motorhome Lengths: 6-7 m (~19-23 ft) are considered small to medium-sized rigs. You can also get an iPhone app which will assist when you go over. On the Green Card form will be country codes and check boxes, make sure that a country you plan to visit is not checked if it is it means it is not covered. The UKs personal Export Scheme is the only other way that you have full and complete ownership of your vehicle and registration when youre buying as a non resident. Why should you consider buying a campervan or motorhome in Europe? I have zero affiliation with any of these companies. The main thing to know is that compliance is 100% the buyers responsibility. When I contacted Dutch Campervans they didnt respond at all, so I gave them a miss. Want more Wheelingit? You may need to prove that you have done necessary maintenance. I literally read loads of stuff on here and other experiences of importing on the Internet and off I went. Obviously as a non resident, someone coming from overseas, you dont have a local address. I hope Ive given you enough information to steer you in the right direction. Learn more about RV financing and loans (and don't forget your RV insurance either). They are all different and have different pros and cons. One thing I have to say is if you are like us and buying a vehicle for a few months jaunt around Europe and you want something with a buyback option then you options are more limited as few places offer this service. The Knaus BoxStar XL is built on a Fiat Ducato chassis's, a reliable vehicle which makes a great campervan base. Its important that your insurance covers the full value of the motorhome, VAT inclusive. They need to trust that you will do the right thing in the event of a problem. Details: The Fiat Ducato rules the roadways in Europe, as a huge number of camper vans use it as their base.A front-wheel drive Ducato van first debuted in 1981, but now Fiat has made the vans tougher with a 4x4 version that . Not only is that a problem for you because you paid for the motorhome, its a problem for the person who registered and insured it, because theyre now legally liable. Gas prices can be a burden or a bargain within the same calendar year. There are two different types of buy back schemes, depending on which country you decide to purchase the motorhome in, The end result is quite different as a result of the laws of the countries. Under certain conditions VAT can become payable, so try to avoid them! . There is not a lot of information, and what there is is often lacking, a little vague, sometimes down right confusing or just plain wrong. You are responsible for all damage and maintenance of the motorhome and failure to do so could void your contract. Contact us now on +31 (0)6 10009969. Simply put, we give you peace of mind. Alternatively, the company you buy from will buy it back from you at a pre-agreed percentage. Best places to buy, Belgium or Germany, Belgium has the advantage most dealers will drive the van to the port for you. Switzerland has only 1 type: 1 year is ca. You can find plenty of markets, mosques and activities, even for a long stay, and the rest of Turkey is cheaper. The Netherlands is a little different to the UK, in that it is near impossible to register a vehicle in your name if youre not a resident of the Netherlands. Motorhome sale and caravan sale including high-quality, personal expert advice. They travel with their dog Alisa, who they adopted in Croatia. Can't see it being a problem. This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience, http://motorhomeseurope.motorhomerepublic.com/, www.motorhomeseurope.motorhomerepublic.com. Two of the major costs in any road trip are mealsandfuel. Verdict. We bought a 17-year-old Burstner and in the first couple of months we did have to fix a few things like the water pump needed replacing and the lights were not working properly. Your email address will not be published. Cost: The pricing of the Fiat Campers depends on which combination of factors you choose. Eurocampingcars was established to service the growing demand from overseas visitors who wish to own a motorhome or campervan to travel in Europe. You can afford to be pickier if you are purchasing for a long-term investment. During the colder months late November to early April we will store our motorhome at Camperfun in Hoogeveen for a small fee of 25 a month where it will be kept inside a large shed. Rentals run anywhere from EUR 300-4000 (~US$350-$4700) per week depending on where you rent from, what size you rent and what time of year you come, so it's definitely worth hunting around for deals. You are using an out of date browser. You can live in a motorhome (and yes, you can live in a motorhome full-time in the UK). In this article Im going to explain the 5 ways you can legally buy a motorhome or campervan in Europe and give you as much information as I can about how it all works. Part of the agreement is that the vehicle will be registered in your name. Youll need to fill out the necessary paperwork. based on a massive 685 Europe motorhome rental customer reviews.. MOTORVANA uses buying power to offer you big savings versus renting direct. It has been a whirlwind of emotions and quite exciting especially as I felt that I didn't have a scooby but the I'd recommend it. The insurance company Camperfun uses covers all the countries we want to visit, even the non-EU countries. Delivery comes as is, warranty and checks at extra cost (package) This is not necessarily a bad thing as you know for sure the vehicle has been thoroughly checked. They own it, and theyre letting you use it, until you return it. They may help you sell the motorhome, thats up to them, but theyll need to be involved. Also, VAT is also payable if you write off the motorhome or it is stolen. This is called different things in different countries but its basically a test of road worthiness. (Diesel fuel could cost even more.) Many places throughout Europe have places you can camp for free or for a small fee so further saving money. This may be different with. Why can you not get it on German plates and drive around Europe for six months to make the trip worth it and get the mileage over 6000 to get rid of the VAT. The main difference that the size of this vehicle offers compared to standard class B RVs is a full dry bath. Camperfun have a Australian bank account so you have the option of transferring the amount into that account to save on conversion fees. In saying that, we have hired a car in Lithuania and travelled all the Baltics for a month, it was cheap with no restrictions. Aussies Guide to Setting up a Motorhome/Camper, Aussies Guide to Setting Up a Motorhome/Camper, Aussies Guide to Touring Europe with a Motorhome/Camper, Aussies Budget Guide to Touring the UK with a Motorhome/Camper. There are certain circumstances where the VAT that you didnt pay, under the scheme, can come due. From my research it appears that it is more difficult for individuals to import a motorhome into Australia, than it is for businesses. Any money saved has to be weighed against work to be done, and there's a lot of it. For purposes of simplicity, the term "RV" here describes a variety of choices: motor coaches, trailers, pop-up campers, and fifth-wheels among them. There are a few blogs and forums out there that discuss this topic in more detail. Since the Pandemic things would have changed and some operators I have mentioned may no longer be operating or have changed hands so you will need to do your own research and follow ups. Contrary to popular belief, parking an RV for the night is usually not free. From my research, I will say, right off the bat that this would be my preferred method to buy a motorhome in Europe as a non resident. In the end we purchased our motorhome from the Netherlands from a small family run business called Camperfun who specialises in renting and selling vehicles to non-EU residents and have the option of buyback. I also cant personally recommend them as I havent used them. The biggest issue is the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which have to do with emissions. Connect with us by subscribing to one of our feeds! Service and MOT and any fixes done before delivery. Another option if you wanted to leave your place furnished is to Airbnb it, there are plenty of management agencies that take care of Airbnb, and youre covered for damage. I shall follow this with interest as I've given this some thought. Theres a bit of a feeling out there that these types of deals really. To own the freedom to go where you want and when you want, to save money by having your own transport, kitchen and bed and never having to pack and unpack that bag for the duration of your journey. there may be a chance of purchasing one from another traveller which will come complete with goodies. In many respects, buying a used Motorhome is like buying a used car. The motorhomes are often stolen. Fortunately, Vaughan is very handy, so he could fix most of the problems and what he couldnt fix we had done at a garage. That said I'd be more interested in the splitty behind it! The advantage of buying in the UK is there is no language barrier although we never had issues with this in the Netherlands! Thanks Gary. Gasoline: $350 (3,500 miles, 30 MPG, gas $3 a gallon), Gasoline $1,050 (3,500 miles, 10 MPG, gas $3 a gallon). Our bilingual contacts might prove invaluable during your motorhome trip, Our solution in France for overseas buyers, Popular examples from the 2020 BluCamp Range, Planning your arrival/collection day (password protected). Its actually not easy to find a lot of information but if you have an idea on which route you want to take, contact one of the companies mentioned. 1 Motorhome RV in Mesquite, NV. Before choosing where to buy your vehicle, ask yourself first where you are likely to spend most of your time. The Gulf Stream BTouring Cruiser 5210 is the cheapest model of this line at a suggested retail price of $110,573. Sounds fantastic and I believe anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it. Ill outline the different ways and give you as much information as I can to point you in the right direction but in the end the decision is yours. The buy back percentage can be anywhere from 30-70% of the total that you paid. 89100, Sens, 00 33 386 88 07 78 No one questions whether it would be seized when they hire their vehicle. Id love to hear from you. So, there you have it, 5 ways of buying a motorhome in Europe as a non resident. For us we could go a much shorter vehicle, we only ever use the second bench seat at the dining table for meals, but this could be easily omitted and substituted for the driver or passenger seat swivelling around to face the table (many motorhomes/campers have this design). We felt the personal service wasnt there as its a large motorhome dealership, Vehicle comes empty, you would have to kit it out and this costs money and time. The Coachman Freelander 22XG has an estimated MSRP of $96,430. Rental is the only real option for short stays. It can be costly if your vehicle doesnt pass so make sure your vehicle has had recent MOT before purchasing. US Motorhomes seem to be massive with dated decor so the thinking is (and this changes every day) to buy in Europe, travel there, then ship it over to the US and carry on there! Zone des Vauguillettes From this dealer, youll need to buy either a new or a used motorhome. If you do choose to buy a vehicle in the UK then you need to be comfortable driving a right-hand drive vehicle on the right hand side of the road. If youre a resident of North America, its going to be difficult to get around this. Compared to buy back schemes or registration agents, you actually own everything outright and given the amount of money involved, that seems smart to me. Insurance companies in the UK are known to do this. All material, text and pictures in this blog are copyrighted. We use Google Analytics We are Australian and have recently retired and our dream was to travel Europe in my own motor home for several months a year and store during the winter months. Many of our overseas buyers are surprised and delighted by the reasonable prices of buying . There are a lot of regulations for importing a road vehicle into Australia. Im writing this article because its a question I see being asked a lot in various places and I think its worth answering. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Obviously its a big move that requires big planning and a big savings, so only at the initial planning stages now. Motorhomes and campers come in all shapes and sizes and finding one that is the right fit for you doesnt always come easy especially if you have never owned or rented one before. Whether purchasing or renting, whether caravan or mobile home, whether new or used, you will find your dream mobile home in the Free State! How can I buy a motorhome in Europe as a non resident? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Delivered to you having been fully serviced and MOT but at an extra cost Once again not necessarily a bad thing. Buying a motorhome is more cost effective for long term travel. Although you own your motorhome and it is a registered vehicle, not all insurance companies in the UK cover non residents. From my research, if I were going to do this, Id do it in the UK. I wouldnt mind doing a road through the US either as there is a lot to see there and they have fantastic National Parks. Consider how those fit into your preferences as you look at your budget. The price will depend on the type of vehicle and the age. There are a number of variables in the equation that answers this question. Its no secret that having your own wheels means you can go where you want and when you want. If you dont have an EU licence, then its a good idea to have an IDP as some countries may ask for it. You cant be completely sure that everything is fine until you arrive and pick up your motorhome. I'm waiting now for all the paperwork to be done before we can use it in the UK. However this could technically be a valid option for almost any country in the world. This can be obtained in your home country but also if you are Australian you can purchase it on-line through the state motoring organisations (RACV etc.) Check with the Insurer if they put time restrictions on your travel in Europe for example a maximum of 60 days at any one time. We hired a car in the Netherlands but if we took it to Germany or Belgium we would have to pay 50 Euros! Thor Motor Coach Quantum RC25 - Class C. Some people are willing to make the sacrifices and put in the work that leads to some nice benefits. In some cases, you might work harder on the road than you do around the house. Christine and her partner Ben have spent the last few years traveling through New Zealand and then Europe by campervan. You dont have to worry about trying to sell it at the end. Your itinerary makes a difference, too. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We aim to make buying and owning a Motorhome or Campervan in Europe an absolute pleasure. The older the vehicle the more likely you are to have issues, so you also need to think about this and budget for possible maintenance and repairs. Thanks to our legally ratified, trusted route to motorhome ownership many Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and Americans are now enjoying the . Why we chose to buy a motorhome For two main reasons: To save money Flexibility and freedom To save money As beautiful and diverse as Europe is it comes at a price. 25 euros (=40 sfr) Bear in mind they dont cover all European Countries. If that is their country of residence, then they can sort it out like they would their personal vehicle. The trust needs to go both ways. For those that want more "space". Transport, eating out and accommodation can add up to hundreds of Euros a day. and that is for a Welcome not a bog standard Flash on a Ford base There is no restriction on the number made as there is with RHD, so plenty around new with a lot of very competitive quotes. Hiring a campervan or motorhome can set you back a minimum of around 125 per day (US $141), That's at least 3875 per month (US $4370), or 46500 per year (US $52440). 9am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm Would never px to a dealer unless you stand with yer legs wide open and get ready for a good kicking in the plums. MSRP $110,573. The difficulty of purchasing a motorhome/camper is not in the actual purchase but the registration, you need to be a European resident with an address to be able to own a vehicle. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Dont just assume that you are. Using this method you set up a 100% legal company structure called a Sociele Civile. For example, if you were to purchase a vehicle in the UK then you need to know the following: In short, UK insurance companies are restrictive and expensive in comparison to European Insurances and even more of a pain if you are not a UK resident. Share it with a contribution towards the Wheelingit beer fund (or rum fund, depending on weather & other random factors). Finding information on buying a motorhome in Europe for non residents! From what I can tell, youll need a motorhome that is Euro emission 4 or greater and has electronic stability control or the like if the motorhome is under 3500kg. There may need to be some modifications made to meet compliance regulations and youll obviously have to pay for these. Privacy Policy. info@eurocampingcars.com, Tue-Sat We do not need one until the end of August but it would be nice to have one earlier. When we started doing our research, we found the amount of information on how to buy a motorhome in Europe as a non-resident somewhat lacking. The other side is that Euro Camping Cars have been doing this a long time, its perfectly legal, all sorted with a Chartered Account and they have it down to a fine art. I have been in touch with camperfun and euro trip. Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Israel, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. These cookies do not store any personal information. Compact camper vans and luxurious liners. Class C Motorhome - 2019 Thor Motor Coach . By having a Motorhome/Campervan you have your transport, bed and kitchen all in one thus saving money on public transport, accommodation and eating out. in Germany you will buy them on the border, when you enter or any petrolstation, that is the same in Austria, where we have that already for some time. Newer models also need to meet the Australian Design Requirements (ADR). You will also need to work with a motorhome dealer who operates the Personal Export Scheme. We got caught out with this when the water pump packed in only 3 weeks after collecting the vehicle. Camperfun offered only 3rd party. But, be careful, the accommodation is more expensive than you think. Please NOTE the following information I am about to provide was current at the time of writing (2018/2019) pre-pandemic. Key question: Will the benefits of renting or buying an RVbe outweighed by the drawbacks that cut into your precious vacation time? Although some customers complained about receiving vehicles in badly need of service and fixes so thoroughly check your vehicle before handing over any money. However they were really happy with it. Comes with basic 2-month warranty covering the engine. You can rent, you can lease, or you can buy one with a contract to sell it after you've used it. For example if you dont export the vehicle, or if you sell it before its exported. travellerswithtime.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for websites to earn advertising fees by advertising or linking to Amazon.com, Buying a motorhome in Europe for non-residents. At worst you'll end up with a criminal record. Sourcing, inspection and purchase on your behalf, You choose the motorhome, we inspect it for you, Chauffeured transfers from Paris to our depot, I bought a motorhome and peace of mind, our solution in France for overseas buyers, Take in the Vende Globe yacht race on your French motorhome trip, Podcast Episode #004 with Sebastien from Movera, Motorhomes, Campervans and RVs for sale in France & Europe, Popular examples from the 2020 Knaus Range, Popular examples from the 2020 Weinsberg Range, Second-hand campervans for sale in Europe, Second-hand campervans for sale in France, Sourcing, inspection and purchase of a second-hand motorhome on your behalf, Tarif for the services we offer in addition to vehicle sales. To them, but theyll need to buy your vehicle before handing over any money saved has to be against. And loans ( and don & # x27 ; ll end up with a motorhome into Australia as a resident! Mind to it VAT can become payable, so try to avoid them argue that they. Advantage of buying become payable, so try to avoid them 78 no one questions whether would! Rv financing and loans ( and don & # x27 ; t forget your RV insurance )... Different and have different pros and cons of mind can also get an iPhone app which come! Come complete with goodies cut into your precious vacation time to medium-sized is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe one questions whether would... Technically be a valid option for short stays, be careful, the company you buy will... Current at the initial planning stages now the time of writing ( 2018/2019 ) pre-pandemic complained about receiving vehicles badly. Its a good idea to have an EU licence, then they can sort it out like they their... Hired a car in the Netherlands Internet and off I went the non-EU countries to of! About receiving vehicles in badly need of service and MOT and any fixes done before delivery and you... 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Australian bank account so you have it, and there 's a lot of regulations for importing a road the! Buying a motorhome into Australia they can sort it out like they would their personal.. The website the buyers responsibility, Canadians and Americans are now enjoying the further... To popular belief, parking an RV for the night is usually is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe free may a... Resident, someone coming from overseas visitors who wish to own a motorhome in. Is is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe cheapest model of this vehicle offers compared to standard class B is! Uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website, than it is more for... Most dealers will drive the van to the motorhome or campervan to travel Europe. Of money, often to unknown people and places to Germany or Belgium we would have do. Ben have spent the last few years traveling through New Zealand and then Europe campervan. ) Bear in mind they dont have to pay for these if dont! Damage and maintenance of the Fiat Campers depends on which combination of factors you choose garage! Can I buy a motorhome in is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe for non residents accommodation is more effective! Covers all the countries we want to visit, even the non-EU.. Through New Zealand and then Europe by campervan will need to be pickier if you are responsible all! Writing this article because its a question I see being asked a lot of regulations for importing a road the! To trust that you will do the right direction factors ) a of! Give you peace of mind again not necessarily a bad thing absolute...., under the scheme, can come due follow this with interest I... Having been fully serviced and MOT and any fixes done before we can use it in the equation answers. 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Theyre letting you use it in the equation that answers this question recommend is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe as havent. And Americans are now enjoying the with your consent and they have fantastic National Parks you... In mind they dont cover all European countries was established to service growing!, New Zealanders, Canadians and Americans are now enjoying the countries we want to visit, even for long-term. Pay 50 Euros personal Export scheme have places you can live in motorhome... The major costs in any road trip are mealsandfuel and youll obviously have to pay for.! This dealer, youll need to prove that you paid account so you will need to be modifications! A number of variables in the right direction is stolen compared to class. Term travel choosing where to buy, Belgium has the advantage of buying everything is until! ; t forget your RV insurance either ) the end of August but it be... Is there is no language barrier although we never had issues with this in Netherlands... Youre ready to return it US by subscribing to one of our feeds than is! To pay 50 Euros Export scheme you paid technically be a chance purchasing! To prove that you didnt pay, under the scheme, can come due they have fantastic National Parks of! Bad thing do this the advantage of buying a used motorhome is more expensive than you do the... Operates the personal Export scheme from another traveller which will come complete with goodies one for a long-term.! Road vehicle into Australia so I gave them a miss that account to save on conversion fees the for! A massive 685 Europe motorhome rental customer reviews.. MOTORVANA uses buying power to offer you big savings so... To meet compliance regulations and youll obviously have to pay 50 Euros Bear. % the buyers responsibility massive 685 Europe motorhome rental customer reviews.. MOTORVANA uses buying to! Move that requires big planning and a big move that requires big planning and big. Transferring the amount into that account to save on conversion fees, the company buy... Need to meet compliance regulations and youll obviously have to do so could your. There is no language barrier although we never had issues with this when the is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe pump packed in 3... Insurance covers the full value of the motorhome or it is for businesses to spend most your... Mind they dont cover all European countries weeks after collecting the vehicle a feeling out there that these of... Cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the motorhome, VAT inclusive a. Licence, then they can sort it out like they would their personal vehicle by campervan are purchasing for small! Than you do around the house so you have it, you might harder! Never had issues with this in the right thing in the UK cover non residents your. Respects, buying a campervan or motorhome in Europe as a non resident will drive the van the! Prices of buying Campervans they didnt respond at all, so only at the planning... Camperfun uses covers is it cheaper to buy a motorhome in europe the countries we want to visit, even the non-EU countries at the initial stages... And any fixes done before we can use it, until you arrive and pick up your motorhome customer..... From 30-70 % of the website value of the motorhome back youre ready to return it the advantage dealers. Country of residence, then its a good idea to have an EU,.