Campervan & Motorhome Owners – Hire Demand is Huge

If you own a campervan or motorhome, you might feel reluctant to lend your prized possession to anyone else – even if you know them well. After all, it’s your home away from home and likely didn’t come cheap when you bought it.

But demand for campervan and motorhome hire in the UK is booming – and it’s a great passive income idea that can offset some of your initial outlay and running costs. There are other benefits too, especially if you don’t get around to using your vehicle as much as you might like to.

We’ve briefly explored what’s making the market so buoyant below. Further on, you can read about the benefits of hiring out your vehicle and discover how to start making money from your campervan or motorhome.

High demand makes it an owner’s market

A perfect storm of high demand and short supply means interest in second-hand campervans and motorhomes is through the (sun)roof. If you already own one of the two, the current market has you firmly in the driving seat. So what’s causing this trend?

In large part, it’s down to more and more people discovering the joy of staycations. Pandemic restrictions forced many of us to explore closer to home, while also experiencing the physical and mental benefits of the great outdoors. Campervans and motorhomes go hand in hand with such adventures, as well as being ideal for social distancing.

According to data from the National Caravan Council (NCC), new motorhome registrations hit a record of 16,608 in the year ending June 2021. But those figures would likely be much higher if it weren’t for global production constraints and limited stock.

The widely-publicised semiconductor microchip shortage put the brakes on new vehicle deliveries, leaving would-be buyers in limbo. Many have turned to the used market instead, which saw prices inflate by an average of 13.86% in 2021.

Not every owner will be looking to sell, of course – and not every staycationer will be ready to buy. So what about motorhome and campervan hire?

Benefits of hiring out your vehicle

For non-owners, campervan or motorhome hire offers a risk-free way to sample the lifestyle before taking the plunge and investing in their own vehicle. Over the space of a fortnight or even just a weekend, they’ll experience what it’s like to travel and live in the way you’re so used to.

But there are plenty of perks that make hiring out worth your while too – especially considering it’s such a great time to get involved in motorhome or campervan hire in Scotland, southern England and elsewhere.

You’ll earn passive income

You may well see the value of your vehicle as the freedom and flexibility it offers – and rightly so.

But even if you save money on flights, accommodation and other holiday costs over the years, the initial outlay on your vehicle will no doubt have been considerable. Then there are running costs like fuel, insurance, servicing and storage too. Renting makes it possible to offset some of the costs of your campervan or motorhome when you’re not using it – all while putting in next to no effort.

Marketplaces like Camplify, the UK’s fastest-growing caravan, motorhome and campervan sharing community, make it easy to hire your vehicle out safely. You can let people find you while setting restrictions from the start – like no pets – and choosing who you accept.

You could recoup hundreds of pounds in just a few days, depending on factors like your vehicle’s age and condition, how many it sleeps, and the time of year. And the best part? You’ll get an

You could fund an upgrade

As we touched on above, new caravans or motorhomes represent a significant outlay – especially if you’ve got your eye on a top-of-the-range model that you might not use all year round.

But if you can start to rent your existing model out consistently and feel confident doing it, you could quickly raise the extra funds you need. Buying a better-quality vehicle will also boost your rental opportunities in the future, as you’ll be able to attract more interest and charge a higher rate.

Hiring out your new purchase should also offset the dreaded depreciation that many new vehicles so quickly suffer.

You’ll become part of a helpful community

Hiring out your vehicle will naturally allow you to meet more like-minded travel enthusiasts (if you want to of course). You’ll be doing them a favour by introducing them to the lifestyle you love, especially if they can’t afford to buy a vehicle like yours just yet!

Get covered for campervan or motorhome hire in the UK

The case for hiring out your vehicle is clear, providing you’re comfortable with letting other people borrow your pride and joy. But a standard campervan or motorhome insurance policy won’t cover you for rental use, so you’ll need to get extra protection.

Our Discover temporary campervan or motorhome insurance covers you for accidental damage, fire, theft, breakdown and damage to other people’s property. And if your hirer needs to make a claim, this won’t affect any no-claims bonus you’ve built up on your standard policy.

Get in touch to find out more about the peace of mind we can offer if you want to take advantage of increased campervan or motorhome hire demand. We’re available to chat on 0208 984 0666 or you can email info@comfort-insurance.co.uk and a member of our friendly team will get back to you.