Campervans for beginners

Campervans are a popular method of travel in New Zealand thanks to the country’s abundance of camping grounds, holiday parks, and well-maintained roads. Here’s a few things you should know when looking to book a campervan.

1. “Berth” refers to the number of people a vehicle can sleep.

Campervans are measured by berth, which refers to the number of people the vehicle can sleep. Two-berth campervans are ideal for couples but often don’t feature amenities, such as bathroom and kitchen facilities. Larger, six-berth motorhomes can sleep more people and generally include amenities. You can learn more about berths on our choosing a campervan guide.

2. If you’re under 21, you may not be able to rent a campervan in New Zealand.

In New Zealand, the minimum age to rent a campervan is generally 21 years old. You’ll need to check the terms and conditions of the campervan provider to see which age restrictions apply.

3. You’ll need a credit card.

Although you can pay your deposit with a debit card, a credit card in the name of the primary driver is required for the security bond and additional charges. Campervan rental companies don’t typically accept cash.

4. You might need an International Driving Permit if your licence is not in English.

If you're renting a campervan in New Zealand, you'll need to make sure you have a valid driver’s licence. If you have a standard driver's licence, you are able to drive a campervan in New Zealand. If your licence has expired, it will not be accepted at the depot. Restrictions may apply to drivers who hold a provisional licence. Policies differ between each campervan rental company, so you will need to check the Terms and Conditions specific to your rental.

For renters who have a licence in a language other than English, you may also need to provide an International Driving Permit, which serves as a translation. You will need to provide the official document; copies will not be accepted. Before heading to the depot to pick up your rental, make sure you prepare all the licence requirements for campervan rentals in New Zealand.

5. An excess liability amount will apply if any damage is caused to the vehicle.

Most campervan rental companies include basic insurance for their vehicles in the listed rates. An excess amount will still apply, for which the customer is liable to pay if any damage is caused to the vehicle while it is in their possession. To reduce your financial liability when you hire a campervan, you can purchase excess reduction products from the campervan rental company. Note that in some cases, if a customer has not purchased any insurance, the security bond amount may be of a higher amount.

Another option is to purchase third-party protection products as some third parties offer insurance which includes coverage for your vehicle. If you are relying on your existing travel insurance policy, keep in mind that you will need to check the Terms and Conditions to see if your coverage extends to campervans.

Furthermore, it’s a good idea to check your campervan or motorhome rental upon pick up for any existing damage; take photos of the vehicle to prove its condition prior to you driving it.

6. New Zealand law requires young children to have a child seat.

You can request a child seat upon booking. In New Zealand, children shorter than 148cm legally need to be secured in some form of child seat.

7. You will need to pay for use of toll roads.

If you travel on toll roads, you are responsible for paying the fees. Talk to your rental provider if you’d like to know more about how to pay these tolls.

8. Taking the vehicle between New Zealand’s islands will void any insurance.

You are not permitted to take campervan rentals between the North Island and South Island. This will void any insurance, and you’ll be liable to pay the full cost of any damage incurred. There may be rare cases where this is permitted, but you’ll need to refer to the terms of rental agreement.

9. There may be exclusions to roadside assistance.

When you rent a campervan, you’ll be able to request roadside assistance via your rental provider. Keep in mind, this may not cover things like flat batteries, flat tyres, fuel depletion, or keys being locked in the vehicle.

10. Pets are not permitted in the vehicle.

Depending on the provider, pets may be allowed at a substantial fee. Service animals are generally permitted, but this will need to be pre-authorised with the campervan rental company. See the table below to know which companies allow pets on board.