Buying a Campervan in Australia

Travelling via a campervan should always be an option for those looking to see Australia on a budget. Even for those who aren’t, campervans are a great way to explore Australia up close and personal.
If you’re planning on travelling Australia for a few weeks, and are looking to save money then this is the perfect way to do so. Especially if you are planning a working holiday, as campervans give you a place to live and travel while you’re working.
It’s hard to know where to begin with buying a campervan in any country, let alone abroad where you don’t know local rules and regulations. We’re here to help you with some tips and tricks to make sure you get the best campervan for your money.

A few handy tips to remember before you actually Buying a Campervan in Australia;

• Go and see the vehicle while it’s light out. Trying to see if a van is in good condition in the dark isn’t a good idea – for obvious reasons.
• Make sure to ask the owner to demonstrate any features that the van has to ensure its working. This includes anything to do with the engine and anything inside the van such as fans or fridges.
• Also make sure to check that the water system works efficiently. There’s nothing worse than getting on the open road to find that you don’t have any drinkable water!
• Another really important point to consider is the toilet! Ask the owner of the vehicle to show you how to clean and dump the septic tank.
• Also find out how the battery works and make sure that it is in good condition. Make sure that it holds its charge well enough to last you a decent amount of time.

You should also make sure that the fridge and cooker are suitable for your needs. Many people find that a three-way fridge is best for travelling in Australia, in case you find yourself without electricity. This means that the fridge will still run off gas while you have no electricity available.
People have also recommended a four ring hob cooker is good for backpacking – any more and you’ll just be wasting electricity. Any fewer and you won’t have enough space. Some campers do have an oven in them too, but these aren’t that great and we’re hoping you’ll spend most of your time outside barbecuing anyway!

Buying a Campervan in Australia: Legal Check

There are also a lot of legal checks to go through to ensure the vehicle is road-worthy before buying a campervan in Australia. Check the VIN number with local authorities to find out the vehicles history. Also try and go for vans which have a lot of paperwork indicating what has been done and how long ago. A really important point that most people miss is looking out for whether the seller is the named driver. If they aren’t is it because they’re selling it on behalf of someone. It’s always worth finding out why if this is the case.

Age of the vehicle

Consider the age of the vehicle and how easy it will be to come by new parts should it need them. Some older vehicles are great for travelling but the parts aren’t too common and therefore will likely be more expensive. Likewise with newer vehicles – the parts will be easy to find but because they are newer they will be more expensive. You should try and find vehicles with a good middle ground – not that we’re hoping you’ll have to buy new parts!

Vehicle insurance

Once you’ve chosen the van that you want to travel round Australia with, contact different insurance providers to see what kind of premiums you’re offered. This could be the deciding factor in what campervan you choose to buy. Also check what is covered with your insurance, as if you’re travelling with a laptop or camera, some insurance companies don’t cover this. Or they will charge extra for this once you’ve already bought the insurance. Check and double check and you’ll be fine!
Once you’ve done all of this, make sure to get a written receipt from the seller. Write ‘paid in full subject to mechanical inspection’ to make sure that you’re covered if the results of the inspection aren’t as good as you’d hoped.
Good luck, and happy travelling!
Related Article: Migrate to Australia