Campervan Hire StartUp

[HDR]

Hi,

I'd love to look into starting up a campervan hire business. I'd be starting with just the one van initially. Hopefully, buying another if all goes well.

I am looking at any advice in getting this started please. The main areas I guess are:
1. Insurance/s - what insurance's would I require and where are the best places to contact for prices. I am assuming Public Liability to be one of them.
2. Loan or HP? Would HP allow me to hire the van out? I think a loan would be best as I could sell the camper if anything changes financially in the future.
3. Breakdown recovery options
4. Any other tips on how to manage the van itself. ie: how to get it cleaned, checked over in between rentals. Paperwork etc for the hirer to fill out.

Any advice is most welcome.

Many thanks

 

[WaveJumper]

Hi,

I'd love to look into starting up a campervan hire business. I'd be starting with just the one van initially. Hopefully, buying another if all goes well.

I am looking at any advice in getting this started please. The main areas I guess are:
1. Insurance/s - what insurance's would I require and where are the best places to contact for prices. I am assuming Public Liability to be one of them.
2. Loan or HP? Would HP allow me to hire the van out? I think a loan would be best as I could sell the camper if anything changes financially in the future.
3. Breakdown recovery options
4. Any other tips on how to manage the van itself. ie: how to get it cleaned, checked over in between rentals. Paperwork etc for the hirer to fill out.

Any advice is most welcome.

Many thanks

How to start a motorhome rental business: Guide by Startups.co.uk

Motorhomes are cooler than ever, so it’s a great time to start a motorhome rental business. Find out how to get going here.

startups.co.uk

 

[HDR]

How to start a motorhome rental business: Guide by Startups.co.uk

Motorhomes are cooler than ever, so it’s a great time to start a motorhome rental business. Find out how to get going here.

startups.co.uk

Thank you!

 

[Paul Norman]

I am going to assume that you have already looked into sourcing a suitable van? At the moment getting a new van is potentially going to involve a wait of up to 18 months, especially if you are wanting a particular specification.

Used vans are in short supply, but available, albeit at pretty much the new van cost.

You can get finance specifically for what is effectively a mobile version of 'buy to let'. Big dealers, like Marquis, for example, are experienced in this kind of finance.

You need to understand the maintenance costs of a mobile home. It is not much for 3 years (around £600 per annum) and up to ten times that thereafter. Allow for time off the road due to warranty problems, a new motor home is a complex beast and subject to complex beast niggles.

Also, allow for repair times. People who only drive a motor home once a year, and who do not own the van, go about the challenge of driving one with less care than some other people!

Most vans come with breakdown recovery - ours is with the RAC. Get the best package on offer.

In between hires the van will need a deep clean - you can only imagine how some parts of the population do hygiene.

 

[Mark T Jones]

2. Loan or HP? TBH you probably won't have a choice - loans aren't very accessible to start ups (except possibly a Government-backed loan of £25k)

As @Paul Norman has suggested a good dealer might be able to get you HP but expect to pay a fairly big deposit. Yes, they can waive the sub hire clause

 

[Paul Norman]

2. Loan or HP? TBH you probably won't have a choice - loans aren't very accessible to start ups (except possibly a Government-backed loan of £25k)

As @Paul Norman has suggested a good dealer might be able to get you HP but expect to pay a fairly big deposit. Yes, they can waive the sub hire clause

You are correct. There will be a sizeable deposit. And dealer finance might not be the cheapest.

Make sure you do the sums well, because a motor home is a depreciating asset, and starting at between £60 to £100k new there is a big depreciation risk.

Especially at the moment. By the time a new van today is 8 years old, we will be into the electric vehicle age! That could mean diesel powered ones are worth a fortune. Or it could mean they are obsolete.

 

[HDR]

Thank you for the advice.

I was looking at getting a second hand campervan such as a VW Transporter or similar.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Thank you for the advice.

I was looking at getting a second hand campervan such as a VW Transporter or similar.

Second hand can be good.

Quality & reliability remain top priority!

 

[Swooper]

Hi,

I'd love to look into starting up a campervan hire business. I'd be starting with just the one van initially. Hopefully, buying another if all goes well.

I am looking at any advice in getting this started please. The main areas I guess are:
1. Insurance/s - what insurance's would I require and where are the best places to contact for prices. I am assuming Public Liability to be one of them.
2. Loan or HP? Would HP allow me to hire the van out? I think a loan would be best as I could sell the camper if anything changes financially in the future.
3. Breakdown recovery options
4. Any other tips on how to manage the van itself. ie: how to get it cleaned, checked over in between rentals. Paperwork etc for the hirer to fill out.

Any advice is most welcome.

Many thanks

HI HDR,

Was wondering if you went down the motorhome hire route ? I'm considering it and would be great to have a chat with someone who has done it themselves?


Thanks