The UKs Personal Export Scheme allows you to buy a motorhome, free of Value Added Tax (VAT, 20%) for export out of the UK, or EU. The main thing to know is that compliance is 100% the buyers responsibility. Can I buy a motorhome in Europe as a non resident? I hear you ask. What are some of the biggest challenges with buying a motorhome as a non resident? Transport, eating out and accommodation can add up to hundreds of Euros a day. Hi. Sounds fantastic and I believe anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it. Contact them direct, compare them all, compare reviews and reputation and finally make your decision. The Green Card is an international certificate of insurance providing visiting motorists the minimum compulsory insurance cover required by the law of the country visited. Happy Camper and Europe RoadTrip (run by the same family) in the Netherlands also do the same thing but I have received feedback from past clients about poorly maintained vehicles, dodgy insurance, and poor customer service so I dont recommend them to people anymore. 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. Although you own your motorhome and it is a registered vehicle, not all insurance companies in the UK cover non residents. Especially when theres stress involved. There is quite a lot to say about this topic, so I will write a separate post on this in due course with more detail. Feeling the love? 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). Its no secret that having your own wheels means you can go where you want and when you want. Youll receive the Carte Gris, which is the legal proof of ownership. Fortunately, a couple of travel blogs I did find written by other Australians and information on forums came to the rescue and gave us some pointers as to where to purchase and how. If you are fortunate to have a relative or friend in the country of purchase who can register it in their name or yours using their address, then its all easy. Part of the agreement is that the vehicle will be registered in your name. based on a massive 685 Europe motorhome rental customer reviews.. MOTORVANA uses buying power to offer you big savings versus renting direct. Sounds crazy and expensive but I believe it can be done! We do however pay our tax and insurance into the Australian account. Motorhome logbook (the REAL one- not a copy) If the vehicle is company-owned, hired or leased, you need a letter from the company stating their permission for the vehicle to go to Europe. Finding information on buying a motorhome in Europe for non residents! I will start by saying Im no expert, all the information I give you is based purely on our own experience. It does mean that if we have an accident or breakdown then we must call Camperfun as the vehicle is in their name which could take more time for resolution and leave you stranded a little longer. Large cities are not RV-friendly, while remote scenic wonders might not offer many decent hotel options. Smaller range of vehicles, best to purchase during the end of season or winter months as there is more choice of vehicles. They own it, and theyre letting you use it, until you return it. Should you be interested in using them please feel free to. For more information please see my blog Aussies Guide to Setting up a Motorhome/Camper. Electrical compliance is non-negotiable. At the time we didnt understand the concept at all, why would you buy and not own. We hired a car in the Netherlands but if we took it to Germany or Belgium we would have to pay 50 Euros! This article contains affiliate links. Travelling Europe in a campervan or motorhome is absolutely one of the best ways to see the continent. If you are purchasing in the UK then DU Insure offer insurance cover for non-UK Residents. The biggest thing to be aware of is compliance with New Zealands regulations. When I contacted Dutch Campervans they didnt respond at all, so I gave them a miss. Im here to help you get started on the road to having your own little house on wheels to roam a continent packed with culture, language diversity, history, beautiful landscapes, incredible food and wine the list goes on From the romance of Italy to the Fjords of Norway, its a motorhome/campervan paradise and it is easier than you think! Hostel vs. Hotel: Which One Is Right For You? Share it with a contribution towards the Wheelingit beer fund (or rum fund, depending on weather & other random factors). I guess one of the biggest advantages is the ease of the transaction. Once you buy it, you have to try and work out how to register and insure it. Theres a bit of a feeling out there that these types of deals really. Groceries must be purchased. If you choose to purchase on-line or from someone you dont know then it is recommended to have the vehicle checked before purchase. does anyone have an idiots guide with who to contact and how to import a van from europe. 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! I will discuss these in a separate blog. Company registration number: 518 831 177 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. The insurance company Camperfun uses covers all the countries we want to visit, even the non-EU countries. Travel Trailer - 2019 Keystone RV Premier 19FBPR. Also in the UK the insurance is more costly and especially when you extend it to cover Europe, UK insurers are also known to put caveats on the amount of time you can spend in Europe at anyone time. Thanks Gary. Before making that purchase there are few things to consider: Probably the first thing you should ask yourself is how long do you intend to travel for and would renting be better than buying. The scheme involves creating a simple, legal structure to enable you (no matter where in the world you are resident) to have full legal title to a vehicle and hold the registration certificate in your name. This type of company is not a trading company but one used to hold assets. Reasons to buy a motorhome- spending more time in nature and beautiful countryside. As for language Google 'English-german' and use the translation service there. One such company is Happy Camper/Europe Road Trips. Fiat Ducato Motorhome All images courtesy of Fiat. Clearly, there are pros and cons to getting behind the wheel of an RV. 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. VW Kombi campers, although they are vintage and small, are quite expensive as they are iconic and that is what you are paying for. That's pretty awesome. The disadvantage of this scheme is you may get much less for it as opposed to trying to sell it privately. Hi Rob, Thank You for your message, I am happy my article was informative. You can find information about importing a motorhome into North America here. However, if you plan on visiting the following countries then you need to carry the green card with you and may be asked for it at the border: We were asked for it at the Montenegrin border! If you think you can get a better price selling it privately, you can do it. Head over here for more.. It seems a little fiddly at first but if you use Euro Camping Cars, they seem to do all the leg work for you and the outcome is ideal. You cant be completely sure that everything is fine until you arrive and pick up your motorhome. Connect with us by subscribing to one of our feeds! This means that they own it. We actually met an Australian family in Croatia who had used a buy back system from the Netherlands. It may not display this or other websites correctly. This is about 65 (US $74). This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. This is the problem that all these solutions are trying to solve. Be very clear on the conditions of import into your own country, otherwise itll cost you a lot of money to try to correct, If youre importing into the USA after travelling Europe, youll also need to factor in that a motorhome from the UK will be left hand drive, where as continental Europe and the USA are both right hand drive, Motorhome buy back UK you own the title to the vehicle and have full and complete ownership, Buy back schemes through agents in the Netherlands the motorhome is still titled in the companies name, and you have a contract of purchase. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. International Money Transfer companies fees change so its worth shopping around before choosing one. Omitting this extra bench seat would shorten the vehicle. No one questions whether it would be seized when they hire their vehicle. If youve bought a motorhome or campervan in Europe as a non resident and have any thoughts or suggestions, either about a particular manner or about a company then comment below. Please call to ensure your chosen vehicles are available to view. However if youre happy to consider it a sort of cheaper, long term hire, you could easily use a Dutch buy back scheme. And yes, this is the cheapest full-sized . Euro Camping Cars have a commercial property and are legally allowed to host other companies on their property. The excess though is quite high at 720 euro. Other From the author Hey! You can also get an iPhone app which will assist when you go over. You really need to do your research, read reviews and find reputable businesses to handle your transaction. Creating a 100% legal asset holding company in France through which you can buy a motorhome, Buying a motorhome in UK using the personal export scheme, Buying in the UK using a motorhome buy back scheme, The Netherlands offer agents or middle men for vehicle registration and Insurance purposes, as well as offering buy back schemes, Having a trusted friend or loved one register the motorhome for you, Cost of the campervan between 25000 and 70000 (US $28195 $80000), Company registration, account fees and administration 1500 (US $1692), A one off vehicle registration fee 495 (US $560), New Vehicle fee (if it has not previously been registered) 275 (US $310), You will also need to get insurance for your motorhome, which again, shouldnt be any issue at all, MOT if you plan on driving in the UK before you head over the mainland Europe, you may need a MOT inspection. And because of Covid it probably wont be til 2022 I have updated my list based on feedback through my blog from past clients, note though this is clients from pre-covid:-. At worst you'll end up with a criminal record. This can be tricky as its not always easy to get a motorhome into another country and to be able to have it registered there. It's the most expensive continent to travel, especially Western Europe and Scandinavia. 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. You will enjoy your ride because the Sunseeker Motorhome presents multiple luxury facilities to make your stay comfortable. On average, a motorhome will depreciate around 4000 a year (up to a certain point) and around 1000 per 10,000km (6213 mi). I'll start with the good news: for the price, you're getting a brand new, squeaky clean RV loaded with features. You are using an out of date browser. Everything You Should Know Before Renting Your First RV, Where to Go in 2021: 10 Future Trips You Can Start Planning Now, Your Trip to New Zealand: The Complete Guide, How to Estimate Cost of Gas for a Road Trip, How to Plan an Awesome Family Vacation on a Budget. The short answer is yes, absolutely. So, you dream of having your own motorhome or camper to travel one of the most amazing continents on the planet? The Knaus BoxStar XL is built on a Fiat Ducato chassis's, a reliable vehicle which makes a great campervan base. You might need to spend $100,000 or more to buy a new RV, so it only makes sense to try a rental for a few times before considering the added financial commitment of a lease or full ownership. I have been in touch with camperfun and euro trip. I to am planning a trip to Europe and the UK next year. Generally, the larger your family, the better your opportunity to save money with an RV. How can I buy a motorhome in Europe as a non resident? 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. Mark Kahler is a budget travel expert and writer with more than 30 years' experience. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We also considered next time maybe buying one in the UK. We got caught out with this when the water pump packed in only 3 weeks after collecting the vehicle. The advantage of buying in the UK is there is no language barrier although we never had issues with this in the Netherlands! 8-9 m (~26-29 ft) is considered HUGE. When you take the time to choose a motorhome that you like, If youre intending to return to Europe semi-regularly you can always, You have the benefit of controlling things like the. Regards Gary. Thanks to our legally ratified, trusted route to motorhome ownership many Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and Americans are now enjoying the benefits of touring Europe in their own RVs. 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. A simple google search will find quite a few companies in the UK who have experience exporting to New Zealand. There are three ways to procure a motorhome in Europe. Bear in mind they dont cover all European Countries. Dont forget, if you buy it in the UK youll need to get insurance that covers the whole of Europe, and pay to bring the motorhome to the mainland. Larger families that need two hotel rooms each night have discovered RV travel and the beauty of visiting national parks. Before buying our van, we contacted three different businesses that specialise in sell and buyback to non-EU residents, all three were based in the Netherlands. You may need to prove that you have done necessary maintenance. 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. Buying a motorhome is more cost effective for long term travel. Try using suchen.de to have a browse on the web (has an English version). 7. However this could technically be a valid option for almost any country in the world. Where to Get a Motorhome in Europe. Just the article Ive been looking for, as Im starting to plan a road trip from Australia. The only way it becomes the facilitators responsibility is if you have proof that they have guaranteed compliance. This can apparently be done through EuroCampingCars.com in France. Many of our overseas buyers are surprised and delighted by the reasonable prices of buying . As you compare costs between RV travel and hotel arrangements, keep in mind that costs vary widely, and circumstances can dictate with choice is the most . It's often wise to rent an RV for a long weekend trip that doesn't take you too far from home. 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 is not a lot of information, and what there is is often lacking, a little vague, sometimes down right confusing or just plain wrong. 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). 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. It generally costs anywhere from $15 to $30 for two people and a tent, sometimes a wee bit more if you have a campervan. They offer much better rates than banks. The Gulf Stream BTouring Cruiser 5210 is the cheapest model of this line at a suggested retail price of $110,573. For those that want more "space". Best of luck, if you ever do it let me know . The Coachman Freelander 22XG has an estimated MSRP of $96,430. New motorhomes available to order. Youll need to contact a lot of them direct as their websites dont have all the information. It is also a great deal for people who want to strictly stick to their low budget since the majority of these cheap travel trailers cost you only $6,000. Buying a vehicle is simple enough, registering it as a non-European resident can be the tricky bit. 1 Motorhome RV in Grand Rapids, MI. You need investigate further for yourself. which is owned and run by the son. Small family run business that specialises in renting and selling to non-EU residents so personal service was there provided you opt for buyback. The contracts will include clauses for good condition and normal wear and tear anything above this and youll need to have it fixed or expect to get less when you return the motorhome. 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. You will need to pay to have your motorhome shipped to your home country within 12 months of purchase, You may have to pay taxes or import duties to bring it into your country of residence. The main difference that the size of this vehicle offers compared to standard class B RVs is a full dry bath. 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Setting up a Motorhome/Camper research, read reviews and reputation and finally make your stay comfortable renting... Motorvana uses buying power to offer you big savings versus renting direct purchase on-line or from someone you know. Import a van from Europe Im no expert, all the countries we want to visit, the! We didnt understand the concept at all, why would you buy and not own to personalise!