Minimalist Travel: Hiring a Campervan

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This is a collaborative post.

Minimalism and campervans go together nicely. A small space makes you pack only what you need, and the view out of the window does the rest. We’ve written before about the surprising benefits of minimalist living and what a camper van can teach you about it.

There’s one bit that usually gets skipped, though. The van itself is a big purchase. If the whole point is owning less and getting away from a consumer mindset, buying a large vehicle that spends most of the year parked on the drive sits a bit awkwardly with that.

Hiring a campervan gets you the same trip without owning anything. Here’s why it suits a minimalist, lower-impact way of travelling, and how to do it well in the UK.

The Hidden Weight of Owning a Van

Buying a campervan or motorhome comes with a list of ongoing costs and jobs that don’t stop when the holiday ends:

● Insurance and road tax, paid every year whether you travel or not.

● MOT and servicing, plus a yearly habitation check on the gas, water, electrics and damp, which many warranties require.

● Storage, either on your drive, on the street or in a paid storage yard over winter.

● Depreciation, which carries on quietly while the van sits still.

If the van only comes out for the summer holiday and a few weekends, the rest of the year it just waits. It’s the same reason plenty of people borrow a drill or a carpet cleaner instead of buying one. If you use something a few weeks a year, owning it is mostly paying to store it.

Why Hiring Is the Greener Choice

From an eco point of view, hiring has a few real advantages.

● Shared use. A hire van works through the season for lots of different travellers. One family’s privately owned van covers one family’s trips. Sharing means fewer vehicles need to be built for the same number of holidays.

● The right size every time. Owners are stuck with one vehicle size. When you hire, you pick the smallest van that fits the trip: a compact 2-berth for a couple’s weekend, a bigger motorhome only when the whole family is coming. Smaller vans are lighter and easier on fuel.

● Nothing to look after afterwards. You hand the keys back and the supplier deals with servicing and repairs. No winter storage, no battery going flat on the drive.

Try It Before You Commit

If you do still dream of owning a van one day, hiring first is the sensible step. A few trips will show you what you actually use.

● Layout. Do you want a fixed bed, or is a bed that converts from the seating fine?

● Size. Is a 2-berth enough, or does the family need more room on a rainy day?

● Facilities. Do you use an onboard toilet and shower, or do you always end up at campsite facilities anyway?

One trip can show you that a smaller van than you imagined does the job, or that hiring suits you better for good.

Pack Like a Minimalist

A campervan has limited storage, so this is where minimalist habits pay off.

● Check what’s included first. Ask the supplier what comes with the hire. If kitchen kit or bedding is included, leave yours at home.

● One soft bag per person. Soft bags squash into lockers. Hard suitcases don’t.

● Layers over outfits. British weather changes by the hour, so a few warm layers and a good waterproof beat a full wardrobe.

● Bring your reusables. Water bottles, a coffee cup, cloth bags and a couple of food boxes cut down on waste on the road.

● Shop as you go. Farm shops and local markets along the route mean you don’t need to load up a week of food before you leave.

What to Know Before Driving a Hire Van in the UK

A few practical things are worth sorting before you book.

● Driving licence. If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997, a category B licence covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass. Anything heavier needs a C1 entitlement. If you passed before then, check your licence, as older licences can include extra categories. The GOV.UK guide to driving licence categories explains the details. Always check the vehicle’s weight on the listing before you book.

● Driver age. Most hire companies want drivers to be at least 21 or 23, and drivers under 25 often pay a young driver supplement.

● Wild camping. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you generally need the landowner’s permission to stay overnight. Scotland’s access rights cover lightweight tent camping but don’t include motor vehicles, so read the Scottish Outdoor Access Code before you set off. For a van, use campsites or places where overnight stays are clearly allowed.

● Leave no trace. Take all your rubbish with you, empty waste only at proper disposal points, and keep noise down at quiet spots.

Where to Go

The UK is small enough that you don’t need to drive far to find somewhere good. Pick one region and take it slowly.

● Scottish Highlands. Glen Coe, Skye and the far north reward a week or more.

● Lake District. Compact, with plenty to see without long drives.

● Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Welsh coast. Mountains and coast close together.

● Cornwall and the South West. Beautiful, but go outside the school holidays if you can.

For more route ideas, our UK adventure road trip guide covers some of the best drives in Scotland, Wales and England.

How to Book

Booking platforms make the search easier. Campstar, for example, lets you compare campervan hire in the UK from several suppliers in one search, with pickup points including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester. You can filter by what matters to you, such as driver age or whether pets are allowed, and choose the smallest vehicle that works for your trip.

Minimalist Travel: Why Hiring a Campervan Makes More Sense Than Buying One