Campervan Hire London FAQ
Got a question about renting a campervan from London Campers? Take a look at our Campervan hire London FAQ. Still unsure of something? Feel free to get in touch
Vehicle choice, specs & functionality
I'm not planning to stay on a campsite, will I still have power?
All our vans have leisure batteries providing 12v power to internal electrical systems (lights, radio, water pump, heater, fridge, 12v TV, etc), as well as providing charging through USB and or cigarette lighter style sockets. Leisure batteries are isolated from the vehicle battery, so you can use this power to your heart’s content, without fear of not being able to start the engine. When the leisure battery runs low, simply run the engine (for about 30 minutes) to recharge.
Please note the 240v 3 pin mains sockets won’t work unless you are ‘hooked up’ (connected) to mains supply at the campsite. That’s common to all campervans, caravans and motorhomes!
Which van should I choose?
We have a wide range of vehicles to suit most requirements and budgets, so there should be something for everyone!
We’ve provided detailed and honest descriptions of each vehicle, we’d encourage you to read these carefully. Pay particular attention to the caveats around the retro campers and the cheaper modern options – we’ve priced everything according to spec and condition. The T25 vans are for confident drivers and shorter distance trips only, and are not suitable for young families.
A few further tips that might help you choose:
Requirement | Recommendations |
Automatic transmission | Aaron, Mojave, Raven, Carl, Lenny (retro) |
6 or more passengers | Blueberry, Raven, Carl, Lenny |
Longer wheel base (40cm longer van) | Mojave, Pistachio |
Best van you have | Slightly subjective, but check out Alaska, Aaron, Indium and Mojave first |
Cheapest options | Carl and Casper (the T25s are cheap too, but a false economy due to fuel consumption) |
ULEZ compliant only | Aaron, Alaska, Indium, Santiago, Sylvester |
I want to cook outdoors | Blueberry, Carl, Raven, Lenny |
To provide further assistance, we also have a specification comparison table here:
Vehicle | Year | Model | Seats | Transmission | Engine | Fuel |
Aaron | 2016 | T6 | 5 | Automatic | 2.0TDI 150PS | Diesel |
Alaska | 2016 | T6 | 5 | Manual (5 speed) | 2.0TDI 110PS | Diesel |
Indium | 2015 | T6 | 4 | Manual (6 speed) | 2.0TDI 150PS | Diesel |
Mojave | 2015 | T6 | 5 | Automatic | 2.0TDI 150PS | Diesel |
Silvester | 2012 | T5.1 | 5 | Manual (5 speed) | 2.0TDI 102PS | Diesel |
Santiago | 2011 | T5.1 | 5 | Manual (5 speed) | 2.0TDI 102PS | Diesel |
Raven | 2006 | T5 | 7 | Automatic | 2.5 TDI 174PS | Diesel |
Carl | 2007 | T5 | 7 | Automatic | 2.5TDI 130PS | Diesel |
Blueberry | 2008 | T5 | 6 | Manual (6 speed) | 2.5TDI 140PS | Diesel |
Pistachio | 2007 | T5 | 4 | Manual (6 speed) | 2.5TDI 130PS | Diesel |
Casper | 2004 | T5 | 5 | Manual (5 speed) | 1.9 TDI 84PS | Diesel |
Vic | 1986 | T25 | 4 | Manual (5 speed) | 2.0 GTI | Petrol |
Bob | 1989 | T25 | 4 | Manual (4 speed) | 2.0 GTI | Petrol |
Lenny | 1988 | T25 | 6 | Automatic | 2.1 WBX | Petrol |
Notes:
- All vehicles sleep 4 adults (plus one child in optional cab bunk)
- All vehicles feature fridge and a double hob gas stoves – some integrated, some portable
Vehicle | Night heater | Euro 6 (ULEZ) | Kitchen facilities | Solar panel | Alloy wheels | Parking sensors |
Aaron | Yes | Yes | Integrated | Yes | Yes | |
Alaska | Yes | Yes | Integrated | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indium | Yes | Yes | Integrated | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mojave | Yes | Integrated | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Silvester | Yes | Yes | Integrated | Yes | Yes | |
Santiago | Yes | Yes | Integrated | Yes | ||
Raven | Pull out from rear | Yes | Yes | |||
Carl | Pull out from rear | Yes | ||||
Blueberry | Yes | Portable stove and water carrier | ||||
Pistachio | Yes | Integrated | Yes | |||
Casper | Integrated | |||||
Vic | Yes | Integrated | Yes | |||
Bob | Integrated | Yes | ||||
Lenny | Removable pod | Yes |
What equipment comes with my campervan rental?
In addition to the specification provided in the van specific information pages, your rental campervan will come with:
- Gas for cooking
- Full crockery and cutlery for as many people as the van sleeps (ie. Enough for two if it’s 2 berth, enough for 4 if it’s 4 berth, etc). This will typically consist of:
- Large saucepan, small saucepan and frying pan
- large plate, small plate, bowl, glass and mug for each person
- knife, fork, spoon, teaspoon for each person
- A selection of chopping boards
- Kitchen knives and kitchen spoons for stirring / serving
- A tin and bottle opener
- Washing up liquid, sponges and tea towel
- Bin bags and small dustpan and brush
- Fold up camping chairs for the same number of people as above;
- A fold-away camping table
- BBQ, coals, lighters and BBQ utensils
- .
Bedding is not included as standard, because the vast majority of people prefer to bring their own (a double duvet and fitted double sheet is ideal). If you do want bedding, it is available for £25 extra per set (a set consists of a double duvet, cover, sheet and 2x pillows with covers).
We can also provide towel sets (1 large one small) for £10 per set.
We can also provide an EU satnav at a cost of £5 per day – but we find most people just use their phones these days! (To charge it, you’ll just need a USB to car cigarette lighter connector).
Do any of the vans have ISOFIX?
Only Mojave, Raven and Carl have ISOFIX for now. The other vans have standard 3 point inertia seatbelts.
Are any of the vans automatic?
Yes, several of our vehicles have automatic gearboxes. Check out Aaron, Mojave, Carl, Raven and Lenny.
How long does the leisure battery last?
This depends on a few variables – which van and how big the battery is, how much you use it, what for, in vans with solar panels, how sunny it is and hence how much energy the solar panel puts back in. But as a general rule of thumb about 24 -36 hours between charges. Then you will need to run the engine to charge it back up – something you’ll hear lots of people doing at festivals etc!
If you’re worried you can’t run the engine to top up the leisure battery, we have portable solar panels as an optional extra.
How long will the gas last?
There should be enough gas for at least a week – if the bottle isn’t more than 50% full when you depart, we give you a second. They are also available on many campsites, large supermarkets and at festivals. Cooking uses minimal amounts of gas – it isn’t generally used for anything else in the van (except pistachio that has gas heating and a gas fridge!
Can I leave the fridge on overnight and during the day?
Yes, fine to leave 12v compressor fridges on constantly. If the vehicle has a 3 way fridge, it must be on mains or gas when parked. If the fridge is a portable 3 way, it cannot be run on gas in enclosed spaces. See comparison table for type of fridge in each van.
How does the night heater work? Must I run the engine?
If the van you are looking at is listed as having an auxiliary heater, you do not need to run the engine to operate these. These heaters use the leisure battery to ignite fuel (either diesel or gas) and can safely be run all night. 240 electric hookup is not needed, although it would ensure the auxiliary battery remains charged.
Auxiliary heaters are very fuel efficient and mean vehicles can be camped in all year round, including in cold climates. Please note however, if you intend to camp with a poptop roof raised, this will result in significant heat loss from the vehicle (the sides of these roofs are canvas!) so we recommend hiring a thermal screen to insulate the roof.
As an optional extra, we can also rent 240V electric heaters which can be used with mains electric at a campsite with any vehicle, whether it has an auxiliary heater or not.
How big are the vehicles?
T5 and T6
Short wheelbase campers are 4.9m long and 2.05m high. It is just under 2m wide. (Aaron, Alaska, Indium, Santiago, Sylvester, Carl, Raven, Blueberry, Casper)
Long wheel base is 5.3m long. (Pistachio, Mojave)
T25
Poptop: 4.57 meters Vehicle Height: 2.10 meters Vehicle Width: 1.85 meters (Vic, Bob, Lenny)
Hightop: same as above but 2.55m high
Do you do campervan rental for Glastonbury and other festivals?
Of course! As you can imagine, we’re always very busy with campervan hire for Glastonbury festival, so please get your booking in nice and early!
We also offer campervan rental for festivals right across the UK and further afield.
Are there any mileage restrictions?
In the modern vehicles (T6, T5.1 and T5), no.
In the retro T25 vehicles, you can travel the equivalent of 100 miles a day. So for a 3-day hire, for example, you can do (3×100=) 300 miles free of charge.
Beyond this, the following charges will apply:
- 1 – 100 miles extra: £0.75 per mile.
- 201 + miles extra: £0.50 / miles
To provide an example of what this means, if you drove 500 miles over a 3 day period in a T25, the this would cost £37.50 in extra mileage charges.
Are there any campsites you'd recommend?
There are loads of great campsites throughout the UK and Europe that’ll make you feel very welcome in a London Campers campervan. When we’re setting out on an adventure, we tend to take a look at these sites, as a starting point.
Do you allow pets?
Probably, yes. Unless it’s an alpaca- that’s a bit big and hence a straight no. But check with us beforehand.
We love animals and are happy for them to share your adventures, obviously the issue for us is that they don’t leave any lingering smells that future customers might not like, or damage the vehicles. We clean the vans between every hire, but if the cleaning is much more difficult or time consuming than usual, we reserve the right to levy an excess cleaning fee. If there is damage, we will deduct from the security deposit to reimburse the costs of returning the vehicle to pre-hire condition.
Is there anywhere we can't go?
You cannot go in the London Congestion and Ultra Low Emission Zones without paying the charges. You can buy these from us at checkout.
You must also pay a fee to cross the Thames at the Dartford River crossing (Dartford Tunnel going north, Queen Mary bridge going south) – it is payable by midnight the day you cross, via the internet.
Please note our vehicles are not allowed in the Rotherhithe Tunnel – a hefty fine applies.
You may go abroad in the modern vehicles (T6, T5.1 and T5) but you must purchase an EU driver pack as an extra if doing so.
Can I take your campervans to Europe?
Yes, provided it’s a modern one (T6, T5.1 or T5). If you are heading overseas, to mainland Europe you must add an EU driver pack from the accessories list at checkout. These costs £75 per week and provide an extension to the vehicle insurance and breakdown cover, plus we throw in hire of a EU driving pack.
Because of Brexit, you may also need provider an VE103 form issued. We arrange these for you, but you must supply your pre-hire paperwork to us with enough time to arrange this, otherwise we are not responsible if it doesn’t arrive in time! Processing can take up to 10 days.
Do I have to pay London ULEZ?
Ulez charges apply for Mojave, Pistachio, Raven, Blueberry, Carl, Casper, Vic, Bob and Lenny. The charge is payable for any day that you enter the zone (greater London area). The clock resets at midnight each day, so if you start a journey through the zone an 11:30pm but don’t leave the zone until 12:30am, you would be charged twice.
We pay all ULEZ charges on your behalf, so that we can do so you must tell us whenever you plan to or end up entering the zone.
A £10 administration fee is chargeable for each ULEZ charge incurred which was not booked in advance of your departure.
What about other clean air zones in the UK and abroad?
There are lots of other clean air zones in the UK now, including Bath, Bristol, Bradford, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside (Newcastle and Sunderland). There are also many abroad. The hirer is solely responsible for paying any clean air charges applicable during your hire. If you receive a fine for failure to pay, we will add a £30 administrative charge for transferring liability or paying on your behalf.
All road user fines will be deducted from your security deposit, if we are still holding it and funds are available, or will be recovered from you subsequently. You agree in the rental agreement to be liable for all such charges.
Keep up to date with all the UK clean air zones here:
Can I wild camp?
Sure – we’re not stopping you! Do bear in mind that some areas of the UK (particularly touristy ones) may have local bylaws prohibiting it. Check the rules where you are travelling. There are also lots of good apps that list places you can stay overnight – try for example Park4Night.
If you do wild camp, be considerate to local residents and leave the place as you found it!
Can your vans take 5/6/7 passengers?
Several of our vans fit 5 passengers to drive – any that have 3 seats across the front (Alaska, Sylvester, Santiago, Blueberry, Casper).
Raven and Carl the caravelles are 7 seater (but can also be supplied as a five seater, with 3 across the back and 2 up front).
In terms of sleeping though, all these vans are 4 berth. We have the option to add a childs bunk bed across the front (making it 5 berth), but this is really only for small children (say under 5 years typically). Also the van would be pretty crowded! So the best option for sleeping capacity is usually to take an awning (i.e side tent designed to fit to van) that has a sleeping compartment. We have several options for this under the extras.
Can I take bikes? How many?
Yes, bike racks are also available in extras. Bike racks carry a maximum of 4 bikes. The vans with tailgates (Aaron, Indium, Alaska, Carl, Raven, Pistachio, Blueberry, Vic, Lenny, Bob) have more suitable bike racks than the barn door vans (Sylvester, Santiago, Casper), if you want to carry 4 bikes. The bike racks for Mojave, Sylvester, Santiago and Casper can just about take 4 bikes, but it’s a squeeze – and it’s a skill to load this many!
Booking process and key terms
Why should I choose London Campers for my campervan trip?
There are many reasons! Here are just a few:
- Above all, we have great vans at great prices – and something to suit almost all needs and pockets!!
- Our vehicles are hand picked, each custom designed and loved like members of our family – we’re not just taking whatever the main dealer has, punting it out for the season and then offloading when the weather turns!
- We don’t just rent campers, we build them, restore them, buy and sell them, and maintain many for lots of loyal customers too! As such, we know each van intimately and can get the details right!
- We are professionals with 16 years hire experience under our belts – but we are also seasoned campervanners with lots of knowledge and experience to pass on, should you need it.
- We offer first-rate customer service and will be on hand from the moment you book and throughout your trip to help you get the most from it!
- You’ll be supporting a business started and run by real campervan enthusiasts: we’re not just here today, gone tomorrow opportunists cashing in the van life crisis. We love campervans and want you to love them too!
- We offer delivery (and always have done – support the innovators, not the imitators!)
What's your cancellation policy?
In the event of cancellation prior to the Hire Period, the Hirer agrees to pay a cancellation fee in line with the following:
i) Greater than 6 weeks prior to start date – 25% of rental fee (i.e the booking deposit) or £75, whichever is greater;
ii) Between 6 weeks and 2 weeks prior to start date – 50% of total hire charge
iii) Less than two weeks before start date – 100% of total hire charge
Learning the lessons of the Covid 19 crisis, all customers are strongly advised to take out travel insurance to cover themselves against the risk of cancellation for reasons beyond our control.
These charges are made because the closer you get to the hire, the more unlikely we are to find replacement hirers for the vehicle. If you think a last-minute cancellation is likely, we recommend you take out separate travel insurance to cover this risk.
Is insurance included?
Yes, London Campers own comprehensive Self Drive Hire campervan rental Insurance is included. This is subject to an insurance excess equivalent to the amount of the security deposit for the applicable (i.e between £500 and £1000 depending on which vehicle).
Qualifying drivers must:
- Be between 24 and 75 years of age
- Have a valid full UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia or NZ licence for at least 1 year (entitlement to drive a class B vehicle – i.e a car)
- Have no more than 6 penalty points at the time of hire
What is the insurance excess on your campervan rentals?
The insurance excess for each vehicle is set at a rate equivalent to the required security deposit. In the event of a claim, your security deposit would pay the first £XXX of this claim if it was a fault or shared fault claim. You also authorise us to deduct from the security deposit to cover the costs of any damage or other consequential losses arising from the hire, up to the security deposit level. You should note that this limit is per incident and hence if you have several incidents, you could be liable for a sum larger than the security deposit.
When will my payments be taken?
Your initial downpayment (25% of the rental fee) will be taken when you make your reservation. The balance (75% rental fee plus fees for ay additional services) will be taken automatically 4 weeks before your departure.
Your security deposit(s) will be charged 2 days before departure. These are charged by means of a “pre-authorisation”, which means the funds are not removed from your account, they are simply flagged so that they cannot be spent on something else until the pre-authorization is reversed. If we have to make a security deposit reduction, this will result in a charge at the point in time that we make this charge.
How do I book a campervan with London Campers?
Bookings are taken online only – this way customers can get what they need straight away (we have instant online booking!). It’s also the best way to present the wide range of options we offer, present the information you need to decide, process the payments and capture your key info.
That said, if you’d like to speak to us first, or need some help finding what you need, please feel free to call. We won’t be able to give live availability, but if you have a question that isn’t answered on the website or need something bespoke, we will do our best to assist. We also run a busy workshop and several other operations – so if you don’t get an answer, leave a message – or better still send a WhatsApp!
Can I add accessories later?
Yes you can – please contact us with your requirements.
Please note we don’t have one of everything available for every vehicle – so book early to avoid disappointment.
What happens to my security deposit when I return the van?
If there are no issues, it will be returned within 7 days (usually faster). Customers should note that since it is taken by means of a pre-authorization, you will not see it as a refund on your bank statements. What occurs with an authorized hold is that the pending hold on that amount of their available credits, is not completed as a charge unless you claim from the security deposit, that’s why it’s a hold vs a charge. So when it is released, the pending transaction falls off and disappears.
Meaning, since there is no completed charge, there is no refund. The funds were not taken out in the first place, they were simply put on a hold.
Does that make sense?
What does the insurance cover? Is there anything it doesn't cover?
All our hire vehicles come with fully comprehensive self-drive hire insurance. This is proper, professional insurance designed for the purpose of hiring vehicles. Beware of many operators who do not tell their insure the vehicle is being hired for reward – this is illegal and you and they will not be covered in the event of an incident!
Our comprehensive self drive hire insurance is subject to an excess. In the event of an incident, you agree to pay this amount, which is taken from your security deposit. Where there are multiple incidents during a hire, the excess will apply to each of them and you will be liable for the excess for each incident, even if the amount exceeds the security deposit which is authorised.
Because you will be liable for damages to the vehicle up to the insurance excess amount even where the incident is not our fault, we strongly recommend that you take out damage waiver insurance separately to insure your security deposit. Although we cannot sell it to you, there are many places on the internet where you can buy it, for example: icarhireinsurance.com
What is insured?
- Legal liability for death or injury to any other person, including passengers
- Legal liability for damage to other people’s property up to £5,000,000
- Loss or damage caused accidentally, or as a result of malicious damage, fire and theft up to the market value
- Windscreen repair / replacement subject to £100 excess
- Personal Accident Benefits: For you or your partner (see policy wording for definition) for death, loss of limb(s)/eye(s) up to the sum of £5,000
- Medical expenses. Up to £200 per person
- Personal belongings. Up to £200
- Foreign use. For up to 30 days in total in any period of insurance
- Courtesy van for a period not exceeding 14 days or the duration of the repair whichever occurs first
- In-vehicle entertainment & navigation equipment –unlimited if fitted as standard or up to £500 if not fitted as standard
- Replacement locks up to a value of £500 if your vehicle key or the card entry system for the insured vehicle is stolen
- Uninsured driver promise. Following an accident that is caused by an uninsured motorist we will refund the cost of your excess and restore your No Claim Discount.
- Vandalism promise. If you make a claim caused as a result of vandalism, you will not lose your No Claim Discount.
- Emergency transport & accommodation. If you are not able to drive as a result of an incident covered under section A or B we will assist in getting you and your passengers to a safe location. We will also pay you up to £100 per person in respect of alternative transport to reach your destination or emergency overnight accommodation.
- Child car seat cover. If you have a child car seat fitted to the vehicle that is involved in a covered loss, we will cover the cost of replacing the seat even if there is no damage to it.
What's not insured?
- You will be responsible for the first part of any claim – this is known as the “Excess”. The Excess will be shown on your Schedule or in the Document of Insurance and can be advised to you by your insurance intermediary
- If your van is damaged while a young or inexperienced person (including you) is driving, or is in charge of the van, you will have to pay the excess as shown on your schedule
- Loss or damage when your vehicle is left unattended if the last person in charge of your vehicle before the loss or damage happened is not shown on your certificate of motor insurance as allowed to drive
- Damage to or loss of your vehicle or its accessories when your vehicle is left unattended unless your vehicle is fully secured
- Loss or damage caused by an inappropriate type or grade of fuel being used
- Loss of or damage to tyres caused by braking, punctures, cuts or bursts
- Loss or damage caused deliberately by you or any person who is in charge of the insured vehicle with your permission
- Any liability to others, or loss or damage to any van covered by this insurance when the van is being driven in an unsafe, unroadworthy or damaged condition or does not have a valid MOT certificate when needed or the van is carrying a load or a number of passengers which is unsafe or greater than the manufacturer’s specifications
- Mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer or computer software breakdowns, failures, faults or breakages.
- The loss of, or damage to, your van resulting from fraud, deception or attempted fraud or deception or by the use of a counterfeit or other form of payment which a bank or building society will not authorise.
- Loss of or damage caused by someone taking the insured vehicle without your permission, unless the incident is reported to the police and assigned a crime reference number and you do not subsequently withdraw that statement
- Damage caused by frost unless you took precautions to protect the insured vehicle.
I need the registration number of the camper I have booked
Please look in the important documents section of your reservation page. The registration number is given in the table on page 2 of the contract (we don’t give it out on the website because people clone them!).
What documents will you need from me to hire?
Before you can drive off in one of our campervans, you will need to provide us with the following:
- Completed rental contract: you can check the terms and conditions of this here [link].
- Proofs of address x2: You will need to provide TWO recent bills confirming the current address of the main hirer.
Notes:
• At least one of these proofs of address must be a Primary proof, ie: electric, water, gas, broadband of landline telephone bill, council tax, TV licence, bank statement, credit card statement, mortgage statement, polling card or HMRC self-assessment / tax credit or DWP statement. The secondary one may be student loan statement, gun licence (!!), payslip, mobile phone bill, pension letter, car finance statement, loan statement or property deed. Or both forms can be from the Primary list
• These MUST be dated within the last 3 months on the date of your departure
• They must have the lead hirer’s name on them and must obviously both have the same address
• Tenancy agreements, declarations from landlords etc cannot be accepted – sorry, this is the insurer’s rules, not ours! - Drivers licence (obviously!)
- For UK drivers, valid DVLA drivers report
These are available from https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence. It’s free and easy to do.
Notes:
• Your licence must display the same address as your proofs of address – it is UK law that you licence address is up to date, if this creates an issue, please liaise with DVLA to arrange a new licence to be issued, we can accept an online confirmation email from them that a address change has been requested.
• For UK drivers, the green paper “counterpart” is no longer used. The online system on Gov.uk (linked above) replaces it, it tells us what vehicles you can drive and whether you have penalty points and disqualifications. The PDF report you send us is valid for 21 days, so please don’t send it more than 21 days before departure! - For EU, USA, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand drives: a copy of your passport
Any drivers who are under 24, over 75, have more than 6 penalty points or hold a nationality of licence not listed above, please let us know right away – we cannot guarantee you can drive and we would need to refer you to the insurer!
Pick up & drop off
Where are you located? How do I get to you?
Our Depot is located at 250 Ellison Road, London, SW16 5DJ. The nearest train station is Norbury (6 mins walk). Streatham common is also close – 12 mins walk. Both these stations are served by trains from London Bridge and London Victoria, as well as East Croydon and Clapham Junction. It is also easy to reach us by bus from Brixton, Streatham and Streatham Hill – look for buses 109, 250 and 255.
You can also drive and park – parking is free and spaces are easy to find. It’s at your own risk but is a safe area. Or you can pay to park in our secure yard for an additional fee.
Do you deliver campervans?
Yes we do. We will deliver within a range of 15 miles from Streatham Common SW16 for a charge of £6 per mile one way or £11 per mile if we are both delivering at the start and collecting at the end. You can add this to your booking when you make a reservation.
If your delivery or collection is further than 15 miles from us, we may still be able to help, please contact us before booking.
Our website features an online calendar and booking tool which gives live availability and pricing. You can book deliveries and collection to London addresses and airports here, simply add these to your purchase, selecting either delivery, collection or both.
What are your opening hours / collection times?
We are open between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12:30pm on Saturdays, and from 10:30-12:30 on Sundays (for returns only).
All departing guests must arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time.
You can arrange to pick up or drop off outside of these hours, you must select an “out of hours collection or return” from the extras list during the checkout process. This will allow you to pick times that suit you (but no earlier than 7:30am or later than 10pm) and the extra charge pays for staff time to facilitate this.
It is also important to note that we run strictly on an appointments basis. We do not serve “walk-in” customers: you must have a reservation and/or an appointment.
For collections and returns you must arrive at the time provided on your reservation, or tell us if you are delayed. We cannot guarantee we can serve you if you arrive at times not previously arranged.
Can I pick up / return my camper out of hours?
Yes you can collect and return your rental campervan outside of normal business hours. Please select an “out of hours collection or return” from the extras list during the checkout process. This will allow you to pick times that suit you (but no earlier than 7:30am or later than 10pm) and the extra charge pays for staff time to facilitate this.
Can I leave my car at your premises?
Yes, this is possible. There is free parking on the street outside, it’s generally a safe area – although at your own risk, obviously.
Alternatively, if you feel more comfortable, you can book a space in our secure gated parking area as an extra when you book. Still at your own risk, but something some people prefer to do. This costs £5 per day.
What if's
I made the reservation but I'm not driving?
It’s fine to book for someone else to drive, but we will need the documentation (drivers licence, proofs of address, contract) to be provided by them. Also, the security deposit must be paid on a card registered in their name.
I have an accident or a breakdown?
RAC business breakdown cover is included with all hires. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a a week, 365 days a year to assist. In the unlikely event of a breakdown, the breakdown provider sends a patrol and they try to repair the vehicle on the roadside or wherever you are. If they are unable to do so (and we can’t help on the phone), the vehicle will be recovered to any one destination in the UK for repair (so you must speak to us before giving that destination!). The policy provides for onward travel by public transport or rental car and/or up to 2 nights hotel accommodation while the vehicle is repaired.
If practicable, we will arrange for a replacement campervan if your trip is severely compromised by a breakdown. But they are very rare!
We are also always contactable to hire whenever you need during your hire to help. We’d rather hear from you and be able to fix your issues so you can enjoy your trip to the maximum, so don’t hesitate to get in touch, even if it is early or late. If we don’t answer right away. Leave a whatsapp and we will come back to you.
If you have or are involved in an accident, you must exchange contact details with the other parties and take lots of pictures of the damage. You must also notify us within 24 hours of the incident. We need to notify the insurer and will ask you to fill out a form on return.
What if I damage the van? Will I lose my security deposit?
This depends on the extent of the damage. We will only ever charge you what it costs us to put the vehicle back to the condition it was hired and for any associated costs related to that (such as delivery of the vehicle to garages, taking it off the road when it would otherwise be hired, etc). If you do damage something, please let us know right away so that any parts can be ordered to facilitate a rapid repair on your return.
In terms of repair costs, we are happy to provide quotes and to let you seek your own, so that you are confident you are not being overcharged. However please bear in mind these are expensive vehicles and repairs such as bodywork do not come cheaply. We use a very reasonably priced bodyshop, but customers often forget that if you damage a panel, that entire panel would need painting to look right.
As hirer you are also responsible for all damage during a hire, whether it was your fault or not – if you hit a pothole and crack a wheel, if someone keys the vehicle, reverses into you in a car park and makes off, if a stonechip hits the windscreen, etc,. Given this and that automative repairs can be expensive and that we strongly recommend that you purchase damage deposit insurance. We can’t sell it to you, but lots of places on the internet can. Try for example iCarhireinsurance.com.
What if I get a speeding ticket / a parking fine / a toll charge fine / bus lane fine / yellow box fine / no entry fine etc?
You agree in the rental agreement to be liable for all such charges.
All road user fines will be deducted from your security deposit, if we are still holding it and funds are available, or will be recovered from you subsequently. There is an administrative charge of £30 for each fine we receive on your behalf.
Speeding tickets will be transferred to you, again a £30 administrative charge will be applied.
Who can hire? Who can drive?
Item #1Who can drive a London Campers campervan?
To drive one of our vehicles, you must comply with the below:
- You :
- Are not under the age of 23 or over 75 years of age
- Have held a full UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand licence for a minimum of two years; and
- Have no more than two convictions with a maximum of 3 points per conviction
- You have not:
- Had your licence suspended for any period within the last three years
- Been involved in more than one fault incident within the last three years
- Obtained a BA,DD or UT conviction
Our insurance allows us to cover the following drivers, subject to having reviewed their licences:-
How old do I have to be to hire a campervan?
Our Insurer insists that all campervan renters are between the ages of 24 and 75.
I don't meet your standard requirements, can I still rent a camper?
The answer to this is maybe. You will need to send us the following, so that we can refer your details to the insurer for a view. Sometimes they say yes, sometimes they say no. Often they will say “yes, but…”. That but is often that a larger excess will apply – and hence a large security deposit must be taken.
Details we need to make a referral:
Name:
DOB:
Occupation:
Country of residence:
Type of licence held:
Jurisdiction in which issued:
Date issued:
Expiry date:
Driving experience in the UK:
Driving experience abroad:
Any claims (regardless of fault), points or convictions in last 5 years? Any pending?
Intended dates of trip and vehicle:
My driving license doesn't have my current address on, can I still rent a campervan?
If you move home, you MUST notify DVLA – but don’t panic, it’s very quick and can be done entirely online. You do NOT need to wait for the new licence to arrive to hire with us – but please make sure you make a copy of your old licence before you destroy it! We can use a picture of your old licence and a copy of the online confirmation you will get that shows you have requested a change of address on your licence.
Preparing for your trip
Will you show me how the campervan works?
Of course! So that customers can get away promptly on the day of their departure, we send video instructions for the vehicle in advance. You can then ask us any questions on the day, which we will be happy to answer.
Throughout the hire, we are on hand to answer questions and provide a helping hand – and of course you also have the instructional videos to watch back whenever you need as well!
What should I pack?
The vans come with cooking utensils, cutlery, plates etc for the number of people the van sleeps. We also include camping chairs, an external table, BBQ and a first round of charcoal as standard. As you would expect, the vans also come with standard length electric hookup lead (longer ones available as an extra) and with curtains all round. We also supply washing up liquid, sponge, tea towels.
We offer a wide range of accessories which some people find useful. These are items such as bike racks, awnings, chemical toilets, solar showers, log burning stove, external gas grill, 12v TV, bedding sets, towel sets, etc etc. See the accessories page in the booking system for full details.
In terms of what you should bring. We recommend packing light – or at least with some discipline. Transporters aren’t huge, particularly if 4 or 5 people are sharing the van. Squashy bags are better to fit in cupboards and storage spaces. What exactly you need will depend on your plans (obviously) but a few items we always find useful on camping trips are:
- Toilet rolls
- Bin bags
- Torches
- Warm clothes / waterproofs (dry robes are excellent!) and under layers
- Comfy footwear – inc maybe something to walk to toilets?
- Water bottles
- Suncream
- Insect repellent
- Entertainment – be it a deck of cards, board games, beach ball, table tennis bats, frisbee, football, books, mini speaker
Miscellaneous
I can't find my security deposit return!
See the following from the payment processor, Stripe: “your customer won’t see a refund credit on their statement—they’ll just see the original authorization drop off their statement entirely after a few days. There will be no payment, and no refund. It’ll appear as if the whole transaction never happened. Their bank should be able to confirm this for them. Depending on your customer’s card issuer, the original charge should have disappeared from their pending charges by usually 5 business days after the release”
Can you help me sell my campervan?
Yes we can. It costs a £50 one-off fee to list the campervan on our website. You send us pictures and description and we do the rest. Enquiries are sent directly to you.
If you want us to manage the entire sale process for you, we can also do that. The fee is 10% commission on the first £10k sale price achieved and 7.5% on any sale price above £10k. For this amount we do everything for you – create the listing, market, meet potential buyers and handle the transaction to completion. Get in touch for more details.
Do you sell VW campervan parts?
Although not our mainstay, over the years we have built up quite a large inventory of parts for T25, T5 and T6 campervans. Please see the parts for sale section in the first instance. If there is a part you are particularly struggling to get hold of, we may well be able to help you, so please get in touch.
We would also recommend the below websites for your hunt:
www.vwbusshop.de (Germany)
www.gowesty.com (US)