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Our guide to the annual costs you should know about before you buy a campervan

Posted on 2 October 2023 | by Jason Sims

Looking at buying a campervan? You’re in the right place! We’ve put together this handy guide to the annual costs of owning a camper, so you’re not caught out by unexpected or unplanned expenses.

Whether you want a camper you can take on weekend breaks, or you’re thinking of living the vanlife, there are a few different costs which will pop up year after year that you’ll need to factor in.

Just Kampers Insurance’s guide to the annual costs you should know about before you buy a campervan

The cost of an annual service on your campervan

Like any other vehicle, your camper will need to be serviced each year. This is a cost which you can (and should) plan for, and one that you can help to reduce by taking proper care of your camper.

If you’re thinking of buying an older campervan, like the iconic VW T2 Bay, then it’s entirely possible to service your camper yourself, if you’ve got the tools, knowledge, and experience needed.

More modern vehicles, like the popular VW T6.1, often require specialised tools and equipment to work on, which means you may need to take your camper to a garage to carry out a service for you.

To help you plan for this annual cost, check out what the garages in your area charge for a vehicle service, and take a look at the costs of the parts your vehicle may need.

To help keep the cost down, it’s worth noting that if you insure your vehicle with Just Kampers Insurance, you’ll save 10% on orders from Just Kampers, which can certainly help bring down the cost of your camper’s annual service.

How much is an MOT on a campervan?

As of October 2023, the MOT fee for campers is £54.85 according to the gov.uk website.

However, vehicles first built or registered more than 40 years ago are not legally required to have an annual MOT test. This applies to classic campervans, and could mean that your camper doesn’t need to get an MOT test.

While it’s not a legal requirement, we still recommend getting your classic camper an MOT test, just to help ensure that it’s still working properly and won’t break down on you unexpectedly.

What does it cost to insure a camper in the UK?

Another annual cost to plan for will be the vehicle insurance for your campervan. Again, this is a variable cost which will depend on factors such as the value of your camper, how much you’ll be driving it, and what you do for a living, but if you’re sizing up your options for campervan insurance then you’ll want to get a quote from Just Kampers Insurance.

It’s a bit of a win-win. Since we specialise in vehicle cover for all sorts of campervans, we’ll be able to offer you really competitive insurance quotes. Better than that, though, if we can’t beat your like-for-like insurance quote, we’ll send you a £50 Just Kampers gift voucher, which you can spend here at Just Kampers.

As of February 2022, the average cost to insure a campervan in the UK was £377, which often covers not only your driving, but also things that home insurance policies may cover like some personal belongings.

Naturally there’s no one-size fits all price for vehicle insurance, but here are some guideline prices from Just Kampers Insurance:

VW T2 Split from £135
VW T2 Bay from £135
VW T25 from £150
VW T4 from £175
VW T5 from £200
VW T6 from £295
Converted Campers from £225

These prices are a guideline, and are accurate at the time of writing (October 2023), but may be subject to change.

Click here for more information on vehicle insurance from Just Kampers Insurance.

How Much is Vehicle Tax for a Campervan?

Again, this is a cost which will vary between different people, but should be fairly consistent each year.

The main factors which will affect the vehicle tax rate for your camper are its maximum authorised mass (MAM), engine size, and how you pay.

Here’s a quick guide to help you calculate yours:

MAM under 3,500kg, and engine below 1549cc £200 to £220 per year
MAM under 3,500kg, and engine above 1549cc £325 to £357.50 per year
MAM over 3,500kg, regardless of engine size £165 to £181.50 per year

Vehicles with an MAM below 3,500kg and an engine size below 1549cc pay £200-£220 per year and vehicles with an engine size above 1549cc pay £325-£357.50 per year. Vehicles with an MAM over 3,500kg pay £165-£181.50 annually regardless of engine size.

How expensive is it to maintain and repair a campervan?

A timeless question, with no real answer! Instead, we’ll explain some of the factors which can influence how much you spend to keep your camper on the road.

The general consensus online seems to be that you should expect to pay between about £300 to £700 a year on repairs and maintenance for your camper.

It should be noted, though, that this price will fluctuate year-on-year. If you’ve completed a laundry list of repairs on your camper this year, you’re (hopefully) unlikely to need to do so again next year

Storage For When Your Vans Not in Use

This section may not be important to you if you have enough space to store your camperv on your own land (whether on your driveway or in a garage), but if space is limited for you, don’t let that stop you living out your dream campervan life!

There are many campervan storage facilities across the UK which offer a secure place to leave your van whilst it’s not being used. These sites are flexible with how long you want to store your van there, allowing you to usually pay by the day, month or year. The majority of these places charge around £1-£1.50 per day.

If you’re still researching the costs of owning a campervan before buying one, this is a cost which is well worth factoring in, since you’ll want to keep your beloved camper safe and sheltered while you’re not using it.

For those who’d rather keep their camper nearby, Just Kampers has created their own luxury breathable vehicle covers to help protect your camper, as well as working with Clarke on exclusive Tall and Extra Tall Heavy-Duty Instant Garages.

Security

You may also have annual security costs too, such as paying a monthly fee for a high range security alarm. Having a Thatcham approved security alarm is a very good defence mechanism against opportunistic thieves. but the costs can add up by the end of the year. The Thatcham approved alarms cost from £150-£650 and you will also have to pay a £10-£30 monthly fee.

There are cheaper alarm options including alarms that don’t require you to pay a monthly fee to use them. This will mean sacrificing the higher quality and some levels of protection, but these options will still provide you with some degree of protection and will make a much smaller dent in your budget.

You can also beef up your security with deterrents like the Safe-T Pedal, which locks in place over the pedals in your campervan’s cab, to prevent would-be thieves from driving it away. Security measures can be a great way to help bring costs down, as they’re a one-off purchase which you can use for years to come.

A quick summary of the annual costs of owning a campervan

Hopefully you’ve found this guide useful, and it’s helped you get a better idea of the annual costs that come with owning a camper. As a quick recap, here’s some suggested next steps:

• Take some time to check the costs for a service in your local area, and get a feel for how much different parts and service items cost for the make and model of campervan you’re looking for.
• Get an insurance quote from Just Kampers Insurance, since you’ll get a 10% discount on parts and accessories from Just Kampers to keep your campervan on the road and ready for adventure.
• Check the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) and engine size of the camper you’re looking to buy, so you can calculate the rate of vehicle tax you’ll pay.
• Consider whether you’ve got the space to store your camper on your own property, or whether you’ll need to look at paying to store it somewhere else.
• Find out what security measures come with the camper you’ve got your eye on, and see whether you’ll want to beef them up with products or services which come with an annual cost.

Looking to insure your Campervan? Give us a call on 01256 674522 and let one of our specialist team discuss your requirements. Or get an online quote today or arrange a call back and let us call you at a convenient time.

Agreed Value from Just Kampers Insurance

Posted on 21 September 2022 | by Jason Sims

No one wants to think about their pride and joy being written off for any reason, especially if it’s a classic car or modified vehicle that you’ve poured time, money and love into.

Still, “hope for the best and prepare for the worst”, as they say. If the worst should happen to your cherished classic or camper, an Agreed Value policy from Just Kampers Insurance will ensure that your vehicle is covered to the correct value accurately reflecting its worth.

How does Agreed Value work?

The team at Just Kampers Insurance can arrange an Agreed Value policy to cover your classic vehicle, modified vehicle or modern vehicle, if it’s at least two years old.

It’s well worth considering this addition to your vehicle insurance policy if you believe that the listed market value might not reflect the actual value for your specific vehicle. Maybe you’ve recently restored it, you’ve installed modifications or upgrades, or you just feel the industry market value isn’t a proper reflection of what you could sell your vehicle for.

Once you’ve completed the steps required to secure an Agreed Value policy, it will carry a sum assured, or amount payable, in the event of total or partial misfortune. Because of this, it’s vital to accurately provide details and evidence of your vehicle to ensure the policy protects its true value.

To secure an Agreed Value policy, you’ll need to supply a range of photos of your vehicle, including any modifications or upgrades, as well as receipts for cost of the parts and labour involved.

This might be for modification work, a full restoration, or just a few upgrades. These photos and documents are to ensure accuracy in selecting the sum assured against modified parts, or model type, that brings value to your classic or modified vehicle.

As your vehicle is likely unique, it’s important to ensure your policy recognises its full worth.

What information will I need to supply?

Photographs of your vehicle
Insurers will specify the kinds of photos they need, and the shots necessary to evaluate your vehicle’s true value – this may involve pictures of the interior, exterior, engine, and any modifications.

Copies of bills and invoices
You’ll also be asked for bills of recent or existing work: It’s essential to support the value of your vehicle through authentic receipts of work that directly express the worth of labour and parts. This will also help to indicate the kind of unique works that have been applied to your vehicle.

An independent evaluation from an accredited expert
An optional step, to ensure that the agreed value is as accurate as possible, is a paid inspection that captures, beyond photography, the worth of your vehicle – from an independent, accredited expert.

Agreed Value insurance summed up:
Unlike traditional policies, Agreed Value is mostly for classic campers or modified ones. These policies are typically harder to find because they are designed to protect campers or cars above the average marketplace value. Your policy will carry a sum assured, or amount payable, in the event of total or partial misfortune. It’s important to accurately provide details and evidence of your vehicle to ensure the policy protects its true value.

Who are Just Kampers Insurance?

Just Kampers Insurance was set up with the VW enthusiast in mind and has been providing tailored insurance policies for classic VWs and daily drivers for over twenty years.

We don’t just insure campervans, but it’s certainly our speciality.

Click here to find out more about Just Kampers Insurance.

You’ll save 10% on orders from JK if you’ve got a Just Kampers Insurance policy:

Insure your vehicle with Just Kampers Insurance and we’ll give you a 10% discount on every order* you place with us throughout the duration of your policy.

*Excludes ‘Special Order’ items & gift cards. Discounted amount is a 10% reduction in the products retail price. You will automatically be unenrolled once your insurance policy expires or you cancel it. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.

Click here to find out more about saving 10% off your orders with Just Kampers Insurance.

The Just Kampers Insurance £50 price promise:

We’re so sure we can offer you a really competitive price on insuring your precious VW that we’ll give you £50 Just Kampers Gift Voucher if we can’t beat your current quote.

Click here to find out more about our £50 price promise.

If you would like to talk to the team about an Agreed Value policy please call 01256 976165 or click on Get a Quote for an instant online quotation or use our web call back service.

Best Security for Campervans: Outsmart Thieves

Posted on 7 April 2021 | by Jason Sims

Campervan Security: 10 Tips to Keep Your Camper Safe

Motorhomes and campervans are consistently at risk of theft, so we’ve put together a quick guide to help you keep your camper safe and enjoy some peace of mind.

According to findings in England and Wales from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), vehicle-related theft is increasing in cases where luxury motorhome and campervans lack the basic layers of security. This means that you can decrease the likelihood of your camper being targeted by thieves by making it as off-putting or difficult to steal as possible.

How to keep your campervan safe and secure

While there’s relatively little you can do to stop a truly determined thief from stealing your campervan, there are a lot of quick and easy things you can do to put off opportunistic thieves from making off with your pride and joy.

From simple changes to minor investments in new security accessories, this quick guide to campervan security should help to make the prospect of stealing your camper – or stealing things from it – much less tempting for would-be thieves.

Ensure the doors lock, and the windows shut correctly

At the risk of sounding patronising, we know from our own experience that a lot of older campervans have some idiosyncrasies when it comes to the doors and windows, and the original locks and keys don’t always function as well as they used to.

It’s not uncommon for vehicles like the VW T2 Bay to end up having different keys for different locks, or windows which don’t quite wind up all the way. These little quirks can lead to some security issues, especially as many older campers will have ‘pop up’ door locks which could be pulled up via some wire and a slightly-open window.

Before leaving your camper, whether you’re parked up at home or off on a camping adventure, make sure that all of the doors are closed and locked, and that your windows are properly closed. Many thefts of (or from) vehicles are committed by opportunistic thieves who say an opportunity and took it – by denying easy access to your camper, you’ll go a long way towards keeping it safe.

If you do need to upgrade or replace your window components or door locks, then Just Kampers has a massive and ever-growing range of parts for different campervans. Plus, you’ll get a 10% discount from Just Kampers if you’ve got vehicle insurance with us!

Be conscious of where and how you park

Another anti-theft measure which won’t cost you a penny is thinking about where you park your campervan, and how you park it.

If you’re parking your camper on a road, always try to park up underneath a street light. This will mean that people have a much clearer view of anyone snooping around your vehicle at night, and will likely put off casual thieves.

When parking on your driveaway it’s often a good idea to ‘park yourself in’ with a second vehicle (if you have one), so that your camper can’t be so easily accessed by thieves who’ve come equipped with a tailer.

You can also park your vehicle in such a way that it’s easily visible from your house, and that makes it difficult for anyone to access your engine bay. This is fairly easy with campers like the VW T2 Bay where the engine is at the rear, and the rear itself is pretty flat, so you can back right up to a wall or garage door (with someone to help!) and block access to your camper’s engine.

Installing a CCTV camera and security light overlooking your campervan is also a great visual deterrent and could help capture some important evidence if anyone attempts to steal your vehicle.

Always keep your valuables out of sight

On the subject of opportunistic thefts, you should always ensure that valuables and important documents are tucked away out of sight whenever you’re not using them.

Mobile phones, laptops, tablets and cameras are often targeted, but if you’re travelling overseas then passports and other important documents will also need to be secured away.

Whether you’ve created a secret compartment within your campervan to store your valuables, or you make use of the existing storage cabinets and cupboards, it’s important that anyone glancing into your campervan can’t see a few thousand pounds worth of technology sitting on a table inside.

One way to prevent this is to stop people from being able to see inside the vehicle at all. Blackout curtains, or thermo mats, can serve the dual purpose of keeping your camper at a comfortable temperature (and letting you sleep past dawn) as well as stopping anyone from seeing inside.

Just Kampers has a range of blackout curtains and thermo mats for a huge range of different makes and models of campervan, and if you’re insured with Just Kampers Insurance, you’ll get 10% off orders from Just Kampers for the duration of your policy.

Click here to take a look at the different blackout curtain kits for your camper.

Consider a safe for your campervan

If you want to go one step further to protect any valuables inside your camper, you could look at installing a safe in your vehicle to lock them away.

A small safe like the kind you might use in your house might fit somewhere in your camper’s interior, or you could look at getting one which fits underneath your passenger seat.

While you might find the size and weight of a safe is too awkward to include in your campervan, it’s worth taking a look at the different options available if you’re after extra peace of mind while you’re hitting the road in your camper.

Get yourself some window air vents

If you want to keep your windows open a little, but don’t want hands (or bugs) to be able to get into your camper, then window air vents are definitely worth looking at.

While you should never leave your vehicle unattended with window air vents fitted, they can be great for allowing a good flow of air into and through your camper during the day or overnight while you’re still in or near your camper. For example, if you’re hanging out on one side of your van and want a nice breeze to flow through the interior, you can fit some window air vents and not feel like you have to keep checking the windows on the side you can’t see!

Check out the different options for campervan trackers

Tracking devices are highly technical, invisible bits of equipment which can monitor your vehicle’s location or alert you to the fact that it’s moved if you weren’t expecting it to do so.

Popularly, tracking devices may be “Thatcham Approved”, which means they are accredited by a leading authority in after-market security solutions and are therefore, easier to locate if they are stolen.

There seems to be an ever-growing number of different types of tracker available, all of which offer different pros and cons, so it’s worth doing a bit of research to find the tracker that’ll work best for you and how, when, and where you use your camper.

Secure your campervan’s pedals, steering wheel, gearstick, and wheels

While these are certainly less high-tech than trackers, things like steering wheel locks and wheel clamps send a clear message that stealing your campervan is going to be really difficult, if not virtually impossible.

Steering locks are available which either cover the whole of your camper’s steering wheel, or slot though it to prevent it from being turned. They’re often brightly coloured and immediately obvious, which can be great for putting off opportunistic thieves.

Similarly, gearstick locks can prevent anyone who doesn’t have the key from shifting your camper out of neutral, making it almost impossible for thieves to fire up your camper and make a quick getaway by driving it away.

You can also get locks which fit over the pedals of your camper, which can’t be taken back off without a specific key. These will also prevent anyone from being able to drive away in your vehicle, and are available from Just Kampers for a range of different Volkswagen campers.

Wheel clamps are an immediately obviously and infamously tricky measure against theft, which will stop your camper’s wheel from turning until the clamp is removed. This can prevent anyone from driving away in your campervan, as well as making it incredible difficult to load onto a trailer or tow away.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, and they’re not guaranteed to work, but there are a lot of things you can do to make your camper less of an appealing target for would-be thieves, and to make it much more difficult for your campervan to be stolen.

For more information about tailoring insurance policies to your campervan or motorhome, whether you’re after affordable premiums, or something with that little bit more protection, consider coverage from the experts at Just Kampers Insurance.

Motorhomes and campervans are consistently at risk of theft. According to findings in England and Wales from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), vehicle-related theft is increasing in cases where luxury motorhome and campervans lack the basic layers of security.

What Vehicles Are More Likely to be Stolen?

The major target for theft is luxury or staycation vehicles, such as campervans or motorhomes. In fact, not only are vehicle-related crimes alarmingly common, but the majority of general insurance quotes for campervans and motorhomes alike have discovered a lack of security measures.

Despite the value of a campervan, which can seem priceless to its owner, approximately 45% of these vehicles lack a basic alarm system, and only 6% of owners have tracking devices fitted.

Vehicle theft is becoming more sophisticated as it learns from technology, just as custom or classic vehicles are greater targets because of their age and lack of security measures. Whether you own a classic or a modern campervan – from a VW T2 Split to a T6 – a vehicle without security creates an increased opportunity for this type of crime.

Additionally, as demand for staycation vehicles grows, the likelihood for theft unfortunately increases with it. Nowadays, campervan security can too easily become secondary when considering all of the optional gear and costs. There is currently no legal requirement for a security device, but does that mean you should risk your campervans security?

Campervan Security FAQs

What is the best security measure for my campervan?

Prevention is the best security method. A combination of visual/physical devices and technical ones should help limit the opportunities for crimes of theft to occur.

What happens if my campervan is stolen?

If your campervan has been stolen, notify the police straight away. Using the crime number from the report you filed, notify your insurance company.

It will help the police to recover your campervan if it is fitted with a tracker. Without proper security measures it may make it more difficult to recover your stolen vehicle.

Does having an alarm and immobiliser fitted in my camper reduce insurance premiums?

The greater the security options fitted in your camper, the safer it becomes. This should reflect in the cost of your insurance premiums, as immobilisers and alarms are recognised as crime deterrents.

What is ‘Sold Secure’?

This is an organisation that tests, verifies and reviews locking systems for a range of leisure vehicles (grading from Bronze to Diamond), coordinated through the Master Locksmiths’ Association. Owners may notice the brand when shopping around for locking systems and other security products.

What is a Thatcham category alarm?

Thatcham is the standard for insurance companies, and many providers will insist that your vehicle is fitted with their alarms for basic security. Devices of a certain standard will receive a Thatcham Security Certification to reaffirm this security.

How does a vehicle tracking system work?

This relies on technical equipment to monitor the location of your vehicle. Typically, the vehicle owner will have a few options with their supporting subscription, whereby they can either buy it yearly, or cover two, three, four or even up to five years at a time. The police will use this tracking service to locate and recover a stolen campervan.

Categories of security systems for this kind of vehicle recovery include:

Category Five/ Thatcham after-theft systems
Category Six/ Stolen Vehicle Tracking
Category Seven/ Stolen Vehicle Location

The difference between categories will depend on your vehicle and its requirements.

How do I check if my campervan has an engine immobiliser?

Since 1998, immobilisers have been fitted into all new vans. This may be done during production, or installed later. The best way to check if your campervan has this fitted is to read the handbook.

How Just Kampers Insurance Can Help

Whether your prized possession is a classic, custom or converted camper, security should be a top priority for an owner. With theft cases rising, owners need to ensure their vehicles are fitted with enough safety and security features to prevent and limit opportunities for crime.

As a campervan insurance specialist, we know the value of a campervan can feel priceless. That’s why we help our customers achieve a reassuring sense of security through their insurance. To find out more, request a quote today.