Buying a Campervan in Australia: A Complete Guide (Costs, Tips & What I Learned)
Buying a campervan in Australia will be one of the most exciting yet stressful experiences you will have in your adult life (trust me it’s worth it though). Throughout the last 4 years, I’ve extensively travelled Australia and come to realise that all my best Australia road trips happened inside a campervan.
When I decided to make Australia my permanent home base it was only natural I combine a car with a home on wheels and dive head first into Van Life in Australia. In this guide, I’ll share the practical tips, lessons, and questions I wish I knew before buying my first campervan in Australia.
Understanding the type of campervan you are looking for:
Before you start browsing listings, it’s worth figuring out exactly what you need from your campervan. Asking yourself these questions early will save you time, money, and a lot of second-guessing later on.
- What is your maximum budget?
- What are you using the campervan for? Weekend trips? A lap of Australia? A permanent home base?
- How good are you with DIY? You might prefer a fully fitted campervan, or you may enjoy building and customising your own setup.
- Do you have non-negotiables for your campervan? For me, I knew I wanted a pop-top roof, sink and kitchen.
- Are you planning on going off road? If so, you will want to consider a 4×4 to travel those harder to reach areas of Australia
Decide What Type of Campervan You Actually Need
Once you’ve answered those questions, you should have a much better idea of the type of campervan you’re looking for. Trust me, when I first started searching, I felt completely overwhelmed. But honestly, that’s part of the fun.
I ended up buying Dawson, my 1984 Volkswagen Kombi T3 — and while it probably wouldn’t be everyone’s first choice, I’m obsessed with him and the nostalgia he brings every time I get behind the wheel.
If you already know what campervan you really want, my advice is simple: get it.
So many people told me to play it safe and buy a Toyota Hiace. And yes, it probably would’ve been more reliable. But I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed it nearly as much. I can’t see myself buying multiple campervans throughout my life, so I knew this was my chance to experience van life in something quirky, vintage, and full of personality.
There are a lot of options for campervans in Australia, these are the top options you could consider:
Car with a rooftop tent
If you are looking for a minimalist set up and one that’s more affordable, you could consider getting a small SUV (the Nissan X-Trail is a popular choice) and a rooftop tent. Kit the boot out with kitchen supplies and you’ll be good to go. Honestly, this is a great option for backpackers in Australia wanting to experience van life.
A small campervan
A small campervan is my personal favourite — and one of the most popular choices for travelling around Australia. Common options include the Toyota HiAce, Hyundai iLoad, and various Volkswagen Transporter models.
After driving some of Australia’s best road trips, I realised a small campervan was the perfect balance. It’s big enough for two people to comfortably live in, but still compact enough that you can park it in a regular car park without stress.
Most small campervans give you enough space to sit up inside, but if you can find one with a pop-top, you’re onto a winner. Dawson has a pop-top, and it’s been a game changer for creating extra space in my home on wheels.
A Medium Sized Campervan
If I were travelling with a second person and wanted a bit more space, I’d look at a medium-sized campervan like a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Renault Master, Fiat Ducato, or Ford Transit.
These do come with a higher price tag, but there are some really solid options on the market. A lot of vans in this size range are already fully kitted out for life on the road, which can save you a huge amount of time and effort compared to starting from scratch.
A Large Campervan
Travellers exploring Australia with a bigger budget and looking to create a more permanent home on wheels may consider a larger option like the Toyota Coaster.
Toyota is often seen as one of the most reliable choices for campervans in Australia, largely because parts are easy to source and repairs are straightforward when you’re on the road.
Vans in this category offer significantly more space and comfort, making long-term travel much easier. In most cases, they can still be driven on a standard car licence, but it’s always worth double-checking the specific weight and registration requirements for the vehicle you’re looking at.
4×4 Camper Car
This option is really only for you if you’re planning to go off-road in Australia. River crossings, unsealed roads, and beach driving are all much easier in a 4×4 setup. While some campervans in Australia are 4×4 conversions, most are actually ute-style vehicles with a rooftop tent rather than a full built-in camper setup.
Popular options include the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Toyota Hilux. This type of setup gives you maximum access to remote parts of the country, but it’s more focused on adventure and flexibility than comfort or long-term living space.
How Much does a Campervan cost in Australia?
Coming from the UK, one thing I quickly realised when I started looking at campervans in Australia is just how much more expensive they are here. Most of my family back in England have campervans, so I had a pretty good sense of pricing and let’s just say my budget wasn’t stretching to a Mercedes Sprinter.
If you’re a budget backpacker in Australia, you might find a very basic campervan with high kilometres for around $5,000. That said, these can often be a bit of a gamble and may end up costing you more in repairs than you expect.
On a more realistic budget, you can usually find a solid, reliable campervan in the $20,000–$30,000 range. At the higher end, prices can go up to $200,000+ for fully kitted-out, Luxury builds.
Honestly, it can feel like a bit of a minefield. The key is to decide your budget upfront and stick to it. You don’t want to stretch yourself too thin just to get on the road.
Older vs Newer Campervans
Depending on your budget, you may end up looking at older vans and honestly, “old” is very subjective in the campervan world. I’ve met travellers who call a 2008 van old, while mine is a 1984 Volkswagen Kombi T3 and still runs in great condition.
I knew from the start that I wanted a vintage campervan for the classic Kombi look, and after a year of searching I found the perfect fit. That’s the thing with campervans — it’s not just about age, it’s about condition, maintenance, and what you actually want from the experience.
One of the big advantages of older vans is simplicity. They’re often much cheaper to maintain and far less complex mechanically. No complicated onboard computer systems, no electric windows, and fewer things that can randomly fail on the road usually just a straightforward engine setup.
That said, newer vans do offer more comfort and reliability, but when they do go wrong, repairs can be expensive. I’ve met travellers who’ve had modern onboard systems fail and ended up with thousands in repair bills.
Whatever you choose, make sure to factor in a buffer in your budget for unexpected repairs. A few thousand dollars set aside can make a huge difference if something comes up on the road.
Understanding Rego and Buying Interstate
Buying a campervan in Australia can get a little tricky if you purchase a vehicle in a different state to where you’re living.
There’s no single nationwide rule, but in most cases, if you permanently move a vehicle interstate, you’ll need to transfer the registration into your new state once you establish residency. The exact timeframe depends on the state, but it’s usually required within a few weeks to a couple of months.
For example, if you buy a campervan in Queensland but you’re based in New South Wales, you’ll likely need to transfer the registration once you bring the vehicle home and register it in your name.
Because each state has slightly different rules, it’s always worth checking the relevant transport authority website before finalising the purchase.
What to Check Before Buying a Campervan
Once you’ve decided on the type of campervan you want and set your budget, the fun part begins: the search. To feel more confident when buying a campervan in Australia, it helps to go in with a checklist of questions for the seller and a few key things to look out for when viewing a van.
Questions to ask the seller
- Has it had any major mechanical issues?
- How long have you owned the campervan?
- Why are you selling it?
- Does it have a full service history?
- How long is the rego (registration) valid for?
What to inspect in person:
Rust is one of the biggest things to watch out for when buying a campervan in Australia. With so much of the population living near the coast, salt air can cause serious corrosion over time.
Light surface rust is fairly common and manageable. I even had a few spots on my own van that I was able to sand back and respray in a couple of days (very amateur DIY, but it worked). However, if you notice heavy rust, especially in structural areas, it’s usually a red flag.
Pay close attention to:
- Underneath the van
- Wheel arches
- Window seals
- Around the windscreen
If rust is spreading in these areas, it’s worth being very cautious or walking away.
Final tip:
When you start the engine, listen closely for any unusual noises like ticking or knocking, and don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions. A quick test drive can tell you a lot more than a listing ever will.
Buying the Campervan in Australia
Once you’ve inspected a campervan you’re interested in, I would highly recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection completed. This usually costs around $200–$300 and involves a mechanic checking the vehicle and providing a full report on any existing or potential issues.
This is not something you should skip.
When I bought my first car in Australia, I didn’t bother with an inspection and ended up with what’s known here as a “lemon” — a bad purchase. I only had the car for six months before discovering a major oil leak that would have cost more to fix than the car itself.
You can arrange an inspection by contacting a local mechanic directly or booking through services like NRMA, who can often inspect the vehicle at the seller’s location and send you a report.
Once you have the report, you’ll be in a much better position to decide whether to proceed with the purchase. If any issues come up, you can also use them to negotiate the price.
If you decide to go ahead, you’ll pay the seller and complete the vehicle transfer paperwork through the relevant state website. You’ll then officially register the vehicle in your name online — woohoo!
Even though Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance is included with registration, I’d still strongly recommend taking out comprehensive insurance for extra protection — especially if you’re planning to travel long distances around Australia.
Final thoughts on buying a campervan
Got any more questions about buying a campervan in Australia? Drop them in the comments below or head over to my YouTube channel, where I’ve done a full breakdown of the process.
I know how stressful buying a used campervan can feel, but with the right questions, a clear budget, and a bit of patience, you’ll be on the road and into van life in Australia before you know it.
More Helpful Travel tips
- Best Travel Insurance: SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
- Best Travel Card: Wise Travel Card
- Looking for the best flights? Skyscanner
