Campervan and RV rental: US, New Zealand, Australia and Iceland

1. Fix your dates and route first. One-way trips cost more but save a day of driving back. In New Zealand, dropping on the other island involves a ferry booking for the vehicle, which many operators arrange for a fee. In the US, one-way between cities can carry a drop fee; ask for the exact amount before booking.

2. Choose the size, then the operator. Compare at least three quotes for the exact same dates and vehicle class. Look at the year of the vehicle: older fleets are cheaper and often show more wear.

3. Read the insurance page before the price page. Standard cover usually leaves an excess (the amount you pay after damage). Reducing it to zero costs extra per day. Check what is excluded: tyres, windscreen, underbody, roof, single-vehicle rollover, and driving on unsealed roads are common exclusions. Ask the operator for the current excess and reduction price in writing.

4. Add the extras you actually need: bedding and towels, extra driver, child seat, outdoor table and chairs, and a toilet chemical pack. These add up fast and are cheaper to buy locally for a long trip.

5. Confirm the pickup time, depot address and after-hours fee. Many depots close in the evening and charge for late collection.

6. Photograph the vehicle inside and out at pickup, including the roof and under the bumpers, and note existing damage on the form before you drive away.

Daily rates, campsite fees, fuel use and insurance-reduction prices all vary by operator, season and vehicle, and change year to year. Get a written quote for your exact dates and route from two or three operators, and treat any figure you see online as a starting point only.

Campsite fees are the second big line after the vehicle. Powered sites cost more than unpowered, and national parks and sites near major cities cost the most. Book popular campgrounds ahead in peak season.

Fuel is the third line. A small diesel van uses far less than a full motorhome, which is why long routes in the US and Australia cost more than the daily rate suggests. Iceland fuel is among the most expensive in Europe.

Time: allow time at pickup for paperwork, a vehicle walk-around and a handover, and similar at drop-off, longer if the depot is busy in peak season. Add a day at the start if you land late; most depots will not release a vehicle after their closing time without a fee.

Licences: weight limits and licence classes differ by country, state and vehicle. A standard car licence covers many campervans and motorhomes, but the exact threshold and any state exceptions must be confirmed with the rental company and the national or state licensing authority. An International Driving Permit is cheap and worth carrying even when not required.

Insurance: the excess is the number that matters. Excess reduction is often worth it on gravel roads, in Iceland and on any trip where you will drive at night among animals. Check whether the policy covers the ferry between the New Zealand islands, and whether it covers the vehicle on unsealed roads; many do not.

Road rules differ in ways that catch visitors. New Zealand and Australia drive on the left. Australia has long stretches with no fuel, and strict rules on driving through flooded roads. Iceland requires headlights at all times, has many single-lane bridges, and restricts highland F-roads to certain vehicles; driving off marked tracks is illegal and damages the land. The US varies by state on speed limits, right turns on red and phone use.

Camping rules: wild camping rules vary by country, state, land type and season. In Iceland, camping is generally restricted to designated areas. In Australia, rules differ by state and land manager. In New Zealand, freedom camping is restricted in many districts. In the US, rules differ between national parks, national forests and Bureau of Land Management land. Check the local land manager or campground before sleeping anywhere unofficial, and plan to pay for a campsite most nights.

Season decides both price and availability. New Zealand and Australia peak from December to February, when rates rise and popular campsites sell out. The US peaks from June to August, with national park campgrounds booked out months ahead. Iceland peaks in July and early August; May, June and September are cheaper and still drivable on the ring road.

One-way rentals are the biggest hidden cost. Crossing between the New Zealand islands, dropping in a different Australian state, or finishing in a different US city can trigger a fee that exceeds the daily rate. Relocation deals flip this: the company needs the vehicle moved, so you pay a token rate and sometimes fuel, but the dates and route are fixed.

Winter changes everything. In Iceland, many campsites close from October to April and mountain roads shut; check current road status and your rental contract before driving any highland route. In New Zealand, alpine passes can close with snow and some campsites shut in the low season. In the US, northern campgrounds close and pipes freeze. If you are travelling between November and March, check that your chosen campsites are open before you book the vehicle.

A campervan is not always the cheapest or easiest choice. Compare it against a rental car plus motels, and against trains or coaches, before you commit. The van wins when you want to cook, move often and stay in nature. It loses when you want cities, short trips or a fixed base.