Essential Tips for Buying a Campervan in New Zealand: Your Ultimate Guide
Now that New Zealand is open to tourists again after the Covid period, the number of tourists is increasing. And that means that slowly but surely New Zealand's familiar image of campers and campervans is returning to the road. We drove around for almost 3 months at the beginning of 2023 and will do another tour for another 3 months at the end of 2023. We can confirm that New Zealand campervans are back!
If you want to travel for a few months in New Zealand with a vehicle, buying a campervan or van will soon be cheaper than renting. Rental prices have risen enormously since Covid and although the supply on the market is not always very large, you can often buy a campervan or van for a reasonable price.
Buying a campervan is of course always an exciting experience, anywhere in the world. New Zealand is ideally suited to travel around with a campervan. But what should you pay attention to and which steps are essential when buying a campervan in New Zealand?
If you are interested in buying a campervan in New Zealand, read this blog with tips and recommendations. This is your ultimate guide for buying a van or campervan in New Zealand.
In this blog we cover the following topics with the corresponding tips and recommendations:
o Budget and costs
o Type of van or camper(van), requirements and wishes
o The market
o Vehicle and selling party history
o Test drive and inspection
o Price and negotiation
o Transfer and registration
o Payment, registration and insurance
Budget and costs
Before you go to market to buy a campervan, it is important to determine your budget. This not only concerns the purchase costs, but also other (possible) additional costs such as improvements, maintenance, repairs, insurance and administrative costs.
Vans and campervans can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars (NZD). That depends entirely on the type of vehicle, adjustments, the year of manufacture and the number of kilometers driven. For example, you can already buy a converted station wagon for a few thousand dollars (NZD). But, if your budget allows, you can also go for a more luxurious version of several tens of thousands of dollars (NZD). Most travellers who buy a van or campervan for a period of several weeks to several months spend on average between $3,000 (NZD) and $20,000 (NZD).
As indicated earlier, buying a van or campervan is soon cheaper than renting if you want to drive around the country for a longer period of time. To determine for yourself what the right choice is, you can fully compare the total costs of renting versus buying.
For renting, put all the costs together for the period you plan to travel and do the same for buying, and then make the comparison. Since renting a van or campervan in the busy summer season quickly starts at $200 (NZD) per day with full insurance, you will see that the breaking point for buying is soon at about 3-4 weeks. Of course, depending on your budget.
It makes sense that the prices in the market for buying a van or campervan are determined by demand and supply. It also makes sense that prices are highest in the second half of spring and the first half of summer in New Zealand. That is from about mid-November to mid-February. Then most travellers come to New Zealand and the demand is highest and the supply is lower. But it is also the best time to travel to New Zealand in terms of weather and temperature.
In the end we purchased a Toyota Hiace Hi Rooftop 1999 campervan (manual and on petrol) with approx 350.000 km on the teller and equiped with most camping gear for just under $16.000 (NZD). Our additional cost in adjustments and improvements (bedding, painting, small fixes), insurance, winter storage, registration, service, potential repairs) will be approx $4.000 (NZD). So we anticipate on a total of $20.000 (NZD) investment. Now, suppose that we sell it for $14.000 (NZD) end of 2023 or early 2024 after our second tour. Then our out of pocket cost will be $6.000 (NZD) for 5-6 months travelling around in a campervan. If we would rent a similar vehicle at $200 (NZD) per day for 150 days our total out of pocket cost would be $30.000 (NZD). You do the Math.
Type campervan, requirements and wishes
When you know what your budget is, you can determine what type of van or campervan you are looking for. We have listed a number of important things to make it easier for you to choose.
a. Make, type, year
This is, of course, entirely up to you. When it comes to the type of converted station wagons, many make/models are offered. A category higher you will find the converted vans, so vans that have been converted into campervans by individuals or companies. Think for example of the Mazda Bongo or the Toyota Hiace. There are a lot of Toyota Hiace vans in the market, so there is a good chance that you will end up with that. You also see many so-called Hi Rooftop models of the Toyota Hiace, with a raised roof. That can be very comfortable if you want stand up in the campervan. A larger or more luxurious version of the converted van is the Ford Transit, which is slightly larger than the aforementioned models and therefore also offers more space. Of course you can make it even more luxurious or more comfortable with a real camper or motorhome, but then you also have to dig deeper into your pockets.
When it comes to the Toyota Hiace, for example, don't be put off immediately if it is an older model (like from the 90’s) or has a lot of kilometers on the teller. This model is known to be very strong and can make hundreds of thousands of kilometers easily.
Our model campervan is a Toyota Hiace Hi Rooftop from 1999 with 350.000 km on the teller.
b. Self-Contained or Not Self-Contained;
To be so-called Self Contained certified you need a toilet, fresh water storage and gray water storage. The advantage of Self-Contained is that you have more camping options because you can then camp at campsites that assume that you are self-sufficient. This is especially true for DOC campgrounds, which are Department of Conservation managed campgrounds that often have fewer facilities than commercial campgrounds, but are quieter and cheaper. There are also some free “parking spots” where Self-Contained vehicles are allowed mostly with a maximum number of nights per month. A Self-Contained vehicle must be certified and when you buy a campervan you will see that most are offered with this certificate. Please note, there are rumors that the rules for Self-Contained vehicles will be adjusted by the government, check the following website of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (https://www.nzmca.org.nz/certified-self- containment faqs).
Our campervan model is certified Self Contained until early 2025.
c. Powered or Unpowered or Solar Panel:
Campervans are available in several versions regarding power supply. If you purchase a model that, for example, has ever been rented out commercially, there is a good chance that it is so-called "Powered". Thich means that the campervan has a special connection on the side of called an EHU point (Electrical Hook Up). This connection feeds electricity from the campsite into the campervans electrical system (if the campsite has so-called Powered sites with electricity available). The advantage of this is that you always have power to charge phones or laptops, for example, or to run the refrigerator.
However, most converted campervans or station wagons do not have an EHU and are therefore are officially Unpowered. On a large part of the converted campervans this has been solved by a solar panel on the roof and/or a second battery. This allows you to charge a second battery in the vehicle so that you at least have power for light in the campervan or to run the water. If you also want to charge phones and laptops via the second battery, the campervan does need a special facility for this.
Our campervan model is a former rental campervan and is therefore equiped with both the possibility to connect it to electricity (hook up) and to use it on the solar panel that is on roof of the campervan. So we can go to a commercial campsite and hook up to electricity, but we can also go to a freedom campsite and enjoy camping for at least 2-3 days running on the solar panel and the second battery.
d. Petrol or diesel
Campervans are offered in all shapes and sizes, so both that run on petrol and those that run on diesel are offered. Please note that for campervans that run on diesel, additional Road User Charges (RUCS) must be paid. This is per 1000 km and the costs are around $76 NZD (45 euro) per 1000 km. Make the comparison for yourself between petrol and diesel when it comes to costs per liter when you start driving around in relation to the RUCS.
Our campervan model is a petrol version and we therefore had no additional costs, the price of 1 liter of unleaded 91 petrol was around $2.50 NZD (1.50 euros) in the first quarter of 2023.
Wishes and Requirements
Think carefully in advance about the requirements and wishes you have for the campervan you want to buy.
It is a considerable investment that you make for a certain period of time, so think carefully and take your time
e. Manual or automatic
Campervans are offered in both automatic and manual versions. Since you drive on the left side of the road in New Zealand and therefore the driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle, an automatic transmission can be an advantage for those who are used to driving on the right side of the road and are used to the driver's seat on the left using the gearbox with your “other hand”.
Our model campervan is a manual. No problem for us to switch gears from the right seat with the left hand. We have been staying in countries where we drive on the other side of the road for a while and you can learn to switch gears with the lefthand within 5 minutes.
f. Regular height or high rooftop
Many converted vans or stationwagons are normal height or “low” models. So you cannot stand up in these models, for example when changing clothes, making coffee or cooking. Of course you can also do that outside, but the weather in New Zealand is changeable and doing these activities in the pouring rain is no fun.
Some models, such as the Toyota Hiace Hi Rooftop or the Ford Transit, are models that you can easily stand up in and that is a real advantage. Our model is a Hi Rooftop and we can both stand straight in it.
g. Fridge or cool box
Some campervan models are equiped with a refrigerator and some are not, then a cool box is usually used. A refrigerator can be really useful for keeping certain things cool and sustainable, but a refrigerator also consumes electricity. A cool box does not need electricity, but then you need ice to keep things cool. When you use commercial campsites, there are usually refrigerators where you can keep things cool.
Our campervan has a small refrigerator with a capacity of 60 liters and it runs on both a power connection at a campsite and the 2nd battery via the solar panel. We really like a refrigerator because it keeps things like vegetables, fruit, water, vegetable dairy, etc. cool.
h. Fixed bed or conversion bed:
With most campervans, converted vans or station wagons, you have to set up and dismantle the bed daily if you like enough space or also want to create seating. There are also models with a fixed bed, for example in most Ford Transits. So think carefully about whether you want to convert your bed every day or not.
With our campervan model, we actually have the choice of converting the bed. When we do, we create a seating area and that is certainly nice in bad weather. But when the weather is nice and we live and sit outside for the most part, we don't convert the bed.
i. Number of persons (berth):
When purchasing a van or campervan, check whether it is built for 2, 3 or more people. This concerns the number of persons that you are allowed to transport while driving in a vehicle. This can be especially important for families traveling with 1 or more children.
Our model campervan is a so-called 3-berth because 3 people can sit in the front when we drive.
Market
Once your budget, wishes and options are clear, it is time to start researching the market. There are several websites where you can find vans or campervans:
a. Facebook Marketplace : www.facebook.com/marketplace
This is probably the most used source currently amongst travellers and there are several groups on Facebook where people are bying and selling campervans, for example Vans/Campervans Buy Sell and Swap NZ
b. Trade Me : www.trademe.co.nz
This is the traditional site where people buy all sorts of things similar to Marktplaats (Netherlands) or Ebay
c. Backpacker Board : www.backpackerboard.co.nz
We used Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace and through the latter we finally found and bought our campervan.
Vehicle history and registration
When you have found a campervan that you are seriously interested in, the following things are important:
a. Online Car check
On the website CarJam you can do a basic check (or a paid comprehensive check) of the campervan you want to buy. It will show you odometer history (km on the teller), guideline on running costs and plate/registration history. This could potentially uncover hidden problems in the history of the vehicle.
b. Warrant of Fitness (WOF)
This is a check carried out by a registered mechanic to establish the safety of a vehicle. This check is not a comprehensive check and does not cover all mechanical area’s. It only covers whether or not the vehicle is safe to drive on the roads. So when you are going to buy a campervan check the WOF status of the vehicle.
The WOF is due every 6 months if your vehicle is older than the year 2000. The WOF is due every 12 months if it is from the year 2000 or after. A WOF should be carried out at an accredited mechanic at least one week before the date shown on the sticker of the inside of the windscreen to ensure it passes before the date shown.
Find out more about what the WOF and the details of the WOF check on the New Zealand Transport Agency website https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/warrants-and-certificates/warrant-of-fitness
c. Motor Vehicle Lidensing (Rego)
Motor vehicle licensing is the fee that you pay to use your vehicle on the roads similar to road tax in other countries. Vehicle licensing is also called ‘Rego’ and you can purchase Rego in any amount of months (from 1 month to 12 months). Your campervan must have a current Warrant of Fitness (WOF) before you can purchase Rego and use the campervan. The easiest way to purchase Rego is to go to the nearest location of the VTNZ (Vehicle Testing New Zealand). You can also transfer the campervan to your name here in the buying process.
d. Electrical WOF
This only applies to campervans and motorhomes that have an Electrical Hook Up, which connection feeds electricity from a campsite into the campervans electrical system. This check ensures the safety of the electrical system and also that it has been installed by a registered electrician. The E-WOF is a requirement of law in New Zealand if the campervan is to be connected to a 230 volt electrical supply system. When you buy a campervan with an Electric Hook Up make sure it has a valid E-WOF. Campsites can and will turn you away or stop you connecting to the power if your E-WOF is not valid.
Our campervan had a WOF that was just renewed and valid for almost 6 month. We extended the Rego with 6 months so we had it valid for the entire 2023 and the E-WOF is valid until 2025.
WOF and Rego
An example of a WOF sticker and a Rego.
These should be on the inside of the windscreen of the vehicle.
Test drive and Inspection
Always make a test drive with the campervan before making the final purchase. Make sure you are comfortable driving it and that everything works as expected. If you are really interested in the campervan, ask the seller if you can have a Pre Purchase inspection carried out. This inspection is carried out by a accredited party and you, as a buyer, will receive a report and can be sure that you are purchasing a technically sound vehicle. Pre-Purchase inspections are carried out by the Automobile Association (AA) or VTNZ or other accredited mechanics.
We were initially interested in buying a different campervan then the one we purchased in the end and we carried out a Pre-Purchase inspection. The report showed so much issues that we decided not to move forward and look further. So money well spent.
Price and negotiation
Once you have chosen the campervan that suits you completely, it is time to negotiate the price. Don't be afraid to negotiate a little, many sellers are willing to bargain to some degree, especially if they're eager to sell. Just make sure you're not unrealistic with your offer when you are serious in the process.
Transfer and Registration
Once you have agreed on the purchase price, it is time to complete the paperwork. This usually includes transferring the vehicle to your name. This is fairly easy in New Zealand and is easiest to do at an office of the VTNZ. Go here with the seller and you fill in the required form and you pay the costs for the transfer. You will immediately receive the registration certificate. Please note, in order to do this you need an address in New Zealand, but here, for example, an address of a hostel or accommodation where you are staying at that time in New Zealand will suffice.
We registered our campervan at a VTNZ office and it was done within 15 minutes.
Almost ready to go
As soon as you have paid for the campervan, have registered it to your name and have insured it, it is time to hot the road and start enjoying the campervan.
Payment and insurance
Although some cash payments are made, we recommend you to opt for payment via a secure bank transfer. This can be done via Wise or Paypal, or via a regular bank transaction/money transfer.
In our situation it was fairly easy because we bought from Dutch people, so we could do it through a Dutch bank transaction.
And last but not least, make sure that you have insurance on your campervan. And here we recommend to take full coverage, so insure yourself for theft, damage and liability. Remeber, you are probably abroad and want to be on the secure. So invest in good insurance and drive stressfree. We got a very good full coverage at Covi. You go to their website, fill in the form and they will contact you and you can get your insurance immediately.
Finally
Buying a campervan in New Zealand is a great starting point to explore the country. The process of buying a campervan can take time, so start preparing early if you are serious about it. But by following the steps above, you can ensure that you are well informed and make a well-prepared and sensible purchase that you will enjoy.
For more detailed information, please check the site:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/buying-and-selling-a-vehicle/buying-a-vehicle