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How do you buy a Camper Van in Europe? Help ME!
Hey Everyone,
I am landing in Europe on April 2012 and want to buy a camper van to tour around for the summer, then sell it in July. My hope was to buy it in Eastern Europe or Turkey and drive it back to the UK.
My questions are:
1. Do you know of a camper van dealer/sale office list for Europe?
2. Is it better to buy from a private party? Are there websites to shop them?
3. Are certain countries cheaper than others? Quality?
4.Should I only be buying specific types? Petrol vs. Diesel? EU/UK exhaust system?
5. I was planning to just buy a VW, but there are other brands, any suggestions?
6. Insurance? I am an American with no EU residency, but have many friends that would register it for me and I do have a London mailing address. Will I be able to insure it?
7. Anything else I am missing?
I am most concern with getting the vehicle, registering and insuring it.
Type of Camper Van we are looking for:
We are looking for a Late 1990's or newer Campervan like a VW van with a pop-up roof, small kitchen and bed. Very clean inside. Something really reliable at approx. $5,000 or less. $4000 would be better. We plan to buy it and then resell it in the UK or Spain, so it would need to be a EU exhaust system? I guess.
Here are some examples although we prefer a VW, we'll consider all options.
VW Westfalia late 1990's or newer
VW T4 T5 with any standard conversion. stove bed, ice box, etc
VW TYPE 25 CAMPER
If there is anything you can do or if you know someone over there that can help, please let me know.
The Captain
If you are buying in Turkey, you will need the $5000 as a very small deposit. Motor vehicles are massively priced due to taxes. Forget buying in Turkey.
I'm not sure about Eastern Europe, but believe me...the cheapest vehicles in Europe are in the UK without doubt. What I paid for an old Mercedes car in Spain, would have got me quite a young car here.....Maybe you might find an expat looking to offload a RHD vehicle.
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This is a complicated matter, and the answers are hard to come buy.
If I were you, I would try and buy in Eastern Europe, insure it via a friends address in London.
Import the vehicle into the UK when you get there - it's fairly straightforward. Then sell it in the UK.
I'll answer what I can.
1. No, the problem is languages. There are dealers everywhere. But you'll need to find one who speaks English and is willing to deal with foreigners.
2. Private is cheaper - dealer offers some warranty, but once you've left the country and are on the road the warranty is probably worthless. Dealers might only take on good quality vehicles. Go private if you can asses and repair the vehicle yourself.
3. UK and France are cheap to buy, as there are lots of used vehicles. Germany can also be good. Spain and Portugal are expensive as there is no used vehicle market. Eastern Europe - I don't know. You'll need to research prices and availability. You'll also need to work out whether it is legal for a foreigner to buy a vehicle in some countries.
4. Diesel is much cheaper to run, cheaper to service and generally better for touring. I don't think you need to worry about the exhaust systems.
5. VWs are expensive as there are consider 'cool'. Toyota HiAce is cheaper and probably more reliable. Mercedes Vito is also good, just watch for rust.
6. You will need a UK address, and use these guys. The insure foreigners to drive in Europe
http://www.duinsure.com/sites/duinsure.nsf/homepages/homepage
You might need a UK registered vehicle though. Check with them.
You need to look around for vehicle choices. FInd a country where they are cheap and you can buy from, and you can get insurance.
Let us know how you get along.