HIre VS Buying!

Hire vs Buy: What’s the Best Option for Your Next Caravan Adventure?

Planning your next big road trip around Gippsland, the Lakes, or beyond? One of the biggest questions you'll face is whether to hire or buy a caravan. Both options have their perks, but the right choice depends on your travel goals, lifestyle, and budget.

At Gippsland & Lakes Caravan Hire, we’ve helped countless adventurers explore the great outdoors—and we've seen firsthand the value in hiring over buying. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide.

🛠️ The Costs: Buying vs Hiring

Buying a caravan is a major financial commitment. Let’s break it down:

• Upfront purchase price: $40,000–$80,000+

• Annual maintenance & servicing

• Storage fees

• Insurance & registration

• Depreciation

• Loan interest (if financed)

You could easily spend over $9,000 per year just to own and maintain your caravan—even if you only use it a few times.

Hiring a caravan, on the other hand, gives you full flexibility with far less financial stress. For example:

• One-week summer holiday: $950

• Weekend getaway: $500

• One-month escape to the north: $2,700

Even with multiple trips a year, you could spend around $5,000 annually—less than the cost of just owning one, let alone maintaining it.

🚐 Flexibility & Choice

Hiring gives you the freedom to choose the right caravan for each trip. Heading to the mountains? Grab something compact and easy to tow. Taking the family to the coast? Choose a spacious van with bunk beds and extra amenities.

When you own a van, you’re stuck with one layout and one style—whether or not it fits every trip.

🧰 No Maintenance Hassles

When you hire from Gippsland & Lakes Caravan Hire, we take care of servicing, cleaning, and prep work. That means more time enjoying the open road—and less time worrying about tyres, bearings, or warranty checks.

🌱 Try Before You Buy

Not sure if the caravanning lifestyle is for you? Hiring is the perfect way to test the waters before committing to a big purchase. It also helps you discover what features you really want in a van if you do decide to buy one down the track.

🏕️ How Often Will You Use It?

Here’s the truth: many caravan owners only get away 2–3 times a year. Life gets busy. Kids have school. Work calls. If your caravan sits in the shed 90% of the time, it might not be worth the ongoing costs.

Hiring makes sense if you prefer quality holidays over constant ownership.

✔️ The Verdict

If you’re a frequent traveler who’s retired or on the road full-time, buying might make sense. But for most holidaymakers in Gippsland and the Lakes region, hiring offers more freedom, fewer costs, and none of the headaches.

At Gippsland & Lakes Caravan Hire, we’ve got a fleet of modern, fully equipped vans ready for your next getaway. Let us handle the logistics—so you can focus on making memories.

Ready to plan your next adventure?Browse our fleet or get in touch today and see just how easy and affordable caravan hire can be.