Collecting a Campervan
Plan and Communicate Pre-Travel
Pre-travel advice is very useful. It can be difficult to understand requirements for self-containment, freedom camping, and vehicle compliance - all of which are very important for VanPacking in New Zealand. Speaking with a VanPacking specialist will ensure you do not face non-compliance fines once you’re on the road. Pre-travel advice will highlight the key risks like recognising a compliant fixed cassette toilet and water system. It will empower you to negotiate with non-compliant vehicle sellers and select a compliant vehicle to ensure your trip is stress free!
Purchase a Campervan Before Arriving
Purchasing a vehicle before you travel can remove stress and cost. The main costs are staying in Auckland CBD and traveling to view campervans. These costs are ongoing until you find a campervan. It can be difficult to find a compliant campervan, particularly in Spring and Summer. The ongoing costs reduce negotiation power and cause rushed purchases that result in over-paying for your campervan or purchasing on that is non-compliant.
Many blogs will direct VanPackers to the Auckland car fair, but this can be limited in terms of choice. It is also very seasonal with high volumes driving prices down in winter months (April to August) and a total lack of supply driving prices up in Spring and Summer (September to March). The fact that most of these vehicles are being sold in private purchases also means consumer guarantees (which safeguard you in New Zealand) do not apply. The consequence is issues like faulty engines, rust, and non-compliance are not disclosed and buyers have little means of redress.
Traveling to view vehicles can also be time-consuming. It is not expensive to use public transport in New Zealand to attend viewings, but it is slow, difficult to navigate, and can be unreliable. Taxis and Uber are convenient, but this option is more expensive. The risk here is that you are spending a lot of time communicating with sellers that have photos which do not match the campervans they are selling and you waste your time when you should be having a great adventure!
We recommend purchasing a campervan before you travel. Due diligence can be applied with a video-viewing and an independent pre-purchase inspection can be arranged to ensure compliance. The benefit of this approach is all the stress is removed and in many instances it will save you money.
Collecting a campervan with VanPackers is simple. We can arrange a campervan to be delivered to the airport when you land or you can pick it up from one of our Auckland storage locations.
