What is the Best Way to Finance a Campervan?

Whether buying a campervan is your long-term dream or comes about as a spontaneous decision, using finance to buy it, is often the most practical, convenient and manageable way to make it happen. In the UK there are several options available as finance methods, each of which caters to slightly different needs and circumstances. In this edition of our blog, we’ll explore these different options and answer the question, what is the best way to finance a campervan?

Types of Campervan Finance

There are several financial products specifically designed to help you buy a campervan. They closely mirror those available for car purchase, though they come with specific considerations of their own due to the unique nature of campervans. The financial product offered by Ventura is the best for most people – Hire Purchase – though some may opt to privately organise a personal loan.

1.      HP (Hire Purchase)

• How It Works: You pay an initial deposit to the dealership, followed by monthly payments of a fixed amount over an agreed length of time. If your deposit is not cash, Ventura has the facility to accept your current campervan in a part-exchange, which may also have the benefit of bringing the monthly payments down (dependent on the value of the campervan you trade in).
• Benefits: HP loans offer a very straightforward structure which suits many people, including fixed interest rates and outright ownership at the end of the term. Having a fixed interest rate is particularly helpful for most people, as it allows them to enjoy the stability of knowing what their repayments will be each month, therefore making them easier to manage within a household budget.
• Considerations: With HP there are likely to be higher monthly payments compared to other finance options (though, as discussed above, the benefit of knowing exactly what you will be paying each month will in most cases outweigh this). The HP loan is secured against the campervan itself, which means that you don’t own it outright until the very last monthly payment has been made. It is always worth opting for the shortest possible term of HP loan that you can afford, as this will mean the total cost of repayment will be lower.

2.      Personal Loans

• How It Works: A personal loan taken from a bank or financial institution is an unsecured loan of a sum of money, which you can then use to purchase a campervan. Using the money to pay for the vehicle in full up front means that you own the campervan outright. Your creditworthiness affects interest rates, there will possibly be higher interest rates compared to secured loans. The interest rates offered by banks and credit companies may also vary widely so it’s always wise to check the small print to ensure you are getting the best APR.

It is also important to note that there are other financial products available, including PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) and leasing, though these are not currently offered by Ventura.

Can You Finance a Campervan Over 10 Years?

Longer terms of HP will enable you to purchase a higher-spec campervan than you might otherwise be able to afford. Financing a campervan over 10 years is possible but this is the longest term available with HP and doing so comes with pros and cons worth considering.

Spreading the cost over a longer period will definitely reduce the payment amount you have to make each month, making it a lot more manageable within your ongoing budget – but the longer the term, the more interest you will pay over the life of the loan, which therefore increases the total amount you will repay.

Is It Hard to Get Campervan Finance?

The ease with which you can secure campervan finance depends on several key factors. One of the main things that will be considered is your credit score. Generally, if you have a higher credit score it will be much easier to get approved for finance at favourable interest rates.

Your employment status and your income will also play significant roles. Lenders assess your income and your job stability to ensure that you’ll be able to manage the repayments. Additionally, the size of the deposit you are able to put down at the beginning of the finance term will influence your chances of approval. The more you can put down upfront, the better things will be. A much larger deposit essentially reduces the amount of loan you’ll need to have and demonstrates to the lender that you have commitment to the purchase.

Another important consideration is your debt-to-income ratio. Lenders evaluate your existing debts relative to your income and determine your capacity to take on an additional debt.

In common with credit and loans for other types of purchase, all of these elements contribute to the overall ease (or difficulty) with which you’ll be able to obtain campervan finance.

Campervan Finance at Ventura

Ventura has partnered with Auto Finance to offer you a competitive finance HP option. You can use it to buy one of our prebuilt campervans, with a wide selection available to be financed. Just pick the vehicle you want and use our online finance calculator to check the current APR and what your monthly repayment amounts will be with your chosen deposit. If you are still unsure or need to request a part-exchange valuation, then feel free to contact us for more information.

Please note: Auto Finance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and acts as a credit broker not a lender.