The debut of autotourism, i.e. first rental

Campervan and caravan rental is a topic we return to regularly and will continue to do so. There are more and more people interested in the magic of caravanning, but not everyone can afford to start their adventure with this type of holiday by purchasing a vehicle.

You don't have to buy a campervan to experience the joys of caravanning. If traveling with an RV is a one-time adventure, or you plan to take such a vacation once or twice a year, it is better to rent a car.

By "better" we mean cheaper. The fact is that caravanning is not the cheapest type of travel and, conversely, is not an alternative to hotels. This is the main reason why we strongly recommend that novice campers rent their first motorhome - it still costs several hundred zlotys per day, but it is better to invest more in one holiday than if, after buying a camper or trailer, it turns out that not that".

The good news is that to experience this seemingly luxurious pastime, you no longer have to travel to the other side of Poland. Rental companies are located throughout the country, the choice of vehicles is growing, and rental rules are clear and specific.

Before we start looking for our dream camper (and the right rental deal), we need to answer a few basic questions. First of all: what is the purpose of the trip? Are you planning a tour of Poland or a trip abroad? It's worth making a travel plan to know exactly how many days we'll need the campervan for - this is another question we need to ask ourselves. Crew size is also important. Are you going to travel alone or maybe with the whole family? There is no point in renting a huge complex house for 7 people if we are planning a romantic and not too long trip for two. And vice versa - we won't be able to fit three children, a dog and two weeks' luggage into a small camper, and even if we could, the issue of comfort remains.

So, let's calculate how many places we need to travel and sleep. Let this be one of the main criteria for choosing a camper. It is also worth paying attention to the accessories: bike rack, heating and winter accessories, kitchen equipment, grill, coffee machine... - these are not always offered as standard, so if you are interested in them, ask the rental owner about them.

All this information should be written down on a piece of paper - with such a prepared “cheat sheet” the conversation with the rental company employees will go more smoothly.

Once we've decided when and where we want to go, it's time to choose a rental company. What should we consider when searching for a company whose services we want to use?

There is no shortage of companies on the Polish market with many years of experience, whose opinions can easily be found on the Internet. And that's where we start - by reading the recommendations of previous clients. Next, you should pay attention to the age of the cars offered, their equipment, type of insurance and the possibility of constant contact with a technical consultant. This last point is especially important when we first start traveling in a campervan.

There are many rental companies in Poland, and we can divide them into several categories:

individuals who use their camper every day (usually for several or ten years) and advertise for rent in order to slightly reduce the cost of maintaining it;

companies that offer mainly used cars. This is an offer for people on a limited budget, as well as for those who simply do not need a modern and fully equipped car;

companies offering campers new or up to 3-4 years old. The fleet is maintained in perfect condition and readiness. Each camper undergoes up-to-date technical inspections, the necessary insurance, and is also additionally covered by the manufacturer’s warranty - not only on the structure, but also on the base vehicle. A 100% functional, fresh smelling mobile home is what we receive and should return in that condition.

As you can see, choosing a rental company also involves choosing a camper. We have already mentioned the number of seats, but we will only add that the number of seats for travelers does not always translate into the number of beds. This means that some campers may have more people sleeping than traveling, a procedure that is often used when the vehicle's carrying capacity is limited. If you have a Category B driving licence, you must ensure that the gross vehicle weight - that is, the total weight of the vehicle, all passengers and all equipment - does not exceed 3,5 tonnes.

Let's also pay attention to the equipment of the car. True, it is difficult to find a poorly equipped campervan in a rental company, but it is still worth checking the arrangement of furniture, the size of the refrigerator and the presence or absence of a freezer, as well as familiarize yourself with other parameters - manufacturers also post them on their websites. Be strict: the car in which we spend the entire holiday trip must more than meet our needs.

Have you chosen your destination and the rental company you want to use? It's time to take care of the formalities.

Who can rent a campervan? Well, almost anyone who pays a deposit, the rental amount and signs an agreement. The driver must have a category B driving license (there are no rental companies in Poland offering vehicles weighing more than 3500 kg, so category C is not required) and be at least 25 or 26 years old. The last limitation is related to “rental” insurance, which applies to rented vehicles - in the event of an accident or collision and it is proven that the camper was driven by a person under this age, the insurer may simply not pay compensation.

Be sure to read the rental rules. You will find them in the contract that you will be asked to sign, so we should read it from A to Z. It is good if we can read the contract in advance at home - before the transaction is completed. Some companies post its template on their website or Facebook profile - for us this is a signal that the rental company has nothing to hide.

What should you pay special attention to in such a document? If you're planning a trip abroad, be sure to check which countries you can't enter with a rental car. Usually, countries affected by armed conflict or other danger are mentioned there (again, “rental” insurance and its conditions are mentioned). There you will also find information about what to do if your car is damaged, as well as additional fees, such as for returning the car outside of the rental company's opening hours. Usually there is also a clause about the need to empty the chemical toilet cassette and gray water before leaving the car. Some rental companies advise that you are prohibited from exceeding a certain speed, such as 120 km/h. All for safety reasons.

As we already wrote, renting a camper is not cheap. This, however, should not surprise us, since we are talking about an expensive vehicle: spacious, versatile and well equipped - at least it should be if you want to spend your holiday in comfortable conditions. Rental companies certainly want this for us, which is why they usually offer the latest, properly equipped car models. The cost of purchasing such a camper is up to PLN 400. PLN is gross, which translates into the rental price - logical.

For a rental company, purchasing a vehicle and its equipment is the largest, but not the only expense item. The RV must also be clean, stocked, and any damage caused during previous rentals must be repaired immediately. These are expenses not only for routine maintenance, but also for the maintenance of rental company employees - people who deliver the vehicle, pick it up, service it, clean it and prepare it for the next clients.

Another expense that affects rental costs is “rental” insurance, which is intended for vehicles operated by rental companies. It covers everything, including towing the car from the furthest corners of Europe, but it's expensive - the annual cost is around PLN 15. zloty

As in many other industries, auto tourism is also seasonal. And the greater the demand for campers, the higher the rental cost. We pay the most for rent, from about 400 to even 1000 PLN net per day, in the high season, which usually lasts from the beginning of June to the end of September. In the low season, the price is about 1/3 lower, and accommodation in campsites is cheaper - it’s worth taking this into account when calculating your trip costs.

Another rule seems obvious: the newer, larger and better equipped the camper, the more expensive it is. Did the rental offer for PLN 250 per day attract your attention? Please note that you will have to pay extra for bed linen, cutlery, bike racks, navigation, gas cylinders... - everything you need on board such a vehicle. It is worth checking out the price list of additional services. The service fee is another item that can be found in the rental company’s price lists. It ranges from 150 to 300 zlotys and includes full preparation of the car for the road. As part of this service, you will receive a fueled car, with full gas cylinders, toilet chemicals, and also cleaned so that there are no flies. How much will we pay for additional services? It depends on which one we choose, as well as on the rental company itself and, in fact, on the size of our wallet. The range is huge, ranging from small items such as extra toilet liquid or extra toilet paper, to gas and electric grills, folding camp tables and chairs, coffee machines, etc. You can also find transport or transportation for your rented camper. to the location indicated in the price list of additional commissions.

And a deposit, which ranges from 4 to 5 zlotys. PLN per car and is usually refunded immediately upon its return. Assuming nothing is damaged, of course - some companies may withhold a certain amount from the deposit if, for example, you return a campervan that is very dirty or with an unemptied toilet cassette. You'll find everything in the lease terms and conditions, so be sure to read them carefully.

We have already written that the vast majority of campervans available in Polish rental companies have a total weight of 3500 kg. This means that anyone with a category B driving license can freely drive such a vehicle on the road. But be careful!

When going on vacation, we often take things with us that may be useful, but are not necessary - this is a habit worth getting rid of when choosing a campervan as a vehicle. The vast majority of cars weigh around 2500-3000kg "empty", plus you have to add the awning, air conditioning, bike rack, water tank, fuel tank... and luggage - all of which weigh, so it's worth asking in advance. rent. what is the real reserve in this car. Most companies weigh their vehicles that are already equipped and ready to go, so you can calculate how many kilograms of luggage and provisions we can take with us even without a calculator.

It's even more important not to overpack your camper because fines for exceeding the GVWR - especially outside of our country - can be painful. In some countries, services may even prohibit further driving, and this is a problem that even your wallet cannot solve.

A camper is not a passenger car; driving it requires acquiring certain skills. First of all, let's remember its size. It is longer, wider, but also tall - it’s easy to forget about it, especially if we previously only drove a passenger car. Let's pay attention to signs, protruding elements, avoid narrow streets, and when driving on narrow roads, give way. When maneuvering, keep an eye on the front and back of your head, paying attention to the rear of the vehicle, which may hit the protruding elements around you when “overlapping.” It's very easy to get hurt!

Let's also adjust our driving speed according to the vehicle we're driving - this will make it easier to predict what might happen on the road. Cross winds are another issue to watch out for.

It happens that even if you are extremely careful, a disaster can occur. Most rental companies are prepared for the possibility that “something” may happen to the vehicle while using it. However, we are talking about minor damage, for example, a hinge torn from the door. Of course, there are also situations such as theft, burglary or breakdown - these are covered by insurance. However, the most serious threat to the lessor is damage resulting from lack of experience driving such a large vehicle. A seemingly harmless collision with a wall and damage to the car’s upholstery can result in repairs costing up to several thousand zlotys. Most rental companies are insured against this, but contracts often stipulate that the costs of repairs are borne by the tenant, that is, us. This is another reason why we should read the contents of the contract carefully.

Finally, a few words about the tourist’s sentence. Let it be clean outside and tidy inside. Empty the waste water container, fill up with clean water and fuel, fill up the gas cylinder, empty the toilet cassette - if we return the car in the condition we rented it in, we'll likely avoid or have a lower service charge.

Good way!