What a caravan costs
Each category has its own price band, before on-road costs and registration.
Every figure on this page is a manufacturer's published starting price for a base build.
Options, dealer delivery, government charges, registration, insurance and the tow car all sit on top of it.
Updated - specs from the manufacturer's own pages. 9 min read • Buying Guide
Half of the new caravans on our site start between $60,950 and $99,990, and each category has its own price band.
Every figure here is a base-build starting price, so options, dealer delivery and government charges sit on top.
- Typical starting price - $60,950 to $99,990 (the middle half of models on our site with a published starting price, base build)
- Middle of the market - $75,990 (median published starting price, base build)
What each category of van costs
Plan your budget against the price band for your category. One average across the whole market covers too wide a spread to help.
The band below is the middle half of each category: a quarter of the models on our site sit below it, a quarter sit above it, and the rest sit inside it. Every figure is a manufacturer's published starting price for a base build.
| Category | Middle half of the market | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Camper trailer | $23,990 to $47,990 | $32,990 |
| Hybrid | $61,990 to $78,990 | $67,990 |
| Pop top | $64,990 to $73,000 | $68,990 |
| On-road tourer | $56,990 to $86,155 | $74,990 |
| Semi off-road | $75,990 to $101,518 | $88,500 |
| Full off-road | $81,990 to $125,990 | $97,200 |
| Motorhome and campervan | $159,990 to $227,990 | $210,700 |
These are starting prices, before extras
Every figure above is a base build before options, dealer delivery and government charges. Vans sold at price on application are not counted, because they have no published price. Use the bands to work out which category your budget puts you in, then get an itemised drive-away quote on the specific van.
For the full price list, including the lowest and highest published starting prices and the median for every type, see how much a caravan costs. To shop a bracket directly, try caravans under $60,000 or caravans under $90,000.
What moves the price
Two vans of the same length can be priced a long way apart. These are the main reasons.
1. Length, and what the extra metres are carrying
A longer van is more chassis, more wall, more axle and more of everything inside it. The jump from a couple travelling light to a layout with bunks and a separate shower is usually a big step in a brand's own price list.
2. What it is built to be towed over
Independent suspension, a heavier chassis, more clearance and tougher protection under the front all cost money to fit. That is what separates the on-road and off-road bands in the table above. It is worth paying for only if you will leave the bitumen.
3. How long it is meant to stay away from power and water
Solar, battery capacity, an inverter and bigger water tanks are the off-grid bill. They add to the price, and they add weight too.
4. How the walls and roof are put together
Construction method changes the price, the weight and the repair bill later. Our construction guide sets out what each method does without picking a winner.
5. What the starting price leaves out
A published starting price is a base build. The same van with the option packs most buyers tick is a different number, and it is the itemised quote rather than the website figure that tells you which one you are buying.
Two of them have guides of their own: what the off-road labels mean and what caravan walls are made of.
What sits on top of the sticker price
None of these are in a manufacturer's starting price, and every one of them is real money in the first month. Work them into the budget before you look at vans at the top of it.
On-road costs and dealer delivery
Government charges and delivery are added to the van price, and they are not in any manufacturer's starting figure. Ask for an itemised drive-away price rather than working from the website number.
Registration
Every state and territory sets its own caravan registration fee and measures it against its own weight bands, so there is no single national figure to plan against.
Insurance
A quote depends on the van, where it is kept, the cover level and the agreed value you nominate, so the only figure worth budgeting is one you have been quoted.
The tow car, if the one in the driveway is not up to it
A new tow car can cost more than the difference between two vans. Check the van you want against the car you already own before you set the budget.
Setting the van up
A brake controller, towing mirrors, weight distribution gear where it is needed, levelling gear, hoses and leads all get bought in the first month.
Check the car before you set the number
A van outside your current car's published ratings means budgeting for a new car as well. Our tow calculator shows which vans sit inside your car's published limits, and car first or caravan first works through the order to buy them in.
The costs that keep coming
A caravan keeps costing money after you buy it. These are the standing costs, and what each one depends on.
Servicing
Wheel bearings, brakes and a general check are an annual job on a van that gets used, and the schedule in the handbook is also what keeps a warranty claim clean.
Tyres
Caravan tyres often get too old before the tread wears out, because a van spends most of the year parked. Replace them on age as well as on tread.
Storage
If the van will not fit at home, storage is a standing monthly cost, and whether it can live on your own property is a council question rather than a national one.
What it is worth when you sell it
The value a van loses is a real cost of owning it. How well you buy the van and keep it affects how much value it loses.
To work out a yearly figure for your own van, read what a caravan costs to run.
Caravan budget questions, answered
What is a realistic budget for a first caravan?
Build the budget from three numbers. Start with what the van itself costs in the category you need, then add the on-road costs and the first month of setting it up. Check the car in your driveway against the van's ATM before you commit to either. If the budget covers the van but not a car that can tow it, you may need to buy a car as well.
Why is one caravan twice the price of another the same length?
Length is only one reason. The price also depends on what the van is built to be towed over, how long it can stay away from mains power and water, and how the walls and roof are built. Two vans of the same length can be built for very different jobs.
Is a starting price the price I will pay?
No. A published starting price is a base build before options, dealer delivery and government charges. Compare brands on starting prices, because that is the like-for-like number, then get an itemised drive-away quote on the specific van before you commit.
Should I buy new or used on a set budget?
The same money buys a bigger or better-equipped van used, and the first owner has already absorbed the steepest part of the value drop. What you give up is the factory warranty and the known history, so the saving is real but it is paid for with inspection work.
Does a cheaper caravan cost more to run?
No. Running costs depend more on the van's weight and size, how often you use it and where you keep it than on what it cost. A smaller van is usually cheaper to register, fit with tyres and tow.
Find the vans that fit your budget
See which vans fit that budget, then check your shortlist against the car in your driveway.