Campervan vs Car: Which Is Right for Your Working Holiday

Many working holidaymakers compare a campervan with a car, but neither is automatically the right choice. It depends on how much of your year you will travel, where you will sleep, and whether the vehicle is also for commuting to work.

The short answer

• Campervan if you’re travelling for more than a few weeks at a stretch, want to freedom-camp to cut accommodation costs, or you’re doing seasonal work in different regions and want your bed to travel with you.
• Car if you’re based in one city or region for most of your working holiday and only taking short trips, or if fuel economy and parking matter more than sleeping space.

Cost comparison

A campervan can cost more to buy and run, though actual fuel economy, purchase price and repair risk depend on the vehicle. Sleeping in it may reduce some accommodation costs, but campground fees, cooking, showers, insurance and legal overnight options still matter. Check the current fee and booking conditions at each campsite; freedom camping is not a universal free alternative. See our cost of living guide.

A car is cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure, and easier to sell at the end of your trip. If you’re renting a room or flat for most of the year and only doing the occasional weekend trip, a car plus hostel or motel stays on the road usually comes out cheaper overall.

Freedom camping rules

Freedom camping is restricted by national law, DOC rules, council bylaws and local signs. Since 7 June 2026, a vehicle must have a current green warrant to qualify as certified self-contained; certification requires a fixed toilet, not a portable one. Certification does not mean you can camp anywhere. Check whether the exact vehicle has current certification and whether your chosen site allows it before relying on freedom camping.

Fit with work

If your plan includes fruit picking, ski season, or other seasonal work that moves you between regions — see our seasonal work calendar — a campervan means you’re not paying for accommodation twice while you relocate. If you’re doing one job in one city for most of the year, a car (or no vehicle at all, if the city has good public transport) is simpler and cheaper.

Buying, not renting

For a long trip, compare total rental charges with the purchase price, expected resale value, inspection/repair risk, insurance, registration, WOF and time needed to buy and sell. There is no universal point at which buying is cheaper. Our guide to buying a car covers the main checks, which also matter for campervans.

If you’re only travelling for a few weeks and renting still makes more sense, see our campervan and car rental comparison for a rundown of the main operators.

What trips people up

Buying a van sight unseen because it’s cheap, then discovering it fails its next Warrant of Fitness (WoF) inspection — budget for an independent mechanical check before you pay, especially on older Japanese-import vans. The other common mistake: assuming you can freedom camp anywhere. Check each region’s rules before you rely on it as your accommodation plan.