Age Restrictions

Check the age rules for every driver before you book. They decide which rental companies and vehicles you can choose. Licence types, provisional licences and overseas licences are covered in our driver's licence guide.

How Old Do I Need to Be to Drive a Campervan?

To drive a campervan, motorhome or 4WD camper, most rental companies require you to be 21 or older and to hold a full, unrestricted driver's licence. Some also require at least 12 months' driving experience. Additional drivers must meet the same requirements and have their details added to the rental agreement at check-in.

Age requirements vary between rental companies. Several accept drivers from 18. The table below shows the minimum and maximum ages for the campervan rental companies you can compare on DriveNow.

Supplier Age Comparison

Age requirements can change, so always confirm them for your vehicle when you book. When booking on DriveNow, the minimum age for your selected vehicle is shown in Step 3 of the booking page.

Why Do Age Restrictions Apply?

Age restrictions come down to insurance and risk. Younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in road accidents, and campervans are larger and heavier than standard cars, so they need more driving experience to handle safely. Insurance underwriters set higher premiums for younger drivers, which is why most rental companies set their minimum age at 21 rather than the legal driving age of 18.

For the same reason, some rental companies apply maximum age limits or require a medical certificate for older drivers. Insurers may require evidence of fitness to drive beyond a certain age.

Options for Drivers Aged 18–20

If you are aged 18 to 20, you still have options. Camperman, JUCY, Mighty Lite, Spaceships and Travellers Autobarn accept drivers from 18 years of age. Their licence rules differ:

• Mighty Lite and Travellers Autobarn: a full licence
• JUCY: a full licence or a green P plate (P2) licence, but not a red P plate (P1) licence
• Spaceships: a full or probationary licence you've held for at least 6 months
• Camperman: at least 12 months' driving experience. Its terms say provisional drivers are accepted but probationary licence holders aren't, so if you're on P plates, check with us before you book

Two more rental companies offer selected vehicles to drivers from 18:

• Mighty: Double Down & Highball models, with a full licence
• Campervan Village: 2WD campervans (AWD and 4WD vehicles need drivers aged 21 or over). Red and green P plates are accepted, with a surcharge

Age-related charges vary. JUCY charges a young driver fee of $5 a day for drivers aged 18 to 21. Campervan Village charges an under-21 surcharge on 2WD campervans, and a surcharge for provisional and probationary licence holders. Travellers Autobarn notes that additional insurance fees may apply to younger drivers. Check the quote for your age, and the rental company's conditions, before you book.

Things to Keep in Mind as a Younger Driver

• Excess amounts: the standard excess is your maximum liability if something goes wrong, apart from the exclusions in the rental terms. It varies widely between rental companies. Excess reduction can lower your liability, particularly on longer trips. See our insurance and excess reduction guide for a comparison.
• Bond: most rental companies place a hold (bond) on your credit card at pick-up, typically equal to the excess amount. Make sure your card has enough available credit.
• Driving experience: Mighty, Mighty Lite and Travellers Autobarn need a full (unrestricted) licence, even at 18. JUCY, Spaceships and Campervan Village accept some provisional licences from 18, and Awesome Campers and Star RV from 21 (see P platers below). Camperman's terms are unclear about P plates. Camperman, Campervan Village and Let’s Go need at least 12 months' driving experience, and Spaceships needs you to have held your licence for at least 6 months.

Can I Drive a Campervan as a P Plater?

Some rental companies accept a provisional (P plate) licence. Acceptance varies by company:

• JUCY (from 18) and Star RV (from 21) accept a green P plate (P2) licence, but not a red P plate (P1) licence.
• Spaceships (from 18) accepts a probationary licence you've held for at least 6 months.
• Campervan Village accepts Australian and New Zealand red and green P plates, with a surcharge.
• Awesome Campers (from 21) accepts provisional and probationary licences.
• Camperman's terms say provisional drivers are accepted but probationary licence holders aren't, so check with us before you book.

Most rental companies don't accept a red P plate (P1) licence. If you hold a red P plate, confirm with the rental company before you book. Our driver's licence guide lists the companies that accept P plates, with their conditions.

P plate driving conditions vary by state. For example, some states restrict the number of passengers a P plater can carry at night, or limit engine power. Check your state's P plate conditions to make sure they suit your trip.

Is There a Maximum Age to Hire a Campervan?

Many campervan rental companies don't set a maximum age, but these do:

Rental companies without a stated maximum age may still ask drivers over 75 to provide a medical certificate confirming they are fit to drive. If you're over 75, contact the rental company or branch before your trip to confirm its requirements.

Does Vehicle Size Affect Age Requirements?

A rental company's minimum age generally applies to its whole fleet. A 2-berth campervan and a 6-berth motorhome from the same company will usually have the same age requirement.

The exception is companies that offer selected smaller vehicles to younger drivers while requiring 21+ for their larger fleet. Mighty and Campervan Village both follow this model, offering more compact vehicles to 18-year-old drivers while keeping larger motorhomes at a 21+ minimum.

If you're under 21, choose rental companies and vehicle models that accept your age. The comparison table above shows which ones do.

Next steps

• Driver's licences: licence types, P plates and overseas licences
• Insurance and excess reduction: excess and bond by rental company
• Required documents for pick-up: what each driver must bring

Part of Before You Book in the Campervan Hire Handbook.