Booking During School Holidays
School holidays are the busiest time for campervan hire. Here's when to start looking, and how availability works when you book.
School holidays are the most popular time to travel for families and holidaymakers. Book early to give yourself the best chance of getting the vehicle you want.
For the Christmas and New Year holiday period, we suggest starting to look 9 to 12 months in advance, especially if your dates are fixed or you need a particular vehicle. As demand builds through the year, availability becomes limited and prices can rise. No booking window guarantees the lowest price, so compare the total cost for your trip. Our guide to booking well in advance or close to pick-up explains the trade-offs.
Booking outside the holiday periods can be considerably cheaper compared to the peak periods.
Booking well in advance
Special events or festivals will always sell out well in advance, so book as soon as the event dates are released.
Other holiday periods and long weekends are also very popular, so we suggest booking at least 5 to 6 months in advance.
Booking close to pick-up
If you book close to your travel dates, your first choice of campervan may not be available. You may need to travel in an alternative vehicle at a higher price.
Availability
When you search DriveNow for a campervan, each vehicle shows an availability status of 'instant confirmation' or 'on request'.
‘Instant confirmation’ means the vehicle is currently available. Your booking is confirmed instantly once you complete your details and accept the rental terms and conditions. Once it's confirmed, your credit card is charged the amount shown on the booking page.
‘On request’ means we'll contact the rental company to check whether the vehicle you've requested is available. The booking can't be confirmed instantly, and response times depend on the rental company and on when you submit the request. A submitted request is not a confirmed booking, so don't commit to non-refundable arrangements until it is confirmed. Your credit card will not be charged if the vehicle isn't available. We only collect payment once the campervan booking is confirmed.
Next steps
- Best time to travel: the best months for each state
- Understanding pricing: minimum hire periods at busy times
- Overnight parking: booking campsites for peak periods
Part of Before You Book in the Campervan Hire Handbook.