Fintern is now Abound 🎉. You can read more about this here
A motorhome can be a great investment for those looking for a bit of adventure. From long road trips to shorter weekend breaks, a motorhome or campervan gives you the freedom to travel around, while enjoying the comfort of a bed and other facilities all in one vehicle. They're ideal if you're hoping to do more 'staycations' in the UK.
However, making the initial purchase of a top-quality van can be expensive. So, what's the best way to finance your dream on wheels?
In this article, we'll explore:
How an Abound loan can help
As with any recreational vehicle, campervans and motorhomes can vary greatly in price. It all depends on what kind of van you'd like. Are you keen to get a brand new, top-of-the-range model? Or would you prefer to buy something second hand? Perhaps you'd like to purchase a used commercial van and deck it out yourself.
New motorhomes (of the 5 most popular UK makes) average around £63,874. A gently used, 2-year-old motorhome costs an average of £49,395. Shopping around for older vehicles with more miles on the clock will bring the price down, as will fitting out an empty van yourself. A campervan conversion can cost anything between £500 and £40,000 — quite a broad scale, so you'll need to set yourself a budget and do some research on which option is best for you.
Whichever option you go for, purchasing motorhomes and campers costs a considerable amount of money, and you may be wondering how to get the funds together.
When it comes to camper and motorhome financing, you have a few options:
Use your savings
Firstly, you could save up the money for a cash purchase. This will give you full ownership of the vehicle right away, and you won't need to worry about interest rates or additional charges. If you aren't in a position to buy the van outright, you could use your savings to make a larger deposit, reducing the amount you owe using other methods of financing.
If you do make a cash purchase, ensure you have some money set aside for an emergency fund. You'll also need to take fuel and maintenance into consideration.
Enter a hire purchase agreement
A hire purchase agreement involves paying a deposit, and then taking out a loan to cover the rest of the vehicle price. Most dealers ask for a 10% deposit, and the loan will be secured against the campervan or motorhome itself. However, as previously mentioned, if you have a higher amount in cash, you may be able to make a bigger deposit, reducing the length of time it takes to pay the rest.
After making your deposit, you'll pay a fixed amount each month until you've paid the cost of the loan — plus interest. Once you've made the final payment, you'll have full ownership of the vehicle.
Hire purchase agreements can be quick and straightforward to arrange but can be an expensive form of motorhome finance.
If you're worried about your credit score and fear getting rejected for an unsecured loan, then hire purchase could be a good option. Because it is secured against an asset (the motorhome), you have a good chance of being accepted for hire purchase even if you have bad credit.
Use a credit card
You may think credit cards are only suitable for small purchases, such as home appliances or some items of furniture. However, it is possible to buy a vehicle with a credit card. Depending on the price of your motorhome or van, you may be able to cover the cost with a credit card. The credit card company will pay the van dealer, and then you make monthly repayments to the credit card company — just as you would with any other purchase on credit.
It's important to note, however, that most credit card limits don't exceed £5000 and some car dealerships will not accept credit card payment. If you're looking for a brand new motorhome, this may not be the best finance option.
Bear in mind also that credit cards may come with high interest rates. If you have a poor credit score or thin credit file, you may need to look into building your credit rating before you apply for a card.
Take out a personal loan
Another motorhome finance option is to take out a personal loan. These loans, which are unsecured, allow you to borrow money from a lender and pay it back in monthly installments.
You will need to take interest rates and fees into account, so it's best to look at the annual percentage rate (APR) when comparing loans. APR gives you a more accurate picture of what you'll need to repay than focusing on interest rates alone.
Many lenders will let you borrow up to £50,000, which will cover the average new motorhome cost. As with any loan, just ensure that you're confident you can make the monthly repayments.
When looking for a suitable loan to finance your campervan or motorhome, you may find that some lenders assess your affordability by focusing on your credit score. If you're concerned about your credit rating, this might seem like an obstacle.
Fortunately, however, you may well qualify for a Abound loan. At Abound, we understand that poor credit or a thin credit file doesn't always accurately reflect your ability to pay back borrowed money. That's why we take your entire financial situation into account when making a lending decision.
With an Abound loan, you can borrow between £1,000 and £10,000 to go towards making your motorhome dream a reality. You can choose your repayment terms, with a loan duration of up to three years, and take payment holidays if needed.
If you'd like to learn more or apply for a flexible, affordable loan, why not apply today?
