Caravan holidays have become even more appealing since the pandemic. More people than ever have bought new caravans to enjoy the sense of freedom they bring to explore the countryside. Here are some ways you can save money with your caravan.
In 2023, owners registered 765,150 caravans in Australia, up by 5.3% in the last year. At the same time, campervan registrations rose by 4.9%. One major holiday park owner says there was huge demand for caravan sites over the 2023-24 summer. Meanwhile, the economic downturn has seen more people booking shorter, more frequent and less expensive trips.
Having a caravan is a great way to spontaneously take a short road trip at low cost.
There are several ways you can save money with a caravan.
Receive a discount on caravan registration
You can receive a 40% discount on registering private towed caravans and camper trailers up to 4.5 tonnes. If you are registering a caravan or camper trailer for the first time, you don’t have to pay stamp duty. These discounts are not available to owners of motorhomes or campervans.
The difference between registering a caravan or a motor vehicle is that the caravan doesn’t need a green slip. The green slip of the towing vehicle covers the caravan. However, you still need to get annual pink slips to register a caravan that is 5 or more years old.
Claim a discount on Class B tolls
You can save money if you’re passing through Sydney. The large towed vehicle toll rebate is for caravan owners who have paid Class B tolls on Sydney’s toll roads. The rebate is the difference between Class B and Class A toll fees for up to 8 tolled trips per month.
- Register for the toll relief scheme through your toll tag provider.
- Claim the rebate within 12 months after receiving your toll statement.
Once again, the rebate doesn’t apply to motorhomes.
Is it better to rent a caravan?
If you don’t already own a caravan, you might consider renting one. After all, you don’t have to pay for caravan insurance, registration, servicing, repairs, road service or even parking. This may be a good option if you don’t plan to use a caravan frequently. However, you do need a vehicle that is capable of towing a caravan. Often a vehicle that is good for going about town is not so good on the open road towing a heavy van. This has to be factored into the total cost.
One company, Camplify, works like AirBnB in that owners can rent out their caravans when they’re not being used. This may be a good option for an owner or the renter, who wants to be sure the caravan is good quality and will do the job.
Save money on the cheapest fuel
On a caravan trip through NSW (or even Sydney), the price of fuel can fluctuate a lot. Make sure you compare prices regularly, using the Fuel Price Calculator on greenslips.com.au. Every servo has to notify any price changes as soon as they are made, so we check prices every 20 minutes.
Changing where you buy your fuel can make a big difference to how much you spend towing a caravan, especially on a long trip. Check fuel prices now and register for email alerts.
Compare prices of your green slip
Remember, you pay caravan registration but the green slip of the towing vehicle covers the caravan. Compare the cheapest prices for greenslips for your towing vehicle. Some vehicle owners have saved up to $300 a year on their green slip with safe driving.
Remember these ways to save money on the total cost of owning and enjoying your caravan.
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