If you are planning a campervan holiday for summer 2027, the question of timing is real. Summer is the busiest and most expensive season in most of the northern hemisphere, and the rental fleets are limited. Many people leave it until spring and then wonder why the van they wanted is gone, or why it costs twice as much as they expected.

We have written about road trips and rentals across the Nordics for years, and we have seen how quickly good vans disappear in July. For the numbers in this article we used the CampervanPlanet price index, updated on 3 November 2026, which analyses 9,938 live offers in 22 countries. Our campervan rental guide covers the basics if you are new to this.

Here is how we would think about booking time, and why the answer is different for Iceland, Croatia and New Zealand.

Why timing matters more for campervans than for hotels

A hotel has hundreds of rooms. A rental company in Iceland, Norway or Croatia may have only a few dozen vans of the type you want at a given depot. When the summer weeks fill up, there is nothing to substitute, and prices rise because supply is fixed.

Campervans also have a “shape” that matters: two-berth or four-berth, automatic or manual, with or without a toilet. The most popular combinations, such as a small automatic camper, sell out first. If you are flexible on all of those, you can wait. If you are not, you should not.

What the price index says about seasons

The index makes the seasonal gap very clear. In Iceland the typical price in July is about €355 a day, against about €137 in the low season, a ratio of 2.6. Iceland has 19 rental companies in the data and a cheapest offer from €40 a day.

Other countries show the same pattern in different shapes. The Pula page lists about €317 a day at the summer peak and about €237 in May and September. Portugal shows about €170 a day at the summer peak, with a “from” price of €68 a day. Norway’s typical summer price is about €379 a day against €178 in winter. New Zealand goes the other way, because its summer is our winter, with typical prices of about €194 in January and €71 in June.

The lesson is that the “when” matters as much as the “where”. Our low season versus peak price gap by country article goes deeper.

How far ahead should you book?

There is no single answer, but we would use these rules of thumb:

• Peak summer in popular countries (Iceland, Norway, Croatia, Italy, France): book as soon as your dates are fixed. For Iceland, the CampervanPlanet 4×4 page suggests booking 2 to 3 months ahead for the Highland-capable fleets in peak season, and we would add more margin.
• Shoulder months (May, September): a few months ahead is usually enough, but the best vans still go first.
• Southern summer (Australia and New Zealand, December to February): book now for the holidays.
• Low season: you have more room, and last-minute deals do appear, but do not count on them.

In every case, check the cancellation conditions. A booking you can cancel or change for free is much safer than one you cannot, and it lets you lock a van in before prices rise.

Cancellation, deposits and flexible terms

Read three things before you pay: how much deposit is due now and when the balance is due, the cancellation fee at different dates, and what happens if you change dates or the vehicle. Many rental companies allow free changes up to a certain number of weeks before pick-up, and some do not.

Also look at insurance and bond. The cheapest base rate often comes with a high excess, and reducing it costs extra per day. Our guide to saving money on campervan hire explains how to compare the real all-in price. If you are not sure about your dates, choose the booking with the most flexible terms, even if the price is slightly higher.

Booking early without overpaying

Booking early does not have to mean paying more. A few habits help:

• Compare more than one brand for the same dates, because prices vary a lot between rental companies for similar vans.
• Check nearby pick-up depots. A different city or airport can be cheaper or have more availability.
• Consider shoulder months or a slightly shorter trip, which can cut the cost.
• Check what is included: bedding, kitchen kit, extra drivers, mileage and one-way fees.
• Look at the all-in price with zero excess, not just the headline daily rate.

When waiting can make sense

There are a few cases where waiting is reasonable. If your dates depend on a flight, a work schedule or school holidays that are not fixed, a free-cancellation booking is better than a late one. If you travel in the low season, availability is rarely a problem. And if you are flexible on the vehicle, last-minute availability can sometimes mean a bargain.

But for peak summer in popular countries, waiting is a gamble, and the price index shows how expensive the peak can be.

How to book and save €20

Start with the CampervanPlanet price index to see typical prices by country, then enter your dates for the destination that fits your budget. Compare vehicle sizes, cancellation terms and insurance, and pick the best all-in option. At checkout, use code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 to take €20 off. If you book through our links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and bookings made within 30 days of the click are credited.