You’ve got the travel bug, the extended vacation time, and the dream: 6 to 12 months exploring the vast, varied landscapes of Europe. But tackling the continent by rail or bus feels limiting. You want to wake up by a fjord in Norway one week and sip wine by the Mediterranean the next. The only answer is buying a motorhome in Europe.
If you’re an adventurer from New Zealand, Australia, or the United States, you’ve probably quickly realized that buying a motorhome in Europe – or any vehicle for that matter — and keeping it legal for a year—is a bureaucratic nightmare. Registration requires residency, and long-term insurance for non-EU drivers is often impossible.
Luckily, a game-changing solution exists in the Netherlands. By utilizing the unique services of Europe-Roadtrip.com, that year-long European road trip dream can become reality.
We’ve used this company quite literally multiple times over the last five years and have bought and sold a campervan in Europe as New Zealanders TWICE now – and we’ve recommended and referred many others.
You can check out our testimonials from all the couples and families and travellers that we’ve had video calls with who have now done it too. So, the good news is that it isn’t too good to be true! There is a solution to buying a motorhome in Europe as a foreigner – and with ease as a New Zealander, Australian or American traveller.
Hey! We are AWAY WITH THE STEINERS. Want to know more about buying a motorhome in Europe?
The Big Dilemma: Why You Can’t Just Buy a Van?
Why is it so hard for a tourist to go ahead with buying a motorhome in Europe?
The core problem boils down to two words: RESIDENCY and INSURANCE.
1. The Residency Hurdle (Registration)
To register a car in virtually any European Union country (including popular options like Germany, France, or Spain), you must prove you are a resident. This means having an address, a long-term visa, utility bills, and proof of legal settlement. A three-month tourist visa simply won’t cut it.
Without local residency, you cannot legally get the vehicle registered in your name. If the papers don’t match the driver, you risk hefty fines or vehicle impoundment.
2. The Insurance Nightmare
Even if you miraculously get the vehicle registered, finding an insurance company willing to cover a vehicle for 6 to 12 months driven by a foreign license holder, especially outside the Eurozone, is a near-impossible task. Most companies offer short-term tourist coverage, but nothing suited for a true year-long cross-continent adventure.
This is where the specialized service offered by Europe-Roadtrip.com, based in the Netherlands, steps in to demolish those roadblocks.
Contact EuropeRoadtrip.com and use our code: AWAYWITHTHESTEINERS to receive a €100 discount on the Essentials Package for buying a motorhome in Europe.
Part II: The Game Changer – The Europe-Roadtrip.com Solution
Europe-Roadtrip.com specialises in catering exclusively to non-EU citizens (Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, Canadians, etc.) who plan extended 3-to-12-month tours. They leverage the favourable Dutch system to legally keep the vehicle running under a structure designed specifically for travellers.
1. The Buy-Back Guarantee
The key to the entire operation of buying a motorhome in Europe as a foreigner is the Buy-Back Guarantee system. You don’t just buy the van; you enter into an agreement to purchase the van upfront and then sell it back to the company at a pre-agreed, guaranteed price at the end of your trip.
This system provides two immediate benefits:
- Guaranteed Depreciation: You know exactly how much the trip will cost in terms of vehicle depreciation before you even turn the key.
- Legal Registration: The van remains legally registered in the company’s name (or a specifically designed ownership trust) in the Netherlands. This neatly bypasses the need for your personal EU residency.
2. The All-Inclusive Package
Because the vehicle is registered under their entity, the company can then secure comprehensive, multi-country insurance that covers you—the foreign driver—for the entire length of your trip, legally operating across all EU, Schengen, and many non-EU countries.
The package effectively includes:
- Vehicle Purchase and Pre-Trip Prep
- Dutch Registration (Road Tax Paid)
- Comprehensive Third-Party Insurance (valid for the full duration across 30+ countries)
- Full Roadside Assistance/Optional Breakdown Cover (critical for international travel)
- The Guaranteed Buy-Back Price
Part III: Step-by-Step – Buying a Motorhome in Europe
Booking your European adventure through a specialised service streamlines the entire intimidating process.
Step 1: Selection and Agreement (Remote)
The process starts months before you fly. You browse their inventory of used campervans online. These are typically reliable, well-maintained vehicles suitable for long hauls.
- Choose Your Van: Select the campervan that fits your budget and travel style.
- Agree on Terms: You agree on the upfront purchase price and the guaranteed buy-back price. The difference between these two figures represents the cost of your road trip (plus fuel and maintenance).
- Payment: A deposit is usually required to secure the vehicle and begin the registration preparation.
Step 2: Picking Up Your New Motorhome (Netherlands)
You fly into the Netherlands, usually Amsterdam (Schiphol) or Eindhoven. The company will coordinate your arrival.
- Final Inspection: You inspect the van, ensuring it meets the agreed-upon standards.
- Paperwork: You sign the final purchase contract, the insurance agreement, and the buy-back agreement.
- Handover: You receive the necessary documents: the Dutch registration papers (in the company’s name), the insurance certificates, breakdown service details, and instructions for European driving.
- Drive Off: The van is ready to roll. The license plates are Dutch, and the insurance is current. You are legally covered to start your tour immediately!
It is about two hours by train from Amsterdam to Europe-Roadtrip.com base in Hoogeveen and it’s a cool trip once you touch down in the Netherlands.
Plus – Gavin wants me to be sure to tell you that it really is a blessing buying a motorhome in Europe with Dutch plates. It is a likeable and well-liked, respected country within Europe (and Morocco). There are a couple of countries that are less favoured. But The Netherlands is a great number plate to be travelling with – trust us!
Step 3: Life on the Road
Your time is your own. You can legally and safely drive through the Schengen Zone, the Balkans, the UK, and beyond, knowing your insurance and registration are valid.
- Maintenance: The company usually provides a maintenance schedule (oil changes, etc.). You are responsible for routine maintenance, but thanks to the comprehensive breakdown cover, you have support for major issues.
- Tolls and Vignettes: You must handle local road tolls and country-specific road tax stickers (Vignettes, e.g., in Switzerland, Austria, or Bulgaria) as you cross borders.
Part IV: The Final Step – The Buy-Back
When you first start looking at buying a motorhome in Europe it is justly right to be put off by how complicated it first seems. But the beauty of this system is that the end of your trip is as stress-free as the beginning.
Returning the Van
- Schedule: You return the van to the agreed-upon location in the Netherlands (usually the company’s depot) on the specified date.
- Inspection: The van is inspected for any damage beyond normal wear and tear. If the damage is significant, the repair cost is deducted from the guaranteed buy-back price.
- Payment: The company pays you the agreed-upon buy-back price (minus any repair costs). This final transaction usually occurs swiftly after the inspection, allowing you to catch your return flight home.
The entire process avoids the panic and uncertainty of trying to sell a foreign-registered vehicle at the last minute in a strange country—a common nightmare for traditional buyers.
And truthfully? We had such a smooth transition back to the Netherlands and back to Hoogeveen to Europe-Roadtrip.com to return our motorhome that we didn’t want to go! Hehe. It was overall a great way to wrap up our (first and second!) adventures of buying a motorhome in Europe.
Plus – there is nothing quite like when you are far from home and rolling in to somewhere that you’ve been before to be welcomed by familiar and friendly faces. It is a great way to complete an epic adventure.
Arriving to Amsterdam to buy your motorhome? Check Ibis Schiphol, Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport and Radisson Blu Hotel Schiphol to start your trip.
Part V: Is It Worth the Cost?
While the initial purchase price might be higher than finding a private deal on a classified site, the service charge for the ‘Buy-Back’ scheme is your investment in legality, peace of mind, and time savings.
| Cost Component | Traditional DIY Purchase | Europe-Roadtrip.com |
| Registration | Requires EU Residency (Impossible for tourists) | Handled by company (Dutch plates) |
| Long-Term Insurance | Near Impossible | Comprehensive 30+ country policy included |
| Buy-Back/Sale | Unpredictable, stressful, time-consuming | Guaranteed price, instant transaction |
| Legal Risk | Very High | Zero |
For a 6-to-12-month trip, the cost difference (the depreciation/service fee) is significantly less than the cost of long-term rental and offers infinitely more freedom. It converts a year-long bureaucratic headache into a streamlined, insurable, and fully legal road trip of a lifetime.
Ready to Seriously Start Buying a Motorhome in Europe?
If you’re dreaming of the open road from Portugal’s coast to the Baltic fjords, finding a trustworthy partner like Europe-Roadtrip.com that solves the residency issue is the single most important decision you can make.
Get ready to pack your bags and pick your wheels—the whole continent is waiting!
Contact EuropeRoadtrip.com and use our code: AWAYWITHTHESTEINERS to receive a €100 discount on the Essentials Package for buying a motorhome in Europe.
Read More About Travel & Buying a Motorhome in Europe
- Choosing The Perfect Morocco Itinerary For A First Trip.
- 20 Things To Do In Bucharest, Romania.
- Driving, Motorhome Parking & Finding Free Camping In Spain.
- 20 Things To Do In Podgorica, Montenegro.
- 14 Things To Do In Belgrade, Serbia.
- Border Crossing: Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Border Crossing: Bosnia to Montenegro.
Useful Links for Your Travels In Europe and Beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It is easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere online.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Make sure you have insurance before embarking on the adventure of buying a motorhome in Europe!
