Author: the Puikūs Kemperiai team · Updated: 2026-07-03
For most travellers who use a camper for a few weeks a year, renting is cheaper than buying. Your own camper only pays for itself when you travel in it a lot and for a long time – roughly from 8-10 weeks a year for several years in a row, or when you need it for business or as a permanent way of life. The reason is simple: with rental you pay only for the days you actually use, while your own camper costs money all year round. Insurance, servicing, storage and depreciation still add up while it is standing in the yard. Below are the concrete figures for 2026, two examples and the break-even point at which buying starts to pay off.
The key points first
- In Lithuania in 2026, rental starts from 95-160 EUR per day depending on the season; you pay only for the days you use.
- Your own camper costs not only the purchase price but also about 1600-2600 EUR a year to keep, even when you are not using it.
- The break-even point: owning becomes worthwhile from roughly 8-10 weeks of travel a year.
- For those who travel rarely (1-3 weeks a year), renting stays cheaper even over 10 years.
The short answer: who renting suits, and who buying suits
Renting suits you if you travel 1-4 weeks a year, want a different model each time, do not want to deal with storage and servicing, or are only trying out whether camper travel is for you.
Buying suits you if you travel a lot (8+ weeks a year), plan to keep doing so for several years, live in a camper for part of the year, or use it for business and can offset part of the costs.
Below, both options are broken down into figures.
How much renting costs (2026 prices)
The advantage of renting in figures is a fixed price per day and no annual costs. With Puikūs Kemperiai the price is 'all-inclusive':
| Season | Price per day | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Off-season (October-March) | from 95 EUR | Lowest demand, best price |
| Shoulder season (April-May, September) | from 115 EUR | Pleasant weather, fewer people |
| Peak season (June-August) | from 160 EUR | Highest demand, book in advance |
Depending on the model and the season, the daily price ranges from roughly 95 to 270 EUR – lowest off-season for compact models, highest in peak season for larger ones. The price includes comprehensive (KASKO) insurance, a 100-litre water tank, a cooker, a fridge, a shower, a WC, an outdoor awning, insect screens, outdoor furniture and a bike rack. The daily price is lower for longer rentals. On collection you pay an 800 EUR deposit, which is returned once the camper comes back in good order. You will find a detailed explanation of prices by season and length of rental in the 2026 price guide.
Typical annual rental costs: two weeks a year at an average of about 130 EUR per day come to roughly 1820 EUR. The only time you pay is the trip itself.
How much it costs to own a camper
Ownership has both a one-off part and an annual part. Below are approximate Lithuanian market figures for 2026; the exact amounts depend on the model and its age. Current purchase prices can be checked on classified ad portals such as autoplius.lt.
| Cost item | Approximate amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a used camper | ~25 000-45 000 EUR | One-off |
| Buying a new camper | ~60 000-100 000+ EUR | One-off |
| Insurance (KASKO + third-party liability) | ~800-1 200 EUR | Every year |
| Servicing and maintenance | ~500-800 EUR | Every year |
| Winter storage | ~300-600 EUR | Every year |
| Depreciation | ~1 500-2 500 EUR | Every year |
The annual cash costs – insurance, servicing and storage – come to roughly 1600-2600 EUR a year, and they arise even if you go nowhere that year. On top of that, the camper loses roughly 1500-2500 EUR of value every year through depreciation, and the original purchase price stays 'frozen' in the vehicle.
The break-even point: when buying pays off
Let us compare both options in one table, taking an average rental price of 130 EUR per day and average ownership costs.
| Use per year | Rental (price/year) | Own camper (cash costs/year, excluding purchase and depreciation) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (7 days) | ~910 EUR | ~1600-2600 EUR |
| 2 weeks (14 days) | ~1820 EUR | ~1600-2600 EUR |
| 4 weeks (28 days) | ~3640 EUR | ~1600-2600 EUR |
| 8 weeks (56 days) | ~7280 EUR | ~1600-2600 EUR |
The point is clear at once: the annual cash costs of your own camper alone equal roughly 12-20 days of rental, and depreciation and the purchase price come on top of them. But the purchase price is not yet included here. If a used camper costs about 30 000 EUR, that corresponds to roughly 230 days of rental – that is how much you would need to travel for the purchase price alone to match the cost of renting.
In practice: travelling 2 weeks a year, you spend about 18 000 EUR on rental over 10 years – still less than the price of a new camper alone, not counting its upkeep. The break-even point comes only when you travel for many weeks a year and keep doing so for a long time.
Two examples in figures
Example 1: a family travelling 2 weeks a year.
Rental costs about 1820 EUR a year and about 9100 EUR over 5 years, with no storage, servicing or depreciation. Their own used camper at 30 000 EUR plus roughly 2000 EUR a year to keep costs about 40 000 EUR over the same 5 years. Even after deducting the residual resale value, owning works out more expensive and comes with extra hassle. For this family, renting is clearly the more rational choice.
Example 2: an active traveller who works remotely, 10 weeks a year.
Rental costs about 9100 EUR a year and about 45 500 EUR over 5 years. Their own camper at 30 000 EUR plus 2000 EUR a year comes to about 40 000 EUR over 5 years, and part of that is recovered when it is sold later. With intensive use, owning becomes both cheaper and more convenient. For this traveller, buying pays off better.
The difference between the two examples is not the price per day but how often the camper is used. That is what decides the answer.
What the figures do not show
Money is not the only factor in the decision. A few qualitative differences:
- Hassle. Your own camper needs storage, servicing, roadworthiness tests and seasonal preparation. Renting shifts this work to the rental company.
- Flexibility. When renting, you choose a different size each time – a smaller one for two, a larger one with the family. Your own camper stays fixed to a certain number of people.
- Depreciation. A camper, like a car, loses value over time. When renting, you do not take on this risk.
- Freedom without commitment. If you tire of camper travel after two years, you simply stop booking rentals. Your own camper would have to be sold.
On the other hand, your own camper gives you what renting cannot always offer: the chance to set off at any moment, to keep your own things in it and to adapt it to yourself.
Who should buy, and who should rent
| Your situation | The more rational choice |
|---|---|
| You travel 1-3 weeks a year | Rent |
| You are trying camper travel for the first time | Rent |
| You want a different model each time | Rent |
| You travel 8+ weeks a year for several years | Buy |
| You live in a camper for part of the year | Buy |
| You use it for business and offset the costs | Buy |
From Puikūs Kemperiai's experience
We have been renting out campers for 28 years and often talk with people who are thinking of buying their own. A few observations that help with the decision:
- Most people overestimate how much they will actually travel. The plan is 'the whole summer', but in reality they set off two or three times a season. The calculation should be based on real use, not wished-for use.
- First-time enquirers underestimate storage and winter maintenance. These are dull but constant costs that renting does not have.
- The best decisions are made by those who rent a couple of times first. Only once you have travelled does it become clear what size of camper you need and how often it is really used – then the purchase calculation rests on facts, not assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying a camper if I travel once a year?
No. The annual running costs of your own camper alone (about 1600-2600 EUR) exceed the price of renting for one or two weeks. If you travel rarely, renting is cheaper and simpler.
How much do you need to travel for your own camper to pay off?
Roughly from 8-10 weeks of travel a year for several years in a row. Only then are the purchase price and annual costs spread across enough trips to be cheaper than renting.
How much does it cost to rent a camper in Lithuania in 2026?
Rental starts from 95 EUR per day off-season, 115 EUR in the shoulder season and 160 EUR in peak season; depending on the model, the daily price goes up to roughly 270 EUR. The price usually includes insurance and the basic equipment, and you pay only for the days you use.
What are the hidden costs of owning a camper?
The three most often forgotten are winter storage, annual servicing and depreciation. They arise even when the camper is not being used.
Can I rent first and only then decide whether to buy?
Yes, and that is the most rational route. A few rentals show what size of camper you need and how often you really travel, before you invest tens of thousands of euros.
Can I rent out my own camper to others so that it pays for itself?
Partly yes, but that is already a business with its own concerns: insurance, maintenance, customer service and idle time. A camper intended for private use rarely pays for itself fully from occasional rentals alone.
Is renting a camper for longer cheaper?
Yes. At Puikūs Kemperiai the daily price is lower for longer rentals, so on a trip of a week or more each day costs less than a single day booked on its own. For those who travel rarely, this tips the figures even further in favour of renting.
Puikūs Kemperiai rents out campers throughout Lithuania and helps you assess which option is better for you. If you would like to try it out first before considering a purchase, get in touch – we will advise you on which model to choose based on the number of travellers and your route.
About the author
Puikūs Kemperiai (UAB „Kertušas“) is a camper rental company in Lithuania with 28 years of experience and a fleet of 29 campers, from compact models to 7-seat family models. We deliver and collect campers in any city in Lithuania. Questions: +370 684 35550, puikuskemperiai.lt.
Sources
- Puikūs Kemperiai rental prices – seasonal rental prices for 2026.
- Puikūs Kemperiai rental terms – what is included, the deposit, insurance.
- The autoplius.lt classified ad portal – sale prices of used and new campers in Lithuania.
- State Enterprise Regitra – vehicle registration and fees.
- Ownership running costs (insurance, servicing, storage, depreciation) – Puikūs Kemperiai's approximate estimate of the Lithuanian market in 2026 (not an external source).