Renting a Campervan in the USA as a European — Licence, Insurance, Mileage and Campgrounds in 2027

Renting a campervan in the USA differs from Europe in four ways: the vehicles are bigger, insurance is sold differently, many rentals charge for every mile, and the best campgrounds fill up months ahead. Our examples come from Florida, where we also have guides for Miami and Tampa, but most of the rules apply across the country.

Driving licence and age

• A European licence. For a tourist trip, a valid EU or UK licence is accepted in most states, Florida included. If your licence is not in English, also carry an International Driving Permit; many rental companies ask for one anyway, and it is quick and cheap to get at home.
• Vehicle size. Campervans and Class C motorhomes (with a bed over the cab, 6 to 9 metres) can be driven on an ordinary car licence. A special licence is only needed for vehicles heavier than about 11.8 tonnes, which are not typical rentals.
• Age and card. The minimum age is usually 21, often 25 for larger motorhomes. The deposit needs a credit card in the driver's name, and it ranges from a few hundred to more than a thousand dollars.

Insurance: what is included and what is not

• Third-party liability. The legal minimum for liability cover is low in many states. Ask how much is included in the rental and consider supplementary liability insurance, usually up to about one million dollars.
• Damage to the vehicle. A collision damage waiver reduces your excess. Check whether it also covers the roof and upper part of the vehicle: hitting low overpasses, gas-station canopies and drive-through lanes is often excluded.
• Your card and travel insurance. Rental cover offered by credit cards usually does not apply to campervans and motorhomes. Travel medical insurance is essential, because healthcare in the USA is very expensive.

Miles, kits and the price you actually pay

• Miles. Many campervan rentals charge for every mile or sell mileage packs, for example of 500. A two-week loop of Florida easily reaches 1,500 to 2,000 miles, or 2,400 to 3,200 km, so ask for unlimited mileage or work everything out in advance.
• Kits and extras. A kitchen kit, bedding, generator hours, a prep fee and a one-way fee add a lot to the price, so compare the total, not the daily rate.
• Fuel. A Class C motorhome uses roughly 25 to 30 litres per 100 km, a van conversion 12 to 15. Fuel is priced per gallon, which is 3.79 litres.
• Tolls. In Florida, tolls are mostly charged electronically (SunPass or toll-by-plate). The rental company bills them afterwards, plus a daily service fee.

Types of campgrounds

• State parks. They are cheap and beautiful, and many sites have electricity and water. Florida state parks take bookings 11 months ahead, and campgrounds in the Keys, such as Bahia Honda and Long Key, fill up fast in winter.
• National parks. These are booked through Recreation.gov, usually up to six months ahead. In the Everglades, that means the Flamingo and Long Pine Key campgrounds.
• Private RV parks and KOA. They offer full hook-ups (water, electricity, sewer), pools and laundries, but cost more, especially in the Keys.
• Free overnight stays. Some stores, including some Walmarts, allow overnight parking with the manager's permission, but many Florida municipalities ban it. At Florida rest areas you may stop for a maximum of three hours. Free camping on public land (BLM) is mainly possible in the western USA; in Florida, plan on paid campgrounds.
• Terms you will come across. Full hook-up means a connection to water, electricity and sewer, 30 or 50 amp is the strength of the power hook-up, and a dump station is where you empty the tanks.

Driving and the differences on the road

• Rules. Traffic drives on the right. Turning right on red is allowed unless a sign forbids it, and at four-way stops the first to stop goes first. When a school bus switches on its red lights, you must stop, on undivided roads also in the opposite direction.
• Speed. Limits are in miles per hour: usually 65 to 70 mph (105 to 113 km/h) on Florida interstates, and mostly 45 to 55 mph on the Overseas Highway to Key West.
• Season. Florida is best from November to April, in the dry part of the year. Hurricane season runs from June to November, and summer brings heat, humidity, daily thunderstorms and mosquitoes.

A campervan in the USA through Crystalium Booker

We have detailed guides for individual cities: Miami, Tampa and Honolulu. We are still building our campervan offer in the USA. Send us your dates, route and group size through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Miami page for new listings. Do you hire out a campervan in the USA? List it with us.