Ooh la la: France tops the list as most popular campervan holiday destination in Europe
With the allure of wine, cheese and charming countryside, France has taken the top spot as the most popular European destination for campervan holidays - as new research shows nearly a quarter of campervan-owning Brits are taking to the French roads.*
Go.Compare surveyed caravan, campervan and converted van owners about their holiday habits, revealing that 24% favour France as their top destination, while Spain (21%) is the second most popular place for a motor-home holiday. Italy (18%), Ireland (16%) and Germany (15%) round out the top five.
The data also revealed that not all campervan owners are making the most of owning a home on four wheels. Almost one in ten (9%) admit their campervan hasn’t budged from their driveway in over a year - or ever! ** And among the over 55s, this number jumps to 21%.
|
Destination |
% of campervan/caravan-owning Brits* |
|
|
1 |
France |
24% |
|
2 |
Spain |
21% |
|
3 |
Italy |
18% |
|
4 |
Ireland |
16% |
|
5 |
Germany |
15% |
|
6 |
Portugal |
15% |
|
7 |
Netherlands and Belgium |
13% |
|
8 |
Greece |
10% |
|
9 |
Croatia |
9% |
|
10 |
Scandinavia |
7% |
Among the younger generations of motorhome owners*, Spain takes the number one spot, with 23% of those aged 16 to 24, and 24% of those aged 25 to 34 saying they’ve ventured through the Pyrenees. But for older generations, France remains a firm favourite with 28% of those aged 35 to 44 saying they’ve been.
Tom Banks, motoring expert at Go.Compare, commented on the findings: “Whether it’s sipping an espresso in Italy, hiking through the hills of Ireland or chowing down on French cuisine, no matter the type of camper you are, Europe has something to offer. But before you head off, it’s important to make sure both you and your vehicle are properly prepared.
“We’ve put together a checklist for anyone planning a European road trip this summer:
- Familiarise yourself with local driving laws:Before you hit the road, make sure you have all the documentation you need and that you’re up to speed with local laws. Keep your insurance policy, passport, travel insurance and V5C with you while driving. You should also check what driving kit is compulsory to carry in each country. Find out more visit here: https://www.gocompare.com/motoring/driving-in-europe/
- Check your vehicle: With almost one in ten (9%) respondents* revealing their campervan hasn’t moved from their driveway in over a year, it might have been a while since you last hit the road**. Before any long journey it’s a good idea to check things like the tyres, brakes, and electrics. If you’re worried about anything though, seek the advice of a mechanic.
- Ensure you're covered: Whether you’re towing a caravan or hopping in your campervan, it’s important to make sure that your insurance policy covers you for European driving. Some policies may offer driving in Europe as standard, and others might offer it as an add-on. If you aren’t sure, get in contact with your provider.
“No matter where you are driving off to this summer, making sure your vehicle is road-ready and insured is the key to enjoying your travels with peace of mind.”
To learn more about motorhome insurance, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/motorhome-insurance/
And to learn more about caravan insurance, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/caravan-insurance/
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,001 nationally representative UK consumers (aged 16+). Figures throughout this release are referring to the 364 of those surveyed who own or have access to a touring caravan, campervan or converted van with 357 who said they had taken their caravan, campervan or converted van away for an overnight trip or holiday. The data was collected between 25.04.2025 - 28.04.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
**‘In the last 1-2 years’, ‘In the last 3-4 years ago’, ‘More than 4 years ago, please specify’ and ‘I never have’ answers combined.
For further information please contact:
Lynsey Walden on lynsey.walden@Gocompare.com, or Kath Chadwick on Kathryn.chadwick@Gocompare.com.
Keep up-to-date with Go.Compare on X (Twitter); @Go.Compare
About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
More information can be found here www.Go.Compare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/