Page last updated: 13 May 2025
The campervan market in France has grown steadily over the last decade, increasing from 425,000 registrations in 2018 to 610,000 in 2024.
How many current campervans are registered in France?
Based on data from 2024, there are 610,000 registered campervans in France.
- This shows a 9% increase from 559,800 in 2021 and a 44% increase from 2018 (425,000 registered campervans).
- France holds one of the largest campervan fleets in Europe, second only to Germany in total registrations.
How many new campervans are registered in France each year?
Around 25,000 to 30,000 new campervans are registered in France each year.
- There were 23,700 campervan registrations in 2019.
- During the pandemic in 2020, campervan sales increased to 24,959 units, and a record peak of 30,809 units was recorded in 2021.
- Sales dipped to 24,700 in 2022 and then rebounded to 26,000 in 2023.
- New registrations reached 28,000 in 2024, a 7.7% increase compared to the previous year.
Which regions in France have the most campervan registrations?
Several coastal and southern regions have the most campervans in France.
- In 2023, the West and South had the highest concentration of campervans in the country.
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine (southwest France) had the most campervans in France.
- Occitanie (south including Pyrenees and Mediterranean coast) followed with the second-highest number of campervans.
- Pays de la Loire had high registration numbers, with 1,312 new and 2,623 used campervans recorded in the Loire-Atlantiques department in 2021.
- Bretagne (Brittany) featured consistent, high ownership rates and was the most popular destination for French campervan trips.
Which regions have the lowest campervan ownership?
Central regions, Corsica, and urban areas have fewer campervans overall.
- Île-de-France (Paris region) has fewer per capita despite the population size due to urbanization and a lack of storage.
- Centre-Val de Loire and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté have moderate campervan ownership compared to coastal regions.
- Corsica has fewer overall but high seasonal usage from mainland campervans visiting the island.
Which regions saw the largest increase since 2018?
Coastal regions and areas known for outdoor recreation show the largest increase over the past 5 years.
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine rose by 40% from 2018.
- Occitanie increased by 38% since 2018.
- Bretagne grew by 42%, reflecting its popularity as an ownership and destination region.
Demographics of Campervan Owners in France
The average French campervan owner is 58 years old in 2023.
- Age Distribution: French campervan owners show this age pattern with 3% under 30, 14% in 30-45, 32% in 45-60, and 51% in the over 60 category.
- Income Levels: 62% of campervan owners have monthly incomes over €2,000, compared to 36% of the general population.
- Family Composition: 72% of owners travel as couples without children, and 23-27% travel with family members.
- Travel Party Size: The average group size is 2.5 people per campervan on trips, with 27% travelling with a pet (usually a dog).
What are the most popular campervan types in France?
- Camper Vans/Class B (Van Conversions): 56.5% of all campervans sold in France in 2023, including Fiat Ducato, Citroën, Peugeot, Volkswagen chassis.
- Semi-Integrated Motorhomes (Profilés): 34.5% of the French market, featuring slim over-cab profiles that are 6-7m long.
- Fully-Integrated Motorhomes (Class A): 9% of the fleet in 2023, down from 15% in 2019. These feature full integration between the cab and the living area.
- Over-Cab Motorhomes (Capucines): Family-oriented models with overhead sleeping area, making up the remaining percentage of the market.
How much does it cost to own a campervan in France?
Campervan ownership involves substantial initial and ongoing expenses.
Purchase Price
- €50,000 to €90,000 for new factory-built campervans.
- €100,000 to €120,000 for premium models, featuring luxury fully-integrated motorhomes.
- €45,000 to €50,000 for factory models of compact van conversions.
- €25,000 to €50,000 for used 5-year-old campervans in good condition.
- €90,000 to €95,000 for mid-range semi-integrated motorhomes. These used to cost €70,000, but the price has risen due to inflation.
Annual Operating Costs
- French campervan owners spend €2,000 to €3,000 on operating expenses every year.
- Insurance costs €300 to €500 per year for comprehensive motorhome coverage.
- Maintenance and inspections cost €200 to €300 per year for vehicles under 5 years old. Biannual technical inspections are €35-€45/year, and annual water-tightness checks are €120/year.
- Fuel expenses cost €1,500 to €1,800 per year based on 10,000 km of annual travel with fuel consumption of 10-12 liters/100 km.
- Other costs include propane gas (about €125 annually), road taxes, and optional storage fees.
How many campervan dealers exist in France?
There are over 200 campervan dealerships in France.
- Big groups like Hunyvers (12 RV dealerships) and Ypocamp (dozens of locations) have absorbed many independent dealerships.
- The dealership sector has consolidated in recent years, with bigger groups buying up local dealerships to create national chains.
- French buyers can choose from over 50 brands through the dealership network and many custom builders.
How many campervans are produced in France?
French factories produce thousands of leisure vehicles every year, for the French market and export to Europe.
- The Trigano Group, a European RV giant based in France, has multiple factories, including the Trigano VDL factory in Tournon-sur-Rhône with 1,200 employees.
- Pilote (Pays de la Loire) and Rapido (Mayenne) are other big French manufacturers with production in France.
- French brands represented 50% of the French market by volume in 2021, and Trigano Group alone was 38.7% of the French market.
- The top French-made brands in 2021 were Chausson (1,733), Pilote (1,726), and Challenger (1,714).
How many people travel using campervans in France annually?
In 2023 alone, campervan tourists spent 24 million nights in France.
- 1.4 million (French and foreign) people campervan in France every year, based on 2018 data.
- 54% of French people and 46% of foreign visitors campervan in France.
- Average usage is 41 nights per year per campervan, but this varies. 85% of owners aged 55+ are reported to go camping in June or September to avoid the summer crowds.
- 90% of camping-car travellers chose to holiday in France in 2023 and contributed €1.3 billion to the domestic tourism economy in the summer months.
France Travel Resources
What are the most popular campervan routes and travel destinations in France?
Brittany was the most popular region for French campervaners in 2023, followed by Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie.
- France has 5,700+ campervan stopover areas across the country, over 1,200 of which are free.
- The Atlantic coast from Brittany to the Basque Country is a classic campervan route, as is the Route Napoléon in Provence.
- The France Passion network has over 2,200 farm and vineyard stopovers for self-contained campervans.
- According to surveys, 83% of campervaners visit cities/towns and heritage sites, 65% go hiking, and 61% do local food and wine tasting.
Campervan Statistics by Country
References
- CCS: Campervan Industry Figures and Vehicle Registration Data
- UV: Union of Leisure Vehicle Manufacturers Annual Reports 2018-2023
- BC: Annual Tourism Statistics from the Camping Car Park Network
- Stat: Market Data on French Campervan Sales 2014-2023
- BSC: Market Research Reports on the French Campervan Industry