Page last updated: 13 May 2025
The campervan market in Germany has experienced strong growth over the last decade. In 2024, Germany had a recorded total of 907,879 registered campervans. This was double the number of vehicles registered in 2017.
How many campervans are registered in Germany today?
907,879 campervans were registered in Germany as of 2024.
- That’s an 8% increase from 838,253 in 2023 and a large jump from 674,697 in 2021.
- The number of campervans in the country has more than doubled since 2017. This strong growth in the sector has been connected to a shift in mobility and vacation habits of the German population.
- Germany has an average of 10.8 campervans per 1000 inhabitants, however, this varies notably by region.
How many new campervans were registered in Germany each year?
Germany recorded over 74,000 new campervans each year.
- 53,920 new campervans were registered in 2019.
- 76,225 units in 2020 (pandemic).
- A record of 79,592 units was noted in 2021.
- New registrations dipped to 65,595 in 2022, but the numbers have rebounded since then.
- 74,718 new campervans were registered in 2024, a 9.1% increase from 2023 (68,500 units).
Which regions in Germany have the most campervan registrations?
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bayern, and Baden-Württemberg have a total of over 54% of registered campervans in Germany.
In 2024:
- Nordrhein-Westfalen had 20% (183,064 units), the largest share of all German campervans.
- Bayern (Bavaria) had 19% (169,858 units) of all German campervans.
- Baden-Württemberg had 15% (137,139 units) of German campervans.
Which regions have the lowest campervan ownership?
Major urban centres and city-states have fewer total campervan registrations relative to population.
- Berlin has only 19,029, even though it is the capital and largest city.
- Urban areas with the lowest density of recreational vehicles: Offenbach am Main (3.5 per 1000) and Frankfurt am Main (3.6 per 1000).
- Other urban centres like Halle, Frankfurt (Oder), Ludwigshafen, Gelsenkirchen, and Magdeburg had fewer than 5 campervans per 1000 inhabitants.
Which regions saw the largest increase in campervans since 2023?
Many regions in Germany showed significant growth in campervan registrations between 2023 and 2024.
- Hessen went from 55,729 to 63,037 units, a 13.1% increase.
- Sachsen went from 26,354 to 28,845 units, a 9.5% increase.
- Brandenburg went from 21,200 to 23,297, a 9.9% increase.
Demographics of campervan owners in Germany
In 2024, the average German campervan owner was 47.3 years old.
- Age Distribution: German campervan owners are middle-aged, with 24% in the 50-59 age range, 23% in the 40-49, 22% in the 60+, 17% in the 30-39, and 14% in the 14-29 category.
- Levels of Income: 73% of German campervan owners have monthly net incomes of €1,500 to €3,499. 45% earn €1,500-€2,499.
- Travel Party Size: Each campervan has 2.3 to 2.4 occupants per trip, with common couple-based travel.
What are the most popular campervans in Germany?
- Panel Van Conversions (Kastenwagen): Based on standard vans like Fiat Ducato, VW Transporter, and Ford Transit, these small units are great for manoeuvrability and are a significant market segment.
- Semi-Integrated (Teilintegrierte): Using the original cab with a custom-built living area, these have more space than Kastenwagen and hold their value well.
- Fully Integrated / A-Class (Vollintegrierte): These offer integrated design and spacious, luxurious interiors featuring bodies entirely built by motorhome manufacturers.
- Alcove / Coach-Built (Alkoven): These feature a sleeping compartment over the driver’s cab. They are popular with families who need extra bed space.
How much does it cost to own a campervan in Germany?
Campervan ownership comes with considerable upfront and ongoing costs.
Purchase price
- New Kastenwagen/Campervan models start at €30,000 for basic and go up to €70,000+ for high-end.
- Teilintegrierte (Semi-integrated) models from €50,000 to €90,000.
- Vollintegrierte (Fully integrated) models from €55,000, luxury models easily over €100,000, and up to €750,000 for high-end brands.
- Prices have gone up a lot in the last years, some models have increased by 40% between 2019 and 2024.
Depreciation
- A big non-cash cost, especially in the first few years, for new vehicles.
- One example calculation is €2,800 per year.
Maintenance and running costs
- German campervan owners spend €4,000-€7,000 per year on operating costs (excluding depreciation).
- Insurance costs €800 to €1,500+ per year for full coverage (Vollkasko).
- Vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer) €240 to €800+, depending on weight and emission class.
- Fuel costs €1,500-€2,200 per year for 10,000 km of annual travel.
- Maintenance and repairs €1,000-€1,500 per year for inspections, service, and wear items.
- Storage costs €360 to €1,440 per year if off-street storage is needed when not in use.
How many campervan dealers are there in Germany?
Germany has a significant network of specialised dealerships.
- As of early 2025, the Deutscher Caravaning Handels-Verband (DCHV) had 425 business members and 107 supporting members, an increase from 374 members and 64 supporting members in 2023.
How many people travel using campervans in Germany yearly?
Campervan travel is a big part of domestic tourism in Germany.
- No exact numbers are reported, but several indicators suggest a big, active crowd.
- With nearly 908,000 campervans registered in 2024 and 2.3-2.4 people per campervan, the number of people doing campervan travel annually is estimated to be in the millions.
- Total overnight stays on German campsites (all types) reached a record 42.9 million in 2024, up 1.4% from 42.3 million in 2023.
- A study on motorhome tourism estimated 10 million overnight stays on dedicated Reisemobilstellplätze (excluding campsites) during 2020/2021.
- Camping accounted for 8.7% of all tourist overnights in Germany in 2023, more than pre-pandemic levels (7.2% in 2019).
Germany Travel Resources
Popular travel destinations and campervan routes in Germany
The most popular destinations in Germany are:
- Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea Coast (Ostsee)
- Black Forest (Schwarzwald)
- Lower Saxony North Sea Coast (Nordseeküste)
- Allgäu (Alpine region)
- Lake Constance region (Bodensee-Oberschwaben)
Germany is known for its famous driving routes. These include:
- German Alpine Road (Deutsche Alpenstraße): From Lindau on Lake Constance to Schönau am Königssee.
- Romantic Road (Romantische Straße): From Würzburg to Füssen through medieval towns.
- German Wine Route (Deutsche Weinstraße): Through the Palatinate (Pfalz).
- Castle Road (Burgenstraße): From Mannheim to Bayreuth (many castles and palaces).
- German Fairy Tale Route (Deutsche Märchenstraße): From Hanau to Bremen, following the Brothers Grimm.
Campervan Statistics by Country
- Canada Campervan Statistics
- France Campervan Statistics
- Iceland Campervan Statistics
- Ireland Campervan Statistics
References
- KBA: Federal Motor Transport Authority Vehicle Registration Stats
- CIVD: Caravaning Industrie Verband Annual Reports and Market Data
- ADAC: German Auto Club Study on Campervan Trends
- BVCD: Federal Association of the German Camping Industry Campsite Info
- DWIF: German Tourism Institute Study on Motorhome Impact