Ultimate Guide to $1 a Day Campervan Relocations in Australia

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Dreaming of an epic Australian road trip, but the cost of hiring a campervan makes your budget feel impossibly tight? If you’ve been searching for ways to explore Australia without draining your savings, you’ve probably come across the idea of campervan relocations in Australia and wondered if it’s really as good as it sounds.

The idea is simple: drive a campervan from one location to another for a relocation company, and in return, you pay as little as $1 a day. It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? What’s the catch, and is it actually a realistic option for budget-conscious backpackers trying to stretch every dollar?

I’ve been exactly where you are. I wanted the freedom of a classic Aussie road trip but couldn’t justify the high rental costs, so I booked a relocation campervan from Cairns to Sydney and hit the road. Along the way, I learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to make the most of these deals without getting caught off guard.

In this guide to Australia campervan relocations, I’ll walk you through how it all works, how to find these $1-a-day deals, and the pros and cons you need to know before you commit. If you’re hoping to turn your road trip dream into reality without blowing your budget, you’re in the right place.

What Are Campervan Relocations?

If you’ve never heard of relocation campervans, it’s a campervan that has been driven in one direction from one city to another, often by a tourist who has rented the van. The campervan is left by its previous occupants in that city, which means the campervan rental company need to find a way to return it to its original base.

To prevent having to pay someone to drive the campervan back to where it came from, the campervan rental company offers the van to tourists for a very reduced fee, sometimes even as low as $1 a day! Ultimately, you are helping companies move campervans from one location to another and, if you’re lucky, the van rental company may even add a fuel allowance!

Relocation campervans in Australia are usually posted on the Coseats website at short notice, perhaps 1-3 weeks ahead, so it’s not a good option if you’re hoping to book months ahead but if you’re happy to be flexible and spontaneous, this is a great last-minute option.

How Do $1 a Day Campervan Deals Actually Work?

If you’ve been researching campervan relocations in Australia, you’ve probably seen those eye-catching $1 a day deals and wondered what’s really involved. The concept is simple, but there are a few important details that can make or break your experience.

You’ll usually find these deals on platforms like Coseats, where rental companies list vehicles that need moving between locations.

Each deal comes with a fixed route and a strict timeframe. For example, the relocation I booked was from Cairns to Sydney, and I had six days to complete the drive. That might sound like plenty of time, but once you start mapping distances and factoring in stops, you realise you’ll need to plan carefully.

The $1 daily rate is where the savings really stand out. Some companies also include extras to sweeten the deal. In my case, we were given a $100 fuel allowance. It didn’t cover the full cost of fuel for such a long drive, but it definitely helped.

One of the biggest perks is that you’re free to choose your own route. As long as you return the campervan to the agreed drop-off point by the specified date, you can take detours, explore coastal drives, or stop at places that interest you along the way. It gives you a sense of freedom, even within a tighter schedule.

That said, timing is everything. If you return the vehicle late, you can expect a hefty fine, which can quickly wipe out any savings. This is where campervan relocations differ most from standard rentals. With a regular hire, you choose your dates and travel at your own pace. With a relocation, you’re trading flexibility for cost, which means sticking to a deadline.

Pros

Cons

Who Are Campervan Relocations Best For?

If you’re considering an Australia campervan relocation deal, it helps to be honest about your travel style. These deals can be incredible, but they’re not the perfect fit for everyone.

For starters, they’re ideal for budget backpackers who are trying to make every dollar stretch further. If the cost of a full campervan hire has been holding you back from planning that big Australian road trip, this is where relocations really shine. You’re essentially trading flexibility for serious cost savings, which makes it a great alternative when a traditional rental just isn’t within reach.

They also suit travellers who are happy to plan ahead. You’ll need to work within a set timeframe and route, so it helps if you’re comfortable mapping out your days and making the most of the time you have.

Solo travellers, especially solo female travellers, can benefit in a big way too. Travelling alone often comes with extra costs, whether that’s single supplements or covering accommodation on your own. With a campervan relocation, you avoid those added expenses while still having your own private space. It can feel like a safer, more controlled way to travel as well, especially when you plan your stops and overnight locations.

That said, it’s not the best option for everyone. If you don’t enjoy long drives, this kind of trip can quickly become tiring rather than exciting. On my relocation, we were driving around six hours a day for six days straight, which is a big commitment. If you’re prone to travel sickness or simply don’t like being behind the wheel for long stretches, this probably won’t feel like much of a holiday.

In the end, campervan relocations work best if you’re motivated by saving money, open to a bit of structure, and excited by the idea of a fast-paced road trip.

My Experience with a Campervan Relocation (Cairns to Sydney)

The campervan relocation deal I found included…

• Driving a campervan from Cairns to Sydney (2,605 km if you take the coast road)
• $5 a day campervan hire
• $100 fuel allowance
• Six days to complete the journey

Yes, that’s right…six days to drive 2,605 km. I know it sounds like a lot, but with only four weeks in Australia, this was my only chance to drive the east coast from Cairns to Sydney, so I snapped up the opportunity.

Even on the tight timeframe, I really enjoyed my campervan relocation experience. We got to see parts of Australia that we wouldn’t have for to visit, and while we had to do 6 hours driving a day, we still got to spend time in our overnight destinations.

A little tip: if you can get up very early and complete the day’s driving before lunchtime, that leaves you with the rest of the day to explore and find a nice place to park overnight. We spent almost a whole day in Byron Bay because we left at 6 am and arrived in Byron Bay by 12 midday.

How to Find Campervan Relocation Deals in Australia

Many campervan companies, such as Indie Campers, offer relocation deals, but some of them are quite expensive. Given the fairly big tradeoffs, I wouldn’t pay more than $10 a day for a campervan relocation deal.

There are also a few different websites you can find low-cost, budget-friendly relocation deals. I used Coseats, but you can also look for deals on Transfer Car and Imoova.

Relocation deals tend to be posted at fairly short notice, within a week of when they need to be picked up, so if you have flexible travel plans, keep an eye on websites for the latest deals.

On Coseats, you can also sign up for email notifications when new deals are posted for certain routes.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

There are some hidden costs to be aware of, as these can quickly make the price of the ‘deal’ more expensive than you initially bargained for.

Insurance

One of the main things the company will try to sell you is insurance. And while it’s sensible to ensure you have the proper insurance in case of damage to the vehicle, you definitely don’t need to buy the pricey insurance the rental company will try to sell you.

I use a third-party excess waiver insurance company called Reduce My Excess, but this is only for UK residents. If you’re not a UK resident, Worldwide Insure is a good alternative. These companies will insure you for the car you’re driving. If you damage it, you pay the hire company the damage costs and then claim them back from the insurers.

I’ve been using Reduce My Excess for years, and have saved a fortune, as the costs are much lower than insurance sold by rental companies.

There are some things to be aware of – vans aren’t covered in their standard policy, but they do offer specific excess waiver insurance for vans. There are also age limits on their insurance policies.

Booking Fees

Many companies now charge booking fees, which can be anything from $30 upwards. I’ve even seen booking fees over $70 on Imoova, which seems a little crazy to me. Transfer Car tends to be the cheapest as they don’t charge booking fees.

Campsites and Parking Fees

Parking your campervan on a residential street is illegal in many parts of Australia. While you may get away with it if you turn up late at night and leave very early in the morning, many residents are sick and tired of having backpackers sleeping outside their homes, and you may even receive a hefty fine from the police if you’re caught.

If you’re travelling in a campervan, you may find free roadside rest spots in rural areas, but if you’re planning on parking in a town or city, it’s best to find a suitable campsite and count these costs into the overall trip.

One-way travel expenses after drop-off

Unless you already have plans in your destination city, you’ll need a way of travelling to where you need to be after you’ve dropped off the campervan at its final location. Whether that’s a bus ticket or a flight, factor this into your final budget.

Our Britz Campervan

After four days exploring Cairns, we collected our campervan and hit the road. The vehicle was a Britz campervan and was perfect for two people with a small kitchen, seating that turned into a double bed and storage above the bed for luggage.

With no plans for where to sightsee, eat or sleep along the way, we left everything to chance and let the journey unfold spontaneously as we drove from Cairns to Sydney in our relocation campervan.

Sometimes we can be so eager to see and do everything, we plan our every waking minute to fine detail. But having no plans and just going with the flow is sometimes the best way.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions about campervan relocations, you can contact me via the form on the contact page. I always love to hear from readers and help with travel planning questions!