Short answer: you can hire a campervan in Australia from 18 with Spaceships and with Mighty’s Highball, Double Down, HiLITE and DeLITE vans, and in our check they cost the same as for a 26-year-old. From 21 almost every other brand opens up: Awesome Campers, JUCY, Britz and Apollo. For drivers aged 21 to 24 the price was unchanged in our quotes, but Awesome Campers does not offer its zero-bond cover to under-25s, only a $500 bond option.
We checked live quotes on 22 October 2026 for a 7-night Sydney to Brisbane hire from 10 November, for drivers aged 18, 20, 22 and 26. We compare live prices from the major operators, and on vans we can check, our price is lower than the operator’s own website. See live prices for your dates.
Which campervan companies hire to 18, 19 and 20 year olds?
| Company | Minimum age | Vans that returned a price for a 20-year-old | 7 nights Sydney to Brisbane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spaceships | 18 | Alpha, Beta, Beta 2S premium, Beta 4-berth roof-top tent | $515 / $587 / $630 / $893 |
| Mighty and MightyLITE | 18 | HiLITE, DeLITE, Highball, Double Down | $1,264 / $1,304 / $1,344 / $1,384 |
| JUCY | not shown for under 21 | none | n/a |
| Awesome Campers | 21 | none | n/a |
| Britz | 21 | none | n/a |
| Apollo | 21 | none | n/a |
The prices were the same for a driver aged 18, 20 and 26. Spaceships says it charges no young-driver fee and that the price in its booking engine is the same at every age. Mighty lists its Highball and Double Down at 18 and over, and the Britz help centre lists MightyLITE at 18 and over too. Every other thl vehicle requires a driver of 21.
JUCY did not return a campervan price for a 20-year-old in our check, and it adds age conditions at checkout, so ask before you plan around it. Travellers Autobarn’s minimum age was not something we could confirm from its own pages, so check at booking.
Which companies hire to 21 to 24 year olds?
Awesome Campers, JUCY, Britz and Apollo all appeared at age 22, with prices identical to those for a 26-year-old: Awesome Compact $490, JUCY Cloudbreak $562, Apollo Hitop $1,664 and Britz HiTop $1,784 for the week. That is a good result, and it means age is a gate, not a surcharge, in the quotes we saw. Two cautions. First, some operators add age conditions at checkout that a search does not show. Second, insurance options can differ by age, which is the next section.
How does age change insurance and bond?
Spaceships offers the same cover and the same low excess at every age. Awesome Campers does not: for drivers 21 to 24 its Fast Track Pack is $45 a day with a $500 bond, while drivers 25 and over get the same pack at $45 a day with a $0 bond. That is the main difference we found in a live quote. The standard Awesome bond is $5,000, and its Halfway Cover is $35 a day with a $500 bond.
For a young driver this matters more than the van. On basic cover you may have $3,000 to $5,000 held on your card, and Spaceships Basic, for instance, leaves single-vehicle accidents, rollovers, roof and glass uncovered. The full picture by brand is in campervan insurance and bonds explained.
What else do I need to hire a campervan under 25?
- A full licence. Mighty, Britz and Apollo require a current, full licence that is valid for the whole hire, and Apollo does not accept digital licences. JUCY’s rental agreement accepts a full licence or an Australian green P-plate (P2) licence. Spaceships requires a valid driving licence.
- A translation or IDP if your licence is not in English: an accredited English translation or an International Driver’s Permit, shown with your physical licence.
- A card for the bond. Plan for $3,000 to $5,000 of available credit-card limit, or choose a lower-bond option. Debit cards are accepted for JUCY’s security bond ($300 held).
- Everyone who will drive must be at pick-up with their licence, per Apollo, Britz and Mighty.
How do I keep the cost down as a young driver?
- Share a bigger van. Spaceships’ 4-berth roof-top tent was $893 for the week, or about $223 each for four people. A 2-berth for $515 is about $258 each for two.
- Take 14 nights if you were close. The nightly rate fell 8 to 15 per cent in our checks. See how much campervan hire costs in Australia.
- Avoid peak. Spaceships showed no availability for 27 December to 3 January in our check.
- Compare the whole price. Best campervan companies for backpackers lists bond, age and one-way fee by brand, and the one-way hire guide covers the fees.
- Choose the right pick-up city. Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns have the most vans, and the Sydney to Cairns route is the classic first trip.
FAQs
What is the minimum age to hire a campervan in Australia?
18 with Spaceships and with Mighty’s Highball, Double Down, HiLITE and DeLITE vans. 21 with Awesome Campers, Britz and Apollo. JUCY did not quote a driver under 21 in our check.
Is there a young driver surcharge on campervan hire?
Not in the quotes we saw. A driver aged 18, 20, 22 and 26 got the same price on every van that was available to them, and Spaceships says it charges no young-driver fee.
Can I hire a campervan at 19?
Yes, with Spaceships or with Mighty’s Highball, Double Down, HiLITE and DeLITE vans. For anything else you will need to wait until 21.
Can I get zero-excess insurance under 25?
With most brands the options are the same at every age. Awesome Campers is the exception: under 25, its Fast Track Pack comes with a $500 bond rather than $0.
Do I need an Australian licence?
No. A full licence from your country works if it is in English, or with an accredited English translation or International Driver’s Permit.
Sources
Prices: operator booking-engine quotes for Awesome Campers, JUCY, Spaceships and thl brands, pulled 22 October 2026 for drivers aged 18, 20, 22 and 26. Minimum age and young-driver policy: Spaceships FAQ and under-21 rental page; Mighty, Apollo and Britz safety and driving FAQs; Awesome Campers rental information; JUCY Australia rental agreement (bookings from 1 May 2026) and excess reduction page. All read October 2026.
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