Buying a used motorhome in Switzerland means checking far more than its appearance. That is why this guide first helps you choose the vehicle, inspect its condition and check your driving licence. Next come the full budget and a comparison of financing options. However, employees, established self-employed people and retirees should above all confirm their financial capacity. In short, the goal is simple: plan a purchase that suits your travels without putting your household finances at risk. Finally, never take financing for granted.
Choosing your used camper van according to its use
Start with your needs, before comparing the ads. A used recreational vehicle must correspond to the travelers and the planned travel plans.
- Converted van: consider its size for your trips, but also the available space and the sleeping area.
- Profile: compare the interior organization, daily comfort, and external dimensions.
- Capucine: Check the sleeping arrangements and the family space, without neglecting the height of the vehicle.
- Complete: appreciate the layout and comfort, then compare the size with your parking options.
Also define these criteria before the visits:
- Number of travelers and sleeping places actually needed.
- Duration of stays and frequency of travel.
- Essential equipment: bicycles and accessories to be transported.
- Parking available at home and during trips.
The payload This deserves special attention. The TCS recommends a margin of 700 to 800 kg for a family. This practical benchmark does not constitute a legal minimum. Add in passengers, water, luggage and all accessories.
Finally, the TCS offers the use of at least six weeks per year to assess The benefits of buying. This advice does not guarantee any profitability. If you travel infrequently, compare the purchase with a point-to-point rental as well.
Driving license and total weight, the limit of 3500 kg
According to a 2019 document from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), a category B driving licence covers vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg. Category C1 applies to vehicles over 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg. Check the categories shown on your licence and have the rules that apply to your situation confirmed.
Three concepts must remain distinct:
- Total authorized weight: administrative limit inscribed on the driving license.
- Actual weight: weight of the vehicle in its current configuration, including its load.
- Available payload: remaining margin before reaching the total authorized weight.
A vehicle approved for a weight exceeding 3500 kg does not become compatible with a B license because it is less loaded when driving.
Before purchasing, therefore, compare the vehicle’s documents with your license. Then, plan for a weigh-in in a travel configuration. Specifically, include the occupants, water reserves, and transported equipment. This way, you can verify the actual weight and remaining margin, rather than relying solely on an advertisement.
Things to check on a used camper van
Plan a visit that is long enough to examine the vehicle and test its equipment. The TCS list Distinguishes several additional checks. A clean bodywork is not enough to establish the overall condition.
- Cell: Look for signs of moisture, mold, and suspicious traces. Inspect the joints, the roof, the windows, the floor, and the subfloor. Request the history of the sealing checks and the invoices for repairs. Have anyone involved in any infiltration-related work explained it to you.
- Equipment: Test the water system, appliances, and electrical installation. Check the batteries and request documents regarding gas, including the Caravan Gas Control if available. There is no universal requirement or identical frequency for all vehicles.
- Mechanics: Check the engine, tires, and the maintenance record. Request available invoices and scheduled maintenance. During the test, pay attention to braking, steering, and unusual noises. Have a professional check the questionable points.
- Documents: compare the vehicle's identification with the registration certificate. Check the invoices and ask the seller about accidents, infiltrations and hail damage. Request a written description of known defects and Promised qualities.
Conduct a road test before making a decision. Also check the functioning of the equipment on site, not limited to the seller's statements.
An independent inspection provides a complementary perspective. The TCS mentions, among other things, a check at a technical center, depending on the available services. Ask what the inspection actually covers, especially regarding the cell and the facilities.
Finally, keep the important notices, reports, and discussions. Register the seller's commitments in the contract. If a major doubt remains unanswered, postpone your decision rather than arranging for a hypothetical repair.
Buying from a garage or from a private individual in Switzerland
The purchasing process influences your actions, but it never replaces inspection or reading the contract.
- Garage: Review the contract, any exclusions, and the possible commercial warranty. Ask who is performing the repairs and what services are covered. Inspect the vehicle even if a professional is present.
- Private individual: verify their identity and the vehicle documents. Read the exclusion clauses and have them clarified. Promised qualities. An independent inspection helps to decide without relying solely on the seller.
- In both cases: document the defects, commitments, payment terms and the remedies available. Do not make any payments without understanding what you are committing to.
The «two-year warranty» formula requires clarification. According to the SECO, the two years correspond to the statute of limitations period. action in warranty for defects. They do not promise the free repair of any malfunction.
For a used item, this period may be reduced by contract to a minimum of one year, within the framework described by SECO. Check the applicable clauses and distinguish this statutory liability from any additional commercial warranty.
Similarly, «no guarantee between private parties» is an overly absolute formulation. A contractual exclusion, the promised qualities and the hidden defects must be examined. According to the CO consulted, an exclusion does not protect the seller who fraudulently hides a defect.
A defect claim differs from a return for a simple change of mind. Please confirm the current rules before signing. Finally, a deposit is not automatically fraudulent; however, require inspection, verified identity, and written terms before payment.
The total budget of a used camper van
The price requested is only the starting point. Establish a budget which distinguishes between initial expenses, recurring charges and any reimbursement.
- Purchase: price negotiated, preliminary checks and interventions identified before use.
- Regular charges: insurance, cantonal vehicle tax, parking or winter storage.
- Maintenance: engine, cell, equipment and predictable repairs.
- Use: fuel, travel and expenses related to stays.
- Reservations: unforeseen vehicle expenses and the household’s financial security, to be arranged separately.
- Possible financing: reimbursement and Total cost of the credit or of Leasing envisaged.
For vehicle tax, consult the information provided by your canton. Do not apply a rate presented for another situation.
Then, bring the annual expenses to a monthly provision. Thus, an maintenance or insurance bill will not depend solely on the available balance that month.
Compare this total cost with your income and Your existing commitments. Salaries, income from an Independent activity Established and pension plans require appropriate documentation. In the case of financing, the lender’s criteria remain decisive.
Lica We will establish with you the complete household budget to assess a realistic monthly payment. This approach also makes it possible to see that an unbalanced financing would upset the project and that it needs to be revised.
The budget for a used campervan must cover its use and unforeseen expenses, not just the purchase price.
Financing a used camper van with savings, leasing, or credit personal loan
Choose the financing after you have validated the vehicle and its cost of use. Compare the solutions Depending on your liquidity, their constraints and the proposed contract.
- Saving: Prefer it if it covers the purchase while preserving a sufficient reserve. You avoid borrowing interest and buy the vehicle directly. However, your cash flow decreases. This solution is also suitable for a sale between private individuals.
- Leasing: Check the availability of the vehicle and the relevant seller. Examine the property, the insurance, the payments and the residual value. Read the conditions of return and refund Early release. Do not assume that a final purchase will be automatic.
- Personal loan It can finance a purchase from an individual, subject to the accepted usage and the lender’s criteria. You must bear the interest and the repayment. Check the total cost, the conditions and the payment terms with the seller.
| Criteria | Savings | Leasing | Personal loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| When should we consider it? | To be preferred if the purchase leaves sufficient reserve. | If an offer exists for the vehicle and the seller selected. | For a sustainable supplement, subject to the lender’s approval. |
| Purchase from an individual | Direct payment possible. | Possibility to check with the provider. | Possible according to accepted usage and the terms of the lender. |
| Liquidity and budget | Reduced savings from the purchase; reserve to preserve. | Initial payment and rent to be included in the budget. | Refunds and interest to be added to the vehicle's charges. |
| Costs to compare | No interest on loans. | Set of payments, required insurance and any contractual fees. | Total cost of the credit and terms of repayment. |
| Vehicle ownership | Direct purchase, according to the sales contract. | Property and possible purchase option to be verified; final purchase not automatic. | Separate purchase of the credit agreement; terms to be verified. |
| Checks before signing | Reserve available after purchase, maintenance and unforeseen circumstances. | Residual value, restitution, insurance and early exit. | Repayment capacity, lender terms and payment schedule to the seller. |
What the Consumer Credit Act provides
The Consumer Credit Act (CCA) references below are based on the version in force on 1 September 2023. Whether they are still current as of 20 October 2026 must be confirmed before signing.
In this version, Article 7 sets an amount condition ranging from CHF 500 to CHF 80,000, both limits included. The other conditions and exclusions continue to apply. This ceiling is neither a maximum price for the vehicle nor a promise of financing.
Article 28, paragraph 4, imposes an assessment on a theoretical amortization over 36 months. This base applies even if the contract provides for a longer duration. The previous credits concerned, These still unpaid benefits are also taken into account in the assessment. A long contractual period therefore does not substitute for sufficient capacity.
Article 16 provides for a written revocation within 14 days of receiving a copy of the contract, according to applicable provisions. Do not confuse revocation of the credit and cancellation of the sale. Check the calendar and your obligations to the seller before signing.
Lica Compare the offers Several lenders and examine your repayment capacity before any request. As a broker, we Lica do not lend and do not guarantee acceptance.
Example of financing a used camper van
Purely illustrative example: you are considering buying a vehicle for CHF 40,000 from a private seller. Your available savings amount to CHF 30,000. You put in CHF 20,000 and consider an additional personal loan of CHF 20,000. This leaves you with a reserve of CHF 10,000, whose adequacy depends on your household.
All these amounts are illustrative: they do not represent a market price, an offer, or a a decision to grant. No interest rate or monthly repayment is calculated. It remains to be verified the capacity, the cost of the credit and the conditions before any commitment is made.
In practice, use the savings when it is sufficient. Study a limited supplement if necessary. If the purchase, use, and reimbursement balance the household budget, reduce the project or postpone it.
Frequently asked questions about used camper vans in Switzerland
What license do I need to drive a camper van in Switzerland?
The FEDRO document states that a category B licence covers vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg. Above this, category C1 covers vehicles of up to 7,500 kg. Check the vehicle registration document, your licence categories and the applicable rules. The actual weight does not replace the authorised weight.
Can a camper van bought from an individual be financed?
This personal loan may be considered, subject to the lender’s conditions and your ability to repay. No financing is automatically granted. Coordinate the sales contract with The funding calendar.
When to buy a used camper van?
The TCS presents autumn as a favorable period. This does not guarantee the best price or the availability of the desired model. The quality of the vehicle and the contract remain the priority during the season.
Shop with confidence with a controlled vehicle and a budget under control
A used camper van should suit your travels, but also your budget. Before committing, keep these three essential checks in mind:
- Check the vehicle and the contract. Examine the cell, the mechanics, the equipment, and the documents. Have the known defects specified in writing.
- Check the permit and the weight. Compare the categories held with the total authorized weight, then plan for a weigh-in in the travel configuration.
- Establish the complete budget. Include the purchase, maintenance, utility charges, and reserves, not forgetting any possible refunds.
Prioritize savings when it’s enough without compromising Your financial security. Keep a reserve for household expenses and unexpected vehicle repairs. If the overall cost exceeds your means, adjust the choice or postpone the purchase.
The personal loan can meet a sustainable additional need. However, it entails interest and debt. No financing should be considered without repayment capacity sufficient, even if you like the vehicle.
Lica offers a free and non-binding analysis of your situation. This broker Compare the offers from several lenders depending on your application. He/She will assist you in the procedures until the financing is granted if an appropriate solution is agreed upon. He Lica /She is not a lender and does not promise acceptance.
Ask for an analysis of your budget and any potential funding needs before committing.
