Camping remains hugely popular. Yet manufacturers and dealers of caravans and motorhomes face a tougher market. Across Europe, more than 215,000 new leisure vehicles were still registered in 2025 – but caravan registrations fell by around 11 percent. In the UK, the shift is especially clear: motorhomes now clearly outnumber new caravans. At the same time, used vehicles, upgrades and self-builds are gaining importance. Has the market for brand-new caravans reached its limits?
Camping is booming – but new vehicle sales tell a different story
Interest in camping holidays remains strong across Europe. According to the European Caravan Federation (ECF) and CIVD, more than 215,000 new leisure vehicles were registered in Europe in 2025 – still a high level, even if slightly down on the previous year (−2.6 percent).
The picture for new caravans is less favourable. Europe-wide, about 54,200 caravans were newly registered (−11 percent). Motorhomes, by contrast, held up better with around 161,000 registrations (+0.6 percent).
In the United Kingdom, that structural shift is particularly visible. In 2025, around 25,900 leisure vehicles were newly registered (−7.1 percent). Of these, about 9,250 were caravans (−19.2 percent) and about 16,700 were motorhomes (+1.3 percent).
That means new motorhome registrations were roughly 80 percent higher than new caravan registrations. Demand is not disappearing – it is moving.
Europe’s fleet is already huge – and used vehicles matter
Germany alone has more than 1.8 million registered caravans and motorhomes. Across Europe, millions of leisure vehicles are already on the road and can remain in use for decades.
A well-maintained caravan can easily last 30 years or more. When the first owner buys a new vehicle, the previous one usually stays in the market as a used caravan.
German market research used by CIVD/dwif assumes an average ownership period of about 11 years for caravans and about 6 years for van conversions and motorhomes. Those figures describe ownership cycles, not the full vehicle lifespan.
The result is a long chain of used sales that compete with brand-new stock.
Why the used market often outpaces new sales
In Germany – Europe’s largest caravanning market – ownership transfers of used leisure vehicles reached a record 192,239 in 2025, against 94,134 new registrations. In other words, there were roughly two used transfers for every new registration.
Comparable public used-market statistics are not always published for every country. But the pattern is clear across Europe: a large existing fleet, long vehicle lifespans and price-conscious buyers strengthen the used market.
For manufacturers, new vehicles therefore compete not only with other brands, but with a vast stock of already existing caravans and motorhomes.
Are new caravans approaching saturation?
The ECF data point to pressure especially in the caravan segment. In most European markets, caravan registrations fell in 2025. The UK decline of around 19 percent is among the sharper drops.
Motorhomes remain the stabilising force. In Italy (+10.7 percent), the Netherlands (+19.1 percent) and Poland (+11.6 percent), motorhome registrations even grew strongly.
So the thesis of market saturation applies mainly to brand-new touring caravans – not to camping as a whole, and not equally to every country.
Why more campers modernise instead of buying new
Instead of spending tens of thousands on a new caravan, some owners upgrade what they already have – if the shell and chassis are sound.
New upholstery, lighter furniture, LED lighting, solar, lithium batteries, better charging systems and security technology can transform an older vehicle. Practical ideas are covered in our guide to technical upgrades for campers.
Of course, not every renovation pays off. Serious damp, chassis damage or major technical faults can exceed the vehicle’s value. Where the structure is good, modernisation can be an attractive alternative to buying new.
Trade shows show that self-build is going mainstream
Major camping shows increasingly highlight conversions, self-builds and aftermarket technology – not only factory-new models. Similar trends appeared at the Caravan Salon Austria and caravan live Freiburg.
At the Caravan Salon Düsseldorf, “Abenteuer Selbstausbau” again had its own area for DIY conversions, electrics and interior fitting. Specialist events such as the Self-Build show in Stuttgart and Adventure Southside in Friedrichshafen underline the same shift.
Whether the absolute number of DIY conversions rises every year is hard to measure. But the industry clearly treats self-build as a serious customer segment.
Used vans change the picture further
Not every camping enthusiast buys a finished caravan or motorhome. Many start with a used van – VW Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit – and build to their own needs.
If the converted van is registered as a motorhome, it appears in motorhome statistics. If it remains a car or light commercial vehicle, it may not. Official figures therefore understate the full DIY camping market.
New vehicles are under price pressure
During the pandemic, leisure vehicles were scarce and prices rose. In 2025, the industry reported temporary oversupply. German manufacturers cut production by around 17 percent to about 99,000 units and dealers reduced high stock levels.
For buyers, that can mean discounts on new and previous-year models – sometimes close to used prices. Private sellers may also need more realistic asking prices than in the peak years.
Conclusion: camping is booming, but the market is changing
Europe still registers more than 215,000 new leisure vehicles a year. Motorhomes are holding up; new caravans are under clearer pressure – especially in markets such as the UK.
At the same time, long vehicle lifespans, a strong used market, upgrades and self-builds mean that camping growth no longer automatically equals new-caravan growth.
The future of the camping market may not lie only in producing ever more new vehicles – but in using the millions already on the road for longer, more modern and more individual ways.
Editorial note: Registration figures are based on ECF/CIVD data for 2025 (ECF table PDF). The idea of possible saturation in the new-caravan segment is an editorial interpretation, not an official finding.