Traxio: ‘More second-hand campers registered than new ones’

For the first time, more second-hand campers were registered than new ones in September 2024. The new camper market has fallen slightly over the past nine months (-2.7% to 4,807 units). The increased prices of new campers and the higher interest rates on loans explain the declining sales.

The second-hand market, on the other hand, continues to grow at a steady pace year after year. It has already grown considerably this year (+18.6% to 5,301 units), making 2024 the first year that more used than new campers have been registered in Belgium.

More expensive

There is continued interest due to the significant range of used campers on the market and because the prices of new models have risen so sharply in recent years. More used vehicles remain in Belgium, and fewer leave abroad (especially in the Netherlands).

The so-called ‘pop-up’ models are losing popularity while the more extensive (semi-)integrated campers are doing well, indicating a clientele shift. The total park has grown by +30.1% since 2017 to 83,227 campers.

Holiday formula

Since the 2020 coronavirus lockdowns, new camper registrations peaked in 2021. However, the new camper market has declined slightly every year since then.

And although many people ‘impulsively’ bought a camper during the lockdown, they remain loyal to this holiday formula. “So we think that the total market for new and used campers still has growth potential in the coming years,” says Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio.

On the new camper market, VW had to give up first place to McLouis. This has become the leading brand with 460 new registrations, ahead of VW (443 units), followed by Benimar (439), Adria (320) and Roller Team (305).

VW remains the leader in the second-hand market, followed by McLouis, Benimar, Chausson, and Mercedes. Regarding models, the VW California remains the most popular, but only about half as many have been registered this year.