Cheap Campervan
Mini camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- No
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- Manual
Cheap Campervans review
A pared-back Icelandic rental brand built around one small manual campervan and a choice of equipment packs.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
Cheap Campervans began in 2019 as a subsidiary of Happy Campers, whose founders had worked in camper rental since 2009. The two businesses share an office location in Reykjanesbær, near Keflavík Airport, and the rental agreement names Happy Campers ehf as the contracting company.
The brand runs a distinct, compact rental offer. Its own range centres on a two-person Dacia Dokker campervan; the larger, automatic and four-wheel-drive vehicles associated with Happy Campers are separate products.
Our verdict
Editorial review
The appeal lies in choosing how much to add to an uncomplicated rental. Cooking essentials are already there, while equipment and protection can be bought individually or in packs. That gives the renter useful control over spending, although the cheapest advertised rate is only the beginning of the comparison. Comfort is the more substantial compromise: the sleeping space has no overnight heating or running water, so the van offers limited refuge when the weather makes spending time outside less appealing.
Good points
- Cooking does not depend on an equipment upgrade.The included cooking kit is enough to prepare simple meals without paying for a camping pack. Packs add convenience and protection rather than unlocking the basic ability to cook.
- Room to cancel close to departure.A cancellation made more than 24 hours before pickup qualifies for a full refund, leaving useful flexibility if plans fall through shortly before the trip.
Things to consider
- Little provision for cold nights.The uninsulated sleeping area and lack of an overnight heater make warmth a significant planning issue. Winter tyres address driving conditions; they do not improve overnight comfort.
- Airport collection can take patience.Five of twelve examined Northbound accounts, dated April 2024 to September 2026, describe pickup-related waiting or communication problems. Other accounts describe helpful staff and easy collection or return, so the sample supports allowing time for the transfer rather than assuming every handover is difficult.
Vehicle categories
Cheap Campervans fleet
The range consists of a single two-wheel-drive campervan category with a low roof and a simple sleeping conversion. There is no choice of larger layouts or automatic transmission within this brand's offer.
The bed measures 120 × 180 cm. A stove, cooler, cookware, crockery, cutlery and two gas canisters provide the cooking setup; pillows, a mattress and curtains provide the sleeping basics. There are 12V and USB connections, but no running water or overnight heater. A sleeping bag can be hired separately.
Two travel seats and two sleeping places establish the maximum party size, not how comfortable every pair will find the space. The bed dimensions and low roof are the useful checks for anyone weighing this compact format against a roomier vehicle.
Locations
Cheap Campervans pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
Iceland
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Cheap Campervan office Stapabraut 21, 260 Reykjanesbær, Iceland
Before booking
Practical facts
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Rental price | For direct rentals in Iceland, the Cheap Campervan has an advertised starting price of €35 per day. This is a starting rate for unspecified dates, not an all-in quote or a promise of availability. |
| Mileage and road charge | Mileage is unlimited. A mandatory €11 charge per rental day applies to rentals starting on or after 1 January 2026, including reservations made before that date. |
| Minimum rental | The minimum billed period is five days, or 120 hours. Taking the vehicle for less time still incurs five days' rental. |
| Payment | A 30% advance counts towards the rental price. The balance is due by pickup. |
| Driver requirements | Drivers must be at least 18 and have held their licence for 12 months. A licence in a non-Latin script requires an International Driving Permit. Only approved drivers may drive. |
| Permitted roads | The two-wheel-drive van may use public paved and gravel roads, but not F-roads, road 35 beyond Gullfoss, road 550 or road 208 to Landmannalaugar. Off-road driving and closed roads are prohibited. |
| Damage protection | Basic CDW is included, with a general damage excess of €3,000. Standard costs €20 per day with a general €1,000 excess. Plus costs €30 per day and Max €50 per day, each with a general €0 excess for covered damage. These are not limits for every type of damage: exclusions and separate damage categories still matter. Plus excludes tyres and rims; Max includes them. Water and underbody damage remain excluded from both. Prohibited use can invalidate protection. |
| Credit-card hold | The pickup hold on a credit card is €300 for most protection tiers and €0 with Max or the Adventure Pack. This is separate from the rental price and damage excess. Release follows check-in and settlement; bank processing can take several business days, with a published upper window of 30 days. |
| Equipment and protection packs | Basic, €30 per day: Standard protection, Roadside Protection, table, chairs and coffee press. Travel, €50 per day: Plus, Roadside Protection, an extra driver, table, chairs, coffee press, inverter and towels. Adventure, €70 per day: Max, Roadside Protection and extras selected at pickup, excluding the portable toilet. |
| Individual extras | Wi-Fi costs €5 per day and a portable toilet €10 per day. A sleeping bag costs €25 per rental, a chair €15 per rental, and a table or inverter €20 per rental each. An extra driver costs €35 per rental. These individual charges use different bases from the daily packs. |
| Cancellation | Cancelling more than 24 hours before pickup qualifies for a full refund. Cancelling less than 24 hours before pickup forfeits the confirmation fee. |
| Changing the rental | Changes before the rental begins depend on availability and may change the price. Mid-rental changes are not allowed, and an early return does not receive a refund. |
| Airport and local transfers | A free shuttle connects the depot with Keflavík Airport and accommodation in the Keflavík/Reykjanesbær area. Flight or accommodation details must be arranged in advance. Airport meeting is after customs; allow at least 30 minutes from landing for pickup. The service does not extend to Reykjavík. |
| Unattended return | The depot permits self-drop-off at any time using the marked parking area and key box. The return shuttle operates only during service hours. Responsibility continues until the office registers and inspects the vehicle. |
| Emergency assistance | A 24-hour emergency phone is available. Roadside Protection costs €20 per day or is included in the packs; its service list covers towing, lockouts, flat-tyre help, jump-starts, snow or mud rescue and wrong-fuel recovery. Calling the emergency line does not itself make recovery free, and unnecessary or preventable callouts may be charged. |
| Cleaning and smoking | Excess cleaning incurs €100; smoking incurs €500. These are conditional charges, not standard rental fees. |
| Fuel return | Replacement fuel is charged at its cost plus 20%. |
| Late return | Returning more than one hour late without notice can incur up to an extra day's rental. Further days or parts of days can add charges. |
Quick answers
Cheap Campervans FAQ
Is Cheap Campervans part of Happy Campers?
Yes. It began as a Happy Campers subsidiary in 2019, and Happy Campers ehf is the contracting company. Cheap Campervans has its own small manual-van offer; Happy Campers' larger, automatic and four-wheel-drive categories are not part of that range.
Does the Cheap Campervan have heating for cold nights?
No overnight heater is fitted, and the sleeping area is uninsulated. Winter studded tyres are part of the equipment, but they do not make the accommodation heated. Warmth is an important consideration when choosing this van for colder weather.
Can I take the Cheap Campervan on Iceland's F-roads?
No. This is a two-wheel-drive category, and F-roads are prohibited. The restrictions also cover road 35 beyond Gullfoss, road 550 and road 208 to Landmannalaugar; ordinary public gravel roads are permitted.
Can I collect the van in Reykjavík?
The physical pickup point is in Reykjanesbær, near Keflavík. Free transfers serve Keflavík Airport and accommodation in the surrounding Keflavík area, not Reykjavík.
Does unlimited mileage include the road charge?
No. Cheap Campervans applies an €11 charge for each rental day to rentals starting from 1 January 2026. Unlimited mileage removes a distance limit; it does not remove this daily charge.
Is the portable toilet included in the Adventure Pack?
No. Adventure includes Max protection, Roadside Protection and extras chosen at pickup, but expressly excludes the portable toilet. That costs €10 per day separately.
Does choosing Max remove the credit-card deposit?
Yes. Max, including Max through the Adventure Pack, has a €0 credit-card hold. That does not make every possible damage claim payable by the protection package; coverage and exclusions remain separate from the hold.
Can I return the van before the office opens?
Yes. The marked depot parking and key box allow 24-hour self-drop-off. There is no out-of-hours return shuttle, and responsibility for the van continues until the office registers and inspects it.
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