How to Prepare Your Van for Festival Hire (And Why It's Worth It)

Festival season is one of the most exciting times to be a Camplify owner. Thousands of hirers are looking for a comfortable, stress-free alternative to a soggy tent — and your van could be exactly what they need. But festival bookings come with their own quirks. Here's how to set yourself up for a smooth, rewarding hire.

Why Festival Bookings Are Different (In a Good Way)

The first thing to know about festival bookings is that your van will mostly stay parked. Unlike a road trip hire, festival hirers typically drive to the site, find their spot, and that's it — the van stays put for three or four days. Less mileage, less wear, more peace of mind.

The trade-off is that your van becomes a base camp. It needs to work off-grid, stay clean under pressure, and be simple enough for first-time users to operate confidently. A little preparation makes all the difference.

Before the Booking: Check Your Essentials

Run through these key systems a few days before handover:

• Water: fill the fresh tank and check taps, pump, and sink are all working

• Electrics: fully charge the leisure battery and test all lights and sockets

• Gas: ensure bottles have enough supply for cooking and heating across the trip

• Waste: empty grey water and toilet tanks so hirers start with a clean slate

• Tyres and running gear: always worth a check before any booking

Prepare for Off-Grid Use

Many UK festival sites don't offer electric hookups in the campervan areas, so your van needs to be self-sufficient. Make sure hirers know:

• How to monitor battery levels and what not to run overnight

• How to manage fresh water so it lasts the full trip

• How to operate the toilet and where to empty waste on site

Leaving a simple one-page instruction sheet inside the van — covering these basics — can prevent a lot of messages at 11pm on a Friday.

Protect Your Interior

Festivals are muddy. Even a dry year brings dust, grass, and boots that have seen better days. A few low-cost additions can save you hours of cleaning:

• Heavy-duty floor mats at the entrance and in the cab

• Seat covers for the driving seats

• Easy-clean throws or covers for the bedding area

These aren't just protective — they signal to hirers that you care about the van, which tends to make them more careful too.

Set a Festival Fee if You Need To

Camplify allows owners to add an optional festival service charge to cover extra preparation and cleaning time. If you know a particular festival involves more mud or longer turnaround time, it's completely reasonable to reflect that. Just make sure you communicate it clearly before accepting the booking — no surprises keeps everyone happy.

You can add this via your listing page: Manage > Add Optional Extra > Festival.

The Reward

With the right prep, festival bookings can be some of the most straightforward hires you'll take. The van barely moves, the hirers are usually in high spirits, and you're helping someone have a genuinely memorable weekend. That's what Camplify is all about.

Ready to take festival bookings? Make sure your listing is opted in and your 2026 calendar is up-to-date via your Camplify dashboard.