Motorhome Campers

Going on that big family trip? You’ll have a blast!

A camper van rental is a great way to travel in groups – they’re far less expensive than hotels, and much more exciting!

If you’re renting, here are three things that you need to consider and be aware of before traveling

– (Most) Deposits are Nonrefundable

The Motorhome Camper rental industry is a very seasonal business.

They pay leases on their equipment all year, and during the busy season have to ensure that they’re renting their equipment out constantly – anything not on the road during busy season is essentially a liability to them.

While there are some operations that will refund a deposit, with proper planning and knowing what you’re looking to do, you’ll get much more value for your dollar.

Keep in mind that most places with refundable deposits factor the cost to them of not having a unit rented into their prices.

If you’re concered that your trip may be cancelled, purchasing trip interruption or cancellation insurance is normally a better overall value than trying to bend over backwards to get your deposit back.

If a refundable deposit is possible, make sure you check the fine print to see what the terms and conditions for it are.

– List anyone who will even touch the steering wheel as a driver

Consider this: Depending where you are (as different jurisdictions have different rules) If somebody doesn’t set the brakes right on a nearby camper, and it were to bump into yours, anyone who is in the driver’s seat is considered the driver (even if no keys are in the ignition and the motorhome camper is not on).

Always ensure that anyone who will even sit temporarily in the driver’s seat is listed as a driver on your camper van rental. This includes backing the camper up, as well as hitching a trailer.

When you’re traveling, chances are you’re going to be in another part of the country where the rules and jurisdictions may be different than yours, and you may not be familiar with them.

In these cases, it’s far better to be safe than sorry when it comes to legal liability.

Rental agencies are out to maximize their income, and doing so by finding a technicality is something they’re willing to do.

– Get the insurance

Like the last point, it’s difficult enough to understand all the laws and rules and regulations in our own jurisdictions, let alone those of other countries, states, or provinces.

The insurance that rental agencies offer you is there to protect you. While they may make a profit off of it, the time it would take to understand all of the different legal nuances in a region is likely more than the time you will be there.

Ensure that your vacation is headache free, and insist on the insurance.

If you plan on using a premium credit card for this, make sure you read the find print first – the insurance on many premium cards will cover rental cars, but not larger items like a camper van rental.