Hire a motorhome for your perfect road trip

Hiring a leisure vehicle can be exciting as well as hugely daunting. It’s likely you will have lots of questions about the campervan or motorhome you want to rent, such as what is the right one for you and how to avoid pitfalls. Our top 10 tips on hiring a campervan or motorhome will help you with what you need to know and find out. Travelling to the UK to hire from abroad? Check out our travelling to the UK blog for tips and hints for when to visit and what to expect, etc.

1. Review the insurance requirements

Ask what is covered by the insurance, such as whether additional drivers are covered and what is the insurance excess - the amount you will have to pay if there is a claim—before the insurance covers the remainder. Ask what sort of instances there are when you are not insured, i.e., if you leave the key in the ignition or the door unlocked etc. so you are aware. Personal belongings may not be covered, therefore consider the value of items and cash you are taking with you. Moreover, consider getting your own travel insurance to cover loss, cancellation, and injury. Lastly, there may be limitations on who can drive, where you can drive and what you can drive on, for example, you may only be able to drive on tarmacked roads - it’s always best to check. Insurance usually covers road risk for accidents and theft for example, but not interior damage.

2. What is the security bond / deposit and what does it cover?

Security bonds / deposits can be as little as £250 and go upwards to £2,500. It is likely that the credit card you booked with will be pre-authorised for the security deposit amount. This means that if you cause any damage not covered by the insurance is likely to be charged automatically upon your return. A reputable company will agree the body condition and point out any pre-existing damage in the interior with you and provide a report that you countersign. However, you may be reassured to take photos or even a video of the condition upon pick-up. Part of the hand back process will be checking over and making sure the vehicle has been returned in the same condition as when it was taken. If you have damaged the vehicle, it’s always best to be courteous by being up front as quickly as possible so any issues can be rectified easily and without further issues. You will find the company should handle this efficiently and professionally as problems do crop up if you have let them know as early as you can.

3. Check reviews

Reading reviews prior to booking is the best action you can take to ensure you have chosen a reputable company who act professionally and offer excellent customer service. You can look these up on independent review sites such as Trustpilot, Facebook and Google. Look for feedback on service and whether there have been any hidden / extra charges. Some unreputable companies advertise low prices to attract customers and then rack up charges for additional items, damage or added extras at the end. Be wary of the occasional angry customer which should be easy to spot but be more concerned with repeated comments.

4. Is mileage included? What happens if you go over the allowance?

Usually there is an allowance of the mileage included within the hire. This can often be restricted to a fair use policy, whereas other companies may offer unrestricted mileage. As long as you know, you can plan and be aware of whether your trip is likely to stay within the policy. Additional mileage can probably be purchased in advance, or at the end for anything from 25p per mile to £2.00 per mile so it is always best to ask. With a weekly mileage allowance of 1,000 miles, consider the mileage to and from your destination as well as any possible miles whilst there. If you’re travelling up to Scotland and hiring from the south, for example, or vice versa, you could clock up over 1,000 miles just on the journey there and back.

5. What is the maximum financial liability in case of accident?

Read the terms and conditions carefully or ask for more details on what your maximum financial liability could be in case of an accident. You may be responsible for things that are not covered by insurance and the insurance cover is subject to an excess. Excesses can vary widely. Be aware that this is only in the instances where there is a claim and in some cases, it may be less of a financial liability if there is not a claim made. If you damage the vehicle, it is always advisable to be truthful and tell the hire company as soon as you can so discuss what the potential costs could be.

6. Do you need to hold a particular licence type or have specific driving experience?

Most hire companies as for at least 2 years of driving experience. Occasionally they can refer to the insurance company to see if they can accept less than this on a case-by-case basis. It is useful then to state if you have had any driving experience in larger vehicles.

The licence you need to drive a motorhome depends on your age and the vehicle’s maximum authorised mass (MAM). This is the vehicle’s weight plus the maximum load it can carry. To drive a motorhome with a MAM of between 3.5 and 7.5 tones, you need a category C1 licence. To drive a motorhome with a MAM of over 7.5 tones, you need a category C licence. Check what vehicles you can drive here. If you’re driving licence is for an automatic vehicle only, you either need to upgrade your licence or hire an automatic vehicle.

7. Does the vehicle have the number of travel seats required / children's seats

Often motorhomes provide more berths than there are travel seats. If this is the case, legally, the vehicle can only carry the number of people equal to the number of belted seats, not the number of berths. Always ask the hire company how may travel seats there are. Never be tempted to take passengers in the vehicle without a seatbelt. If travelling with children, ask about car seat arrangements. You can be fined up to £500 if a child under 14 isn't in the correct car seat or wearing a seat belt while you're driving. This is the responsibility of the driver and not the hire company.

8. Bigger or smaller? Will the daytime/nighttime configuration work for you?

You need to carefully consider the balance between the ease of driving, parking and fuel efficiency versus the space needed for the number of people in the party. Whilst a bigger vehicle quite clearly can offer more space, consider comparing the facilities between a larger vehicle and a smaller - as often smaller vehicles can match the facilities. Cleverly designed campervan conversions can pack a lot of punch and often hire companies will also hire an awning as an optional extra. If you are planning a longer road trip and stopping at several places on the way, an awning will not be attractive, and a larger vehicle may become cumbersome with parking and expensive to run. Weigh up what you really need to take versus what you would like to take and be practical. Read our blog on our free subscription area for details on what to pack and how.

With regards to configuration, it is worth asking the hire company how quick it is to go from day to night. Some beds are onerous to make up from boards, cushions and poles from storage around the van. Permanent beds are easy but also take up a lot of space.
Where will you store bedding and how easy will it be to make up the bed at the end of the day?

9. What’s included?

Ask the hire company what is included as standard as this will vary widely between companies and the price you pay. Usually, bedding is an optional extra. Whilst it may at first, seem an expensive additional option, consider the ease of using hired bed linen and that it will be already stored and ready to go. Otherwise, you will need to have the duvet or sleeping bad debate!

Again, ask about cleaning products – what is included, if any. You will need to ecological washing up liquid, something to wash and dry the dishes with and wipes, at the bare minimum. Don’t forget toilet roll. Hand towels and shower towels will be needed, if they are not optional extras.

Usually, motorhomes come fully kitted out with kitchen items like utensils and crockery, even tin openers, and bottle openers etc. It’s always worth an ask to be sure.

10. Travel itineraries

You’ve done your homework, planned out where you want to go and what you want to do when you get there. However, with the ever-changing Great British weather, be prepared for a plan B and even a plan C. Be flexible, plans change. You may want to linger longer or move on from somewhere more quickly than anticipated.

The great thing about accessing an online travel inspiration and route website such as ours, is that you can be flexible and access on the road as things change. Our in-depth travel information will also save you hours of searching online and easy to access at the tip of your fingers.