How to return a hired campervan

You’ve finished your campervan holiday, and now it’s time to return the vehicle to the campervan branch — but what do you need to do? Returning a campervan takes a little more preparation than returning a regular hire car, as you may need to clean the living area, empty the wastewater tanks, return onboard equipment and check that nothing is missing, and check the fuel policy. VroomVroomVroom has put together this guide to help make returning your rental campervan in Australia as smooth as possible.

Don’t be late!

You must return your campervan at the time and date listed on your rental agreement. If you return your rental later than the agreed time and date, the campervan rental company may charge you for the extra time — or even for an additional day of rental.

The process of actually returning a campervan can also take longer than hire car returns, so be sure to allow sufficient time. The branch may need to inspect the motorhome living area, check all the equipment, look over the exterior, and confirm that the wastewater tank and toilet cassette have been emptied as required. Due to these additional processes it’s a good idea to allow more time than you would if returning a rental car, especially if you’re returning your vehicle in high season to a city popular for campervan rentals like Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney.

Always check your drop-off location's schedules ahead of time and arrive early to avoid additional charges especially in popular stops or depots with limited drop-off branches. Tasmania one-way trips often finish in Hobart, so book your drop-off slot early in peak season. If you're travelling the East Coast, many one-way trips end in Cairns, which fill depot inspection slots fast especially in the dry season. Such case happens to Darwin as well but in the wet season. For Queensland one-way trips, most start at the Gold Coast so make sure to check drop-off rules as they may vary per depot.

Don’t forget any of your belongings

Campervans have more storage spaces than standard cars, meaning there’s more than just the glovebox to check for personal belongings, so be sure to carefully lookover the entire vehicle interior before you hand back the keys. Look inside any cupboards and drawers, under the beds and seats, in the fridge, in any exterior lockers, and around the driver’s cabin. In the event that you do leave something behind, the rental company may charge you postage or other handling costs to return the items to you.

Return the campervan in a clean condition

You don’t need to return the campervan in pristine showroom condition, but you should return it in a reasonably clean state. Be sure to remove your rubbish, empty the fridge, wash the dishes and any cutlery, wipe down any benches, and sweep out loose dirt or sand. If your pets accompanied you, be sure to brush down any seating for animal fur.

If the campervan is returned in a dirty state, the rental company may charge you a cleaning fee. This can apply to the living area, bathroom, kitchen space, and/or driver’s cabin. If you’re travelling with pets, the cleaning fee due to animals can be substantial.

Empty the wastewater tank and toilet cassette

Before returning your campervan, you need to empty the grey water tank and toilet cassette at an authorised dump point. Grey water usually comes from the sink and shower, while the toilet cassette contains black water waste.

Never empty campervan waste into stormwater drains, public toilets, roadside areas, or campsites, and always use a proper and legal dump point. Many holiday parks, caravan parks, and public rest areas have dump points, but it’s best to check ahead on your last travel day so that you know exactly where you need to go to empty the grey and black water tanks.

Refill the fuel tank

Most campervan rentals in Australia use a full-to-full fuel policy. This means you collect the campervan with a full tank of fuel and you need to return it with a full tank as well. When you’re looking for a petrol station to refill at, the Vroom Fuel Price Compare app is an easy way to find the cheapest petrol station near you.

Try to use a petrol station close to the return branch, so the tank is still full to the brim when you arrive at the campervan branch. Keep the fuel receipt until the return has been finalised, as it may be of help if there’s a dispute about refuelling.

The main exception to the above is if you selected a prepaid fuel option when you collected the campervan. In this case, you can usually return the vehicle without refilling the tank, but you should check your motorhome Terms and Conditions carefully regarding this. A further point is you generally won’t receive a refund for unused fuel, so prepaid fuel may only be worthwhile if you expect to return the campervan close to empty.

If you don’t have time to refuel, the campervan rental company may refuel it for you and charge your card. This option can be quite a bit more expensive than filling the campervan up yourself at a local service station.

Check the gas bottle and fresh water policy

Some campervans use LPG bottles for cooking, heating or hot water, and depending on your rental agreement, you may need to return the gas bottle full, part-full, or simply connected to the vehicle. Check the Terms and Conditions of your vehicle reagrding this, and if it isn’t clear, ask staff to clarify the situation before you leave the branch.

Fresh water requirements also vary by supplier. Some companies ask you to return the campervan with a full fresh water tank, while others may not. Check your Rental Agreement before your final day so you have time to refill or prepare your campervan accordingly.

Returning the campervan out of hours

Campervan branches typically have stricter return rules than car rental branches, and most suppliers require campervans to be returned during business hours so staff can inspect the vehicle, check the equipment and complete the return process with you.

If you need to return the campervan after hours, you’ll need to confirm this with the branch in advance. If after-hours return is allowed, ask where to park, where to leave the keys and whether you need to leave any paperwork inside the vehicle. Make sure you follow all the instructions the branch provides and when you’re done, lock the campervan before placing the keys at the location specified — often a key box. You may remain responsible for the campervan until the branch checks it during business hours.

Returning the campervan early

Returning your campervan early does not always mean you’ll receive a refund. Some campervan bookings are priced around a minimum hire period, and in cases where your motorhome rental was based on a special rate, a one-way route, or a relocation deal, an early return is unlikely to mean a refund for unused time. In the event a refund is possible, the rental company may recalculate the booking or apply an early return fee — always check your Terms and Conditions regarding this.

Check for damage to the campervan

Before you return the campervan, check the exterior, windscreen, tyres, mirrors, roof, underbody, awning, and interior fittings. Campervans are taller and larger than standard cars, so roof and awning damage are not as uncommon as you may think.

If any damage occurred during your trip, tell the branch representative when you return the vehicle. Take photos of the campervan at the branch, including the fuel gauge, odometer, exterior panels, and interior condition.

Return all hired equipment

If your campervan came with extras, make sure everything is returned. This may include camping chairs, outdoor tables, bedding and other linen, towels, kitchen equipment, power leads, hoses, child seats, and any keys for external lockers. Missing or damaged equipment may be charged to your card after return.

Prepare for additional charges

Some charges may not be finalised when you return the campervan. For example, toll notices, any damage repair costs, fines for unsettled violation tickets such as parking violations, cleaning fees, or costs related to any missing equipment may be processed when you return the campervan. Additional charges you may need to pay when returning a campervan can include:

If there are no outstanding charges, your bond will be released or refunded by the campervan rental company. This can take several business days to appear back in your account.

Important Information

When you return your campervan

The vehicle must be returned in the same condition it was in when you picked it up. This means that it needs to be clean, the fuel tank needs to be full, and the waste needs to be emptied. Note that some campervan companies offer an Express Return Pack which you can add to your booking at an extra cost to help save time. By purchasing the Express Return Pack, you can return your campervan with the fuel tank and gas bottle empty, utilise the toilet emptying service (at selected branches) and use an express key return service.