RV FEATURE
Hiring a motorhome is something more of us are doing . And whether you ’ re a solo traveller , a couple , or travelling with kids , we think it ’ s a brilliant way to see the country in comfort . Having now hired numerous motorhomes over the years , the research and preparation we initially did went a long way to helping the hiring process go smoothly . Here are some things to consider if you ’ re hiring a motorhome for the first time .
PREPARATION
Drivers : Establish how many people will be driving early on in the piece . Motorhome bookings are generally arranged in an individual ’ s name , but additional drivers must also be listed for insurance purposes . Other areas to consider include driver restrictions . If any of the proposed drivers have traffic infringements or , say , they ’ re under 25 , these factors could significantly affect the hiring premium .
Have an idea of where you want to travel to before making a booking .
Timing : Check whether your travel dates are during a peak or offpeak period . You ’ ll find hitting the road during busy times , like school holidays , influence hiring costs . Other things to consider include the hiring period . Because motorhomes can generally be hired from seven days upwards , rates can vary . Also keep in mind that the daily rate for short-term hire can often be greater than hiring for longer periods . With motorhome travel becoming increasing popular for Australian and international travellers alike , it ’ s also wise to book well in advance once you know your preferred dates .
Itinerary : Start establishing a trip itinerary as early as possible . The idea here is to have an inkling of where you ’ d like to go so as to estimate the distances . Some hiring companies have a set number of kilometres travelled per day included in the booking . Then , any kilometres travelled above what ’ s included come at an additional cost . Also , work out whether any of your proposed route includes travelling on dirt roads . This is really important , as not all motorhome providers permit nonbitumen travel , or have dirt road restrictions at the very least .
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