Camper Van & Motor Home Rental Terms & Conditions (2008/09)

All Happy Campers Rates are:

• Gross in New Zealand Dollars ($NZD) and inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Subject to Terms and Conditions outlined below.

Standard Rates Include:

• Unlimited Kilometres
• Standard Happy Campers Vehicle Insurance (see below)
• Road User Charge / Diesel Tax
• AA 24-hour roadside assistance throughout NZ
• Vehicle Living Equipment
• Free transfers (see below)
• Cleaning fees and pre-departure vehicle preparation
• Goods & Services Tax (GST) of 12.5%
• Basic cooking and living equipment supplied
• Route Planners, Camping Park Directories and other tourist information available at depots

1. Daily Hire Charges

The daily hire charges are calculated on a daily basis, not a twenty-four hour day.

2. Hours of Operation

High Season: (01 Sept – 30 April)

Monday to Sunday 8:30am – 5:00pm

Public Holidays 10:00am – 3:00pm

Low Season: (01 May – 31 Aug)

Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm

Weekends & Public Holidays 10:00am – 3:00pm

Happy Campers' Auckland and Christchurch Depots are closed on the following days: 25th of December (Christmas Day) and the 1st of January (New Years Day)..

3. Driver's Requirements and Licence

All drivers must be 18 years of age or older and hold a current valid driver's licence at the commencement of the hire. An international or country of origin licence is acceptable. No special licence is required to drive any Happy Campers camper van or motor home in NZ. No maximum age limit applies.

A full driver's licence, held for at least one year, shall be provided at the time of hire. If the licence is not in English format then an international driver's licence is also required.

4. Minimum Hire Periods and One-Way Hires

For all rental vehicles there is a minimum period of five (5) days. However, please note that this minimum hire period increases to ten (10) days between 1 May and 30 September. Minimum rental periods are subject to further change during peak seasons. It is possible to commence your hire in Christchurch and finish it in Auckland (or vice versa) at no extra charge at any time of year if the rental period is a minimum of fourteen (14) days.

5. Transfers

A complimentary transfer is available to or from your accommodation inside the CBD or the airport on the day of pick up and drop off of the vehicle in Auckland and Christchurch. The hirer must advise Happy Campers of pick up and drop off times one week prior to them occurring to be guaranteed the transfer at a certain time. Please note that complimentary transfers are only available between the hours of 10:00am and 3:00pm.

6. Deposit and payments

To secure the booking a non-refundable deposit of NZ$400 is required. This deposit may vary if the booking is through an agent of Happy Campers. The remaining balance of all rentals is due 28 days prior to the commencement of the rental period and will be deducted from the credit card provided when securing the booking. If after this date the hirer cancels their booking, then the cancellation policy will apply.

7. Credit Cards

Our preferred payment method is by credit card or cash payments (NZ$). We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. A surcharge fee of 3.5% on any American Express transaction (including the bond) applies. Where possible, you will be charged in your credit card's country of origin currency.

16. Refunds

Regretfully, no refunds can be given for any unused portion of your holiday. However, your travel insurance may in some circumstances cover the unused portion. Refunds for hires paid and cancelled prior to pick up will be subject to our cancellation policy. If it is determined that a refund is due, Happy Campers will process the refund back to the original credit card charged, or a refund cheque will be posted if payment was made by direct debit or cash. All refunds will be made in NZ$ and Happy Campers does not accept any liability for currency exchange rate fluctuations. Refunds are processed once a week.

8. Cancellations

Please note that your deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation fees are as follows:

20 - 28 days

20% of rental is retained by Happy Campers.

10 - 19 days

40% of rental is retained by Happy Campers.

1 - 9 days

75% of rental is retained by Happy Campers.

Cancelled on the day or No Show

100% of rental is retained by Happy Campers.

If a vehicle is returned early for any reason there is no refund available.

Once a booking has been confirmed and a deposit paid the booking is considered live and is subject to the cancellation policy. Transferring a booking, once confirmed, will incur a NZD $25 fee, unless it is within 30 days of travel where the above cancellation charges apply.

A booking can only be transferred to a maximum of 6 months before or after the original date of travel.

Amendments to increase the length of the booking can be made at no cost. Amendments to decrease the booking will be charged at a minimum of NZD $25.00 provided the amendments occur at least 30 days prior to departure date.

It is important to note that Happy Campers may at its discretion treat any amendment to decrease the booking as a cancellation.

9. Road Restrictions

Hirers are permitted to drive their vehicle on any road in NZ except the following which are prohibited in all circumstances:

• Ninety Mile Beach - Northland
• North of Colville Township - Coromandel Peninsula
• Tapu-Coroglen Road - Coromandel Peninsula
• Skippers Canyon Road - Queenstown
• Ball Hutt Road - Mt. Cook
• Any beach or unformed/ gravel road in New Zealand. The only exceptions to this are any recognised campground access roads less than 500 metres in length or road works.
• Happy Campers reserves the right at its sole discretion to restrict vehicle movements in certain areas due to adverse road or weather conditions.

Please note that if these road restrictions are breached, all insurances will become null and void and the hirer will be liable for the full cost of any and all damages incurred.

12. Insurance - Standard Rates

All Happy Campers standard rates include standard Happy Campers vehicle insurance (Bronze insurance cover).

Toyota Hiace

Ford Transit

When you collect your vehicle we take an impression of your credit card for the bond.

We do not deduct the bond from the credit card at the start of your hire, but merely hold the authority to deduct it in the unfortunate event of an accident. The impression of your credit card covers your accident/ damage bond liability plus any extra costs such as refilling fuel, cleaning, emptying of the toilet at the end of hire or any traffic infringements, losses or breakages and any related surcharges.

A credit card imprint must be on all rental agreements and must be the credit card of the main hirer unless prior arrangements have been made.

Where a credit card is not available, a cash bond will be held by Happy Campers for 21 days following the termination of the hire.

13. Excess Reduction Options

There are three levels of excess / bond reduction available to the hirer. The standard insurance included in our rates is called the Bronze insurance cover. You are fully insured in case of accident damage or loss of contents (excluding personal belongings). The Liability is applicable regardless of who is at fault and must be paid upon the completion of the rental period. If the hirer is not at fault and the third party admits liability, then Happy Campers will refund the amount charged to the hirer upon receipt of payment from the third party. Please be aware that once an Excess Reduction Option is selected and confirmed with Happy Campers, the cost of the Excess Reduction Option is nonrefundable. These excess reduction options are also available for drivers under 25 years of age.

• Bronze Cover
• Silver Cover
• Gold Cover
• Platinum Cover

The hirer is fully liable for any damage to a Happy Camper or third party property if:

1. Damage is caused where the terms of the rental contract have been breached
2. Damage is caused by negligence
3. Damage is caused to the vehicle in any way by part or total water submersion or salt water
4. Damage is caused to the vehicle by the renter's willful conduct
5. Damage is caused to the vehicle by the use of snow chains
6. Damage is caused due to a single vehicle roll over
7. Damage or loss is caused to any personal belongings
8. Damage is caused due to use of incorrect or contaminated fuel
9. Damage is caused due to fuel being placed in the water tank, OR
10. Damage is caused to the vehicle when using the vehicle in contravention of any legislation or regulation controlling vehicular traffic

14. On-Road Assistance - Mechanical Faults

If the vehicle has any mechanical failures these problems must be reported to Happy Campers as soon as possible in order to give Happy Campers the opportunity to rectify the problems during the rental. The hirer is not entitled to any refund at the end of the hire period unless Happy Campers has been advised of the problem earlier, and has been given the opportunity to rectify the situation. Happy Campers does not accept any liability for any claims made after this point. Happy Campers is not liable for any delay in repair caused by the breakdown occurring on a weekend or a public holiday. A refund can be requested if the breakdown has directly caused a delay in travel of 48 hours or more, if the delay is less than 48 hours in one location Happy Campers can deny the refund request at its own discretion.

15. Maintenance and Repairs - Equipment Faults

The hirer shall take all reasonable care to ensure that the vehicle is properly maintained. This shall include daily checks to the oil, water and batteries.

The hirer shall be liable for any cost associated with the incorrect use of fuel (fuel being diesel or petrol), including putting fuel in the water tank.

The failure of accessories such as TV, DVD, CD player, microwave, gas heater, air conditioning unit and hot water heater do not constitute a breakdown. Happy Campers will endeavour to facilitate on-road repairs however should the repair not be possible or fail the hirer is not entitled to a vehicle change or compensation.

If the vehicle has any equipment failures (not mentioned above) these problems must be reported to Happy Campers as soon as possible in order to give Happy Campers the opportunity to rectify the problems during the rental. The hirer is not entitled to any refund at the end of the hire period unless Happy Campers has been advised of the problem earlier, and has been given the opportunity to rectify the situation. Happy Campers do not accept any liability for any claims made after the end of the hire period. A refund can be requested if the breakdown has directly caused a delay in travel of 48 hours or more, if the delay is less than 48 hours in one location Happy Campers can deny the refund request at its own discretion.

17. Traffic Infringements

All traffic infringements are the responsibility of the hirer. Happy Campers will charge your credit card using the bond imprint given to cover the cost of the fine, plus a processing fee of NZ$50. In the circumstances of credit card failure, or no credit card is supplied then Happy Campers reserves the right to pass on details of the hirer's home contact to the New Zealand Traffic Authorities.

18. Fuel

All vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel at the start of the hire, and must be returned with a full tank at the end of your hire. If the vehicle is returned without a full tank of fuel, the hirer is liable for the cost to refill, plus a fee of NZ$25.

19. Extra Fees

• If the vehicle is not returned in a clean condition, a fee of NZ$100 will apply
• If the toilet (where applicable) is not returned empty, a fee of NZ$100 will apply
• If the waste tank (where applicable) is not returned empty, a fee of NZ$100 will apply

20. Change of Drop-Off destination

If the hirer wishes to change the drop off destination after confirmation of booking, they must first obtain authorisation from Happy Campers. Subject to the change being approved, a minimum additional charge of NZ$750 will apply.

21. Rental Extension & Late Return

If the hirer wishes to extend the rental whilst on hire, they must first obtain authorisation from Happy Campers who will advise of the additional cost. Rental extensions are subject to fleet availability. Failure to obtain authorisation (i.e. a late return) will result in the hirer being charged their daily rate plus an additional NZ$200 per day for each day the vehicle is not returned.

10. Vehicle Substitution and Design

Should the vehicle booked be unavailable through unforeseen circumstances, Happy Campers reserves the right to substitute an alternative vehicle without prior notification and at no extra cost. This shall not constitute a breach of contract and does not entitle the hirer to a refund.

11. Smoking

All Happy Campers vehicles are designated Smoke Free and should anyone smoke inside one of Happy Campers' vehicles, a NZ$100 cleaning fee will apply.

Important

Happy Campers reserves the right to amend these terms & conditions, vehicle specifications and tariffs at any time without prior notice.

Happy Campers reserves the right to refuse any rental at its own discretion.