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Rental Contract

The legal agreement between renter and rental company. Reading it before signing is genuinely important.

Also called: rental contract, rental agreement, lease agreement

A rental contract is the legal agreement between renter and rental company. Read it before signing. Generic advice, but the typical RV rental contract is 8-15 pages and contains specific clauses that matter.

Key clauses to find

Mileage policy

  • Daily allowance (typically 100-150 miles)
  • Per-mile overage cost (typically $0.25-$0.50)
  • Whether unlimited mileage is offered

Driver requirements

  • Minimum age (typically 25; some peer-to-peer accept 21)
  • License requirements
  • Whether additional drivers cost extra

Geographic restrictions

  • Where the rental can be driven (some prohibit certain states)
  • Mexico/Canada crossing rules
  • Off-road / forest service road restrictions

Time and date restrictions

  • Pickup window
  • Return window (early/late fees)
  • Whether overnight late returns are charged

Damage and liability

  • Deductible amounts
  • What’s covered vs. excluded
  • Reporting deadlines for damage

Smoking, pets, occupancy

  • Smoking allowed (typically not, with substantial fines)
  • Pet policy (often $200+ fee)
  • Maximum occupancy

Generator and propane

  • Hour billing structure
  • Propane refill requirements at return

Cleaning and dump

  • Whether tanks must be emptied at return
  • Whether the rig must be returned clean
  • Cleaning fees if not

Cancellation

  • Refund schedule for cancellations
  • Force majeure exceptions

Red flag clauses

  • “Liquidated damages” for any infraction — typically inflated
  • “Inspection at our discretion” for damage charges — opens dispute risk
  • No-cancellation policy — extreme
  • Reservation only confirmed with full payment — typical but watch the cancellation policy
  • “Estimate” pricing rather than fixed — opens door to upcharges

Protecting yourself

  1. Photograph the signed contract. Keep a copy on your phone.
  2. Mark all checkboxes correctly — don’t let an agent fill them in for you.
  3. Verify pricing matches what you booked. Some agents try to upsell at signing.
  4. Don’t accept verbal modifications — get changes in writing.
  5. Read the small print — it’s tedious but it’s where damage clauses live.

What if there’s a dispute

Most rental contracts have arbitration clauses that limit your right to sue. Your remedies are typically:

  1. Direct customer service complaint to the rental company
  2. Credit card chargeback (within 60 days of charge)
  3. BBB complaint (some companies respond)
  4. State consumer protection office complaint
  5. Arbitration per contract terms

Document everything from pickup to dispute resolution. Photographic evidence wins almost every dispute.