Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pay?

We require a 20% refundable deposit to confirm your booking. The deposit is refundable if you cancel more than 32 days before your collection date. The remaining balance is due 31 days before the start of your trip.

We accept payments by these credit cards:

• Visa

• Mastercard

• American Express

• JCB

• China Union Pay

Payments by card will incur a credit card surcharge. As of May 2025 the credit card surcharge is 4% but is subject to change. It will be calculated at the time the booking is confirmed.

If you have selected The Gambler or Risk Take insurance waiver, you will need to have sufficient funds on a credit card to freeze the bond amount when you collect your camper. The funds will be frozen for the entire duration of your trip and will be released on return of the camper. This is not a transaction and will only show as “pending” on your account.

Can I pay by bank transfer?

Yes! Payments made by bank transfer will incur a one-off $40 NZD admin fee. We suggest using Wise for lower fees and better exchange rates than traditional banks.

If you would like to pay by bank transfer, simply leave a comment on your booking request saying “Pay by bank transfer” and our team will send you our bank details. Your booking will be confirmed once we have received the payment. Payments made by bank transfer must be received at least 30 days before your collection date so unfortunately we can’t accept payments made by bank transfer within this timeframe.

Regardless of your payment method, we require a credit card on file for security and for any additional charges made at collection.

Can I pay by cash?

We are a cashless business, so we’re unable to accept cash payments. Thanks for understanding!

What is the cancellation policy?

We want you to know we are totally committed to ensuring you can have the adventure you are planning!

In the unfortunate event that you need to cancel your booking, the following cancellation fees apply:

• If cancelled 32 days or prior to collection, the deposit can be refunded or held as a credit;

• If cancelled within 31 - 15 days of pick-up: a cancellation fee of 50% of the total rental cost;

• If cancelled within 14 - 7 days of pick-up: a cancellation fee of 75% of the total rental cost;

• If cancelled 6 days prior (or less) or on the day of pick up or non-appearance: a cancellation fee equivalent to the total cost of rental.

NOTE: There is no refund for late pick-up or early return of vehicle.

We would absolutely love to be a part of your adventure - please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help with your decision!

Are the campers self-contained?

All of our campers are certified self-contained under the new freedom camping legislation, except the MAD ADVENTURER.

There are plenty of great campsite options for the MAD ADVENTURER, and apps like CamperMate and Rankers are amazing resources to help you find campsites that allow non-self-contained campers.

For more information on responsible freedom camping please click this link.

Is there a minimum hire?

We sometimes have a minimum hire policy, mostly during the busy summer season - especially over Christmas and New Year.

Our system will let you send through a quote or booking request, and then our team will let you know if a minimum hire applies.

We’ll always do our best to fit you in - if there’s a gap in our schedule, we’re happy to help make it work!

Thanks in advance for your understanding!

What driver’s licences do you accept?

We require all of our driving customers to:

• Be 18 years of age or older (or 21 years of age or older for the MAD TRACKER and MAD EXPLORER).

• Have a full and current drivers licence. Suspended or sanctioned licences are not accepted for any reason.

• Digital driver license (DDLs) are not accepted.

Licences from English speaking countries are accepted without any supporting documentation.  These countries include: New Zealand, Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland and relevant parts of Canada.

If you are from a Non English speaking country you will require the following to legally drive in New Zealand:

1. Your drivers licence;

   AND

2. Either an International Drivers Licence OR a certified English translation of your home licence. RVA Translations is recommended for certified translations in New Zealand - you can arrange this on the following link: www.rvatranslations.co.nz.

Please ensure you complete this prior to your arrival in New Zealand as you will not be able to collect your van until we have your correct licence details.  Please also ensure that you have spent some time understanding the local driving conditions and road rules, it can be tricky driving in a new environment and we want everyone to have an amazing driving experience in their Mad Camper! 

If you would like more information on driving safely in New Zealand please click here for Drive Safe NZ's website.

Can I take my vehicle on the ferry?

Absolutely! Check out our Mad Deals page for a special discount with Bluebridge.

Ferries can get busy, so we recommend booking early to secure your spot.

When can I pick up and drop off my vehicle?

Mad Campers’ opening hours are listed below. Please note that any requests for after-hours collection or drop-off will incur charges and must be confirmed in writing prior to being processed.

If your flight arrives late at night or early in the morning (between 3:00 pm - 9:00 am), we recommend spending your first night at a hostel or hotel before collecting your camper. We are unable to process vehicle pick-ups or drop-offs during these hours unless confirmed by special arrangement.

Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 3:00pm (outside these hours may incur charges)

Saturday to Sunday: 9:00am to 3:00pm (outside these hours may incur charges)

Please note: the latest collection time from our depot is 3:00 pm. Be sure to plan your travel so that you can arrive by this time.

Are you open on public holidays?

We are closed on the following public holidays:

• New Year's Day (1 January 2026)

• Day after New Year’s Day (2 January 2026)

• Good Friday (3 April 2026)

• Christmas Day (25 December 2025)

• Boxing Day (26 December 2025)

A $75 NZD surcharge will apply to rentals picking up or dropping off on the following national public holidays:

• Waitangi Day (6 February 2026)

• Easter Monday (6 April 2026)

• Anzac Day (27 April 2026)

• Kings Birthday (2 June 2025)

• Labour Day (27 October 2025)

If you need to drop off a rental on a public holiday, there is a chance our office will be closed. If this is the case, we will provide all the information you need to complete the process smoothly.

What do I need to do before I arrive?

Before you collect your camper, please make sure you have completed your online check-in (we will send this in the week before your collection date) and responded to the DriveSafe questions.

Double-check and confirm what time you’re scheduled to collect your camper, and make sure your driver’s licence is valid and meets New Zealand requirements (see above for more details).

Please also ensure your credit card has enough available funds to cover any insurance charges or bond holds.

You'll need to watch our camper show-through video before you arrive - it will help you get familiar with how everything works and make your pick-up much quicker.

Finally, we strongly recommend you take a little time to learn about driving in New Zealand - you’ll find some really useful information here.

How should I pack?

You will be most comfortable in our campers if you pack your belongings in a soft (duffel style) bag.  There is plenty of storage in the campers for soft or small luggage.

We are more than happy to store large suitcases for you if you are travelling from Auckland to Auckland or Christchurch to Christchurch. Please allow enough time at the start and end of your adventure to pack or unpack your suitcases within our office hours.

If you have any questions please email us and we'll get straight back to you. 

What is it like to travel during winter?

Winter is an epic time to explore New Zealand for a ton of reasons (fewer people on the roads and more affordable prices are just the beginning!), but there’s a few things to think about before hitting the road:

• Driving conditions: the weather can be more extreme in winter, with higher chances of snow, fog, black ice, heavy rain and high winds. Please read up on driver safety, always drive to the conditions, and slow down depending on weather. We have snow chains available to rent if you’ll be heading near the mountains.

• Temperature: the further south you go the colder it will be – don’t worry, the views make up for it! Make sure you pack your winter woolies and bring layers! If you struggle with the cold, we recommend bringing an extra sleeping bag.

• Weather changes: the weather can change abruptly in winter and affect activities, roads and campsites. Please stay updated on weather conditions and check in advance before heading to any remote locations.

What's included with our vans?

Check out our campers for a detailed look at everything our vans have to offer, and a list of the extras you might want to add to make your trip super sweet.