Late Returns

When Returning Your Campervan

Running late after one last swim at that beautiful beach? Running late returning the vehicle on the last day of your rental can have consequences, so read on to find out what to do and more

Are Late Returns Available

Whilst travelling, a situation may arise that delays your return of the vehicle on the drop off day or you may be enjoying your holiday so much you would like to look at extending your hire. If either of these situations happen your next steps are important as you will need to check if a late return is possible and what the additional charges would be.

Delays on The Drop Off Day

If running late, the first thing to do is call the depot location you are returning to. The depot staff will be able to provide you with local advice and assess if you are going to need to return after hours or the next day. They will also be able to let you know any applicable additional charges. Contact numbers are available on your booking confirmation in the “Drop off Details” area.

Extending Your Holiday

If you are on hire and decide you would like to check if you can extend your holiday, you will need to call the reservations team of the vehicle provider. This number is usually provided to you during the pick up process or available on your DriveNow booking confirmation. If you need assistance, you can always call DriveNow via 1300547214 or +61 3 9095 7460 and we can put you in contact with the correct team to assist you.

Fees For Late Returns

Fees for late returns will be specific to the vehicle you have booked and the terms and conditions of the vehicle provider. To find out more about what the applicable fees are for your specific vehicle provider, check out our Australia Terms and Conditions page and select your vehicle provider’s logo.

You can expect fees to apply for any kind of unexpected late return as this can severely impact depot operations. As some vehicles will have quick turn arounds to get them back on the road, a late return may affect the next travellers hire due to delays for the vehicle’s mechanical checks and cleaning.

What’s The Price For Extra Days?

Fees for any extra days if extending your rental will be dependent on the applicable rates from the vehicle provider. This information will be quoted to you by the reservations staff when you call the vehicle provider requesting the extension. All rental extensions are subject to availability and can be denied due to fleet requirements. It’s important to check for availability and cost of an extension as soon as you start to consider the option, the earlier the better. Additional charges for any amendments made whilst on hire will be charged by the campervan provider not DriveNow.

Expert Tip

Whilst unexpected delays can happen, it is important to make sure you are well prepared for returning your vehicle. You can do this by planning out your travel to the depot prior to the day, we recommend checking google maps to see how much traffic you can expect for the time of day you plan to travel to the depot. The earlier you find out about any potential delays, the more options and advice the depot staff will be able to provide.

One way to limit the risk of a late return is to avoid any long distance driving on the day of the return. If you were planning to stay 6+ hours away the night before your return, you may want to look at changing the campground that night to a location closer to the depot. This can help avoid any stress about not making it to the depot in time on the drop off day.