Hirer Rules
Effective 1 January 2024
CONTENTS
Hirer Rules
- Prohibited uses
- Compliance with listing rules, including off road use
- Taking care of the RV and the environment
- Faults and Breakdowns
- Accidents and Theft
- Compliance with laws, tickets and fines
- Making changes during the hire
2. Additional charges and damage
Hirer Rules
Camplify requires that all hirers follow the Hirer Rules. The Owner Rules and Hirer Rules set the ground rules for the Camplify Community and help provide a good experience for both owners and hirers. Following the rules will assist you to have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
The rules are broken down into
- Pre-hire obligations;
- Obligations during hire; and
- Post hire obligations.
It is important that you read and understand the rules. Failure to comply with the rules can lead to you being fully responsible for damage and your account being suspended or terminated.
Pre-Hire Rules
1. Bookings
When selecting an RV it is important that you check the owner’s listing details carefully to ensure that the RV is suitable for your trip and that you are able to comply with the owner’s hire rules. If you are hiring a towable RV (caravan, camper trailer) you must ensure that your tow vehicle has the towing capacity required to tow the RV and is able to connect to the towable RV. This includes having the correct hitch and electric brake connections.
The owner’s listing will also include the cancellation policy applicable to bookings and whether the owner has security measures such as GPS tracking or a dashcam fitted to their RV. Unless you agree otherwise with the Owner, by booking an RV with a GPS or dashcam mentioned in the owner’s listing you are providing your consent for the owner to use the GPS or dashcam during your hire.
When making a booking you need to agree pick-up and drop off times with the owner.
2. Cancellations
The cancellation policy the RV owner has selected will be displayed during the booking process and emailed to you. This is the policy that will apply if you decide to cancel the booking for any reason. Advising the owner verbally or in a message does not cancel the booking on the Camplify platform. A booking is not cancelled until you click the cancel button on your profile page relating to that booking. If you haven’t cancelled on the platform, Camplify will assume the booking has gone ahead and will release your payment to the RV owner.
In exceptional circumstances an owner may cancel your booking. If this happens you will be provided with a full credit and Camplify will provide you with reasonable assistance to rebook another RV for your trip.
See the Camplify Cancellation Policy for more details.
3. Authorised drivers
Only the hirer or an authorised driver may operate the RV. If you allow anyone who is not authorised to tow or drive the RV your Accident Excess Reduction (AER) will not apply and you will be fully responsible for any damage caused by the unauthorised driver.
You may list any additional driver(s) when making your booking. All drivers must meet the age requirements for the listing and have a current driver’s licence in the correct class for the RV that is not subject to any restriction or condition. Probationary licence holders and learner drivers must not tow or drive an RV.
You and any authorised drivers must provide a current unrestricted licence to the owner so that your licence details can be added when completing the Pre-Hire Checklist on handover. If you hold a foreign licence, in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by an accredited English translation or you may provide an International Driving Permit. Any driver not added to the Pre-Hire Checklist who has an accident will not be covered by the AER.
Generally, you and any authorised driver must be at least 25 years of age and no older than 84. Some RV owners will accept drivers between 21 and 24 years of age. Driver age requirements will be shown in the RV listing. Where a driver under the age of 25 hires an RV, an additional young driver excess will apply. Camplify does not permit drivers under 21 to hire via the Camplify platform.
If you do not meet the age requirements your booking will be cancelled, and the usual cancellation charges will apply.
4. Handover process
You must meet the owner at the agreed location and time to handover the RV. It is rude to be late and owners are not required to wait for you if you are. Communicate any delay to the owner to see what can be arranged.
At handover you must:
- undergo an induction by the RV owner regarding the safe use, operation and handling of the RV. This is the opportunity to ask questions and make sure you know what to do;
- complete the Pre-Hire Checklist via the Camplify App with the RV Owner;
- inspect the RV and compare any pre-existing damage against the Pre-Hire Checklist;
- using a smartphone to take (date stamped) photographs of all sides of the exterior of the RV and retain such photographs;
- make sure you know the height of the RV. You are fully responsible for overhead damage caused by driving the RV under an obstacle marked with a lower clearance than the height of the RV or otherwise recklessly colliding with an overhead obstacle;
- If you will be towing the RV, make sure that:
- your tow vehicle is registered and complies with all towing requirements for the RV;
- you understand and comply with the weight limits of the RV;
- the RV is properly connected to your tow vehicle using the correct hitch and brakes; and
- lights and breakaway systems are checked and operational.
If you identify any damage that is not recorded on the Pre-Hire Checklist, You must report it by sending an email to customersupport@camplify.com.au with evidence of the pre-existing damage no later than 12 hours after collecting the RV.
5. Accident Excess Reduction
The automated email you receive the day prior to the start of the hire provides details of the Accident Excess Reduction package that you have chosen.
The excess reduction applies to accidental damage. If damage is caused by the hirer or authorised driver’s deliberate or reckless act or a breach of the hire terms you will have no damage cover and will be responsible for the full costs of the damage. Breaches include using the RV for a prohibited use, driving without a valid licence, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated and taking the vehicle off road without permission. Reckless acts include driving a high clearance vehicle into an obstacle marked with a lower clearance or putting the wrong fuel in a vehicle. See Accident Excess Reduction for more details.
Camplify strongly recommends that you take out the highest level of travel insurance available to you.
During hire
1. Prohibited uses
You must not use the RV:
- for sub-hire;
- to move dangerous, hazardous, inflammable goods or substances that pollute or contaminate, in quantities above that used for domestic purposes;
- to prepare, commit or assist in the preparation or commission or of any illegal activity or terrorist act;
- to carry passengers for hire, fare or reward except under a car sharing/private pooling arrangement;
- for any motor sport or time trial or while being tested in preparation for any motor sport or time trial;
- in connection with the motor trade for experiments, tests, trials or demonstration purposes;
- if you become aware that the RV is in an unsafe or un-roadworthy condition; or
- to carry a number of passengers or tow a load greater than that for which the RV is designed.
You and/or any authorised driver must not: - use or operate the RV while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- refuse to undergo, any breath, blood, urine or oral fluid test or drug impairment assessment;
- act recklessly or dangerously when using or operating the RV;
- overload the RV (exceeding either its gross vehicle mass, or if being towed, the combined vehicle mass or the tow vehicle’s tow capacity);
- drive or tow the RV after an accident or hitting an object (including an animal) until you have obtained the owner or Camplify’s approval, unless you are unable to contact either and it is necessary to move the RV for safety or security reasons.
- inundate or immerse the RV is water or expose the RV to seawater.
- drive on beaches (off road hires excepted for gazetted beaches e.g. Fraser Island), through floodwater or snow, on any road that is closed or where the police or other authority has issued a warning.
2. Compliance with listing rules, including off road use
You are responsible for ensuring that you comply at all times with owner’s rules and restrictions for use of the RV this includes:
- not smoking in the RV;
- not allowing any animal, other than assistance animals in the RV, unless it is a pet approved by the RV owner;
- not using the RV at festivals if prohibited by the owner.
Unless the RV is an off road vehicle and the owner has approved off road use, RVs must be operated on a sealed roads at all times except: - well maintained access roads less than 10 kilometres in length that are used for access to recognised camping grounds; or
- a road where roadwork is being conducted by a statutory road authority.
Only RVs that are specially built for off road activity by the manufacturer are permitted to be used in an off road environment. The RV owner must provide written authorisation for use of the RV Off Road before the hire commences. You and the owner must complete an additional “off road” pre-hire checklist before the RV is used off road. Where you have an agreed off road hire you may drive the RV on any gazetted unsealed road and access roads to recognised camping grounds less than 10 kilometres in length that are in good condition for 4WD access. Use on access roads more than 10 kilometres requires prior approval from the Owner and Camplify.
3. Taking care of the RV and the environment
The owner has trusted you with their RV, treat it well and as if it were your own. Always keep the keys in your possession. Operate the RV in line with owner's and manufacturer's instructions. Take care to avoid damage. Do not overload the vehicle. Check the tyre pressure and fluid levels if driving long distances.
Always be aware of, and drive to, the conditions. Check for road and weather alerts in the area where you are traveling, do not drive into any area where an alert has been issued. Make sure that the RV is protected from the wind and weather while parked. Annexes and awnings may need to be taken down in high wind or adjusted so that rainwater runs off and doesn’t pool causing damage.
As a holidaymaker, you are representing Camplify, the owner and the owner’s van. During your holiday, you should respect your environment and make every effort to act sustainably, clean up after yourself and not disturb your fellow camping neighbours.
4. Faults and Breakdowns
If the RV develops a fault or some feature is not operating, contact the owner for assistance. You must pull over and report any dash warning light to the owner immediately. If an issue isn’t fixed/resolved, inform Camplify within 24 hours including full description, photographs and any further information reasonably requested by Camplify.
If the RV breaks down or otherwise requires roadside assistance, contact Camplify’s roadside assistance provider. You must not let anyone repair or work on the RV unless instructed by the owner or Camplify.
Any punctures or other damage to a tyre during the hire caused by driving over foreign objects is your responsibility and you must repair or replace the punctured or damaged tyre at your own expense. Regardless of the cause of the flat tyre or puncture, if you drive the RV with a flat tyre you will be responsible for any resulting damage to the wheel or the RV.
See Camplify’s Breakdown Policy for more information.
5. Accidents and Theft
If the RV is involved in an accident or is stolen, you must report this to Camplify within 24 hours of it occurring and fully complete the incident report form that we provide you.
Police Reports
If the RV is stolen or involved in an accident where:
- any person is injured;
- the other party has failed to stop or leaves the scene of the accident without exchanging names and addresses; or
- the other party appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
you or the authorised driver must also report the theft or accident to the police.
Accident
If the RV is involved in an accident involving another vehicle you and the Authorised Driver must:
- exchange names and addresses with the other driver;
- provide registration details of the other vehicle;
- obtain the names and addresses of all witnesses;
- not make any admission of fault or promise to pay the other party’s claim or release the other party from any liability;
- forward all third party correspondence or court documents to Camplify within 7 days of receipt; and
- co-operate with Camplify in the investigation of any accident or theft claim and supply such further information as we or our investigator may reasonably request within 7 days of receipt of such a request.
- co-operate with Camplify in the prosecution of any legal proceedings that we may institute or defence of any legal proceedings which may be instituted against you or Camplify as a result of an accident, including attending our lawyer’s office or any court dates.
6. Compliance with laws, tickets and fines
You must:
- comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations in connection with the hire and use of the RV. This includes all relevant traffic laws and regulations.
- pay all tolls, parking fees and any infringements.
Any ticket, fine or penalty incurred due to your failure to do so is your responsibility. You are also responsible for charges for towing and release of the vehicle if you have parked in a tow-away zone. If you have not paid a charge, ticket, fine or penalty that you have incurred, Camplify may: - share your details with the owner so that the owner can advise the relevant authority that you were in charge of the RV at the time of the offence; and/or
- charge you the amount to reimburse the owner plus a $50 administration fee.
7. Making changes during the hire
Honesty is key to having a successful hire on Camplify. Making it clear where you intend to go and what holiday you are planning to have is very important to owners on the platform. If your original route changes, always let the owner know. Many RVs listed on Camplify are fitted with GPS tracking devices for safety and quality assurance purposes. Traveling off road or on unsealed roads without the owner’s approval or taking the RV to a location not agreed to by the owner is a breach of the hire agreement and could result in your being fully liable for any resulting damage.
If you wish to extend the hire period whilst on hire, an extension can be requested via the Camplify platform. Any extension is subject to the availability of the RV and owner approval.
Post-hire rules
1. Handback process
At the end of the hire you must:
- meet the owner at a mutually acceptable location for the RV to be returned.
- attend the handover while the owner completes the Post-Hire Checklist via the Camplify App;
- return the RV in the same condition it was in at the start of the hire, (fair wear and tear excepted);
- take out all rubbish and empty bins;
- pack away items used in your trip and make sure these items and the RV are as clean and as you found them, unless you have prepaid a cleaning fee;
- make sure the toilet/bathroom is completely empty of all waste and water;
- refuel drivable RVs to the same level as when you picked up the RV;
- take photos (date stamped) of the interior and exterior of the RV;
- review and agree with the owner on any accident or damage that occurred during the hire.
Additional items such as GPS should be left on the front passenger seat, so the owner knows you’ve returned them. Larger items should be stored as you found them.
2. Additional charges and damage
You will be charged for any excess kilometres travelled and for cleaning and/or refuelling if you have failed to do so. If you do not return the RV on time, you will be charged for any additional days at the RV’s daily rate.
You are responsible for damage incurred to the RV or its contents while on hire, unless the damage is due to owner or equipment fault or caused by a third party whose details you have provided to Camplify. If the damage is accidental damage, subject to exclusions, your liability will be capped at the accident excess package applicable to your hire (see Accident Excess Reduction for details).
If you have had an accident or if there is any new damage to the RV, you must notify Camplify. Remember you need to notify us of any damage within 24-hours of it occurring.
You must complete an incident report and provide Camplify with any photos or other information reasonably requested by Camplify to review and assess damage.