Insurance

Cover & Liability

All our rentals include comprehensive insurance with your daily hire. This covers accidental damage to the motorhome and public liability, so we encourage you to be adventurous (but not negligent or irresponsible).

Unlike many other motorhome rental companies, we cover you for pretty much everything. This includes overhead and underbody damage (the most common accidents), single-vehicle accidents (e.g. you reverse into a bollard at a campsite), towing and recovery of your motorhome, and any instances of theft, fire, or vandalism. 

If the motorhome or any of its equipment is damaged, you are required to contribute to the cost of replacement or repair up to the liability (excess/deductible) amount of NZ$7500. If there's more than one incident in which the motorhome is damaged, a separate liability applies for each incident. 

You are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure the motorhome is not damaged. We recommend you check out our Rental Terms and Conditions for any exclusions.

Your Liability

While insurance is included in your daily rate, your level of liability (in the event of an incident) is high (NZ$7500). You can reduce the amount you need to contribute (your liability) by taking advantage of one of our liability reduction options. We have multiple liability reduction options for you to choose from depending on the liability you feel comfortable with.

Unsure if you really need insurance? Read our blog Do I need campervan rental insurance?

Our Liability Reduction Options

Our Basic option is included with your rental. It covers you for accidental damage to the motorhome as well as damage to someone else’s vehicle or property—as long as you're not being negligent or irresponsible.

The included Basic liability option has a NZ$7500 excess (or deductible), but we also offer a few additional liability reduction options for added peace of mind.

	Basic	Extra	VIP
	$0	$39 per day	$59 per day*
Your Liability	$7,500	$950	$0
SIM card
Free LPG refill	-	-
Road User Charges	-	-
Toll road fees	-	-
Child seat	-	-
Outdoor table & chairs	-	-
Barbecue	-	-
Snow chains	-	-

* Capped at $2950 (50 days)

You might be thinking: “I’m a great driver, and I haven’t had an accident in years—so why look at reducing your level of liability?”

While you may be experienced with driving a campervan or motorhome, many of our guests are doing it for the first time (sometimes even on the opposite side of the road than they are used to). Because NZ drivers do not need to have insurance on their private vehicles, you will be charged for damage regardless of who is at fault. Even if you're the best driver in the world and someone else caused the accident, you would still be liable for the cost of repair until we are able to recover it (which can be a lengthy process).

Travelling on New Zealand Roads

New Zealand's diverse terrain means roads are often narrow, hilly, and windy (with plenty of sharp corners). Outside of the main cities, there are very few motorways. Most of our roads are single lane in each direction without barriers in between. You may also encounter gravel roads and single lane bridges.

Damage to windscreens is very common, as is tyre damage. The cost of a replacement windscreen can be up to NZ$1000. If you only have basic cover, you're responsible for the first $7500 cost of repairs. This is why we highly recommend our liability reduction options.

Please note that Wilderness’ liability reduction options are null and void if any of the rental agreement terms are breached. For more information, check our rental terms and conditions.

Why Choose Our VIP Cover Option?

We recommend the VIP option for peace of mind. With the VIP option, you'll have a zero excess (deductible) should your motorhome be damaged (subject to our rental terms and conditions). Plus

• Road User Charge Recovery Fee (RUCRF) (worth approximately NZ$17 per day*) and toll road fees are included.
• You get a free LPG refill for the 9kg and 4kg bottles (worth up to $55 per hire) and save precious holiday time on your last day.
• Loads of extras (worth more than NZ$200 per hire) including an outdoor table with chairs, a barbecue grill, snow chains, and child restraints are thrown in.

^{* RUCRF NZ$17 assuming average 200km travelled/day}

What Do I Get with the Extra Cover Option?

Our Extra liability reduction option reduces the excess (deductible) to NZ$950.

However, you are required to refill the LPG bottles at the end of your hire, plus pay the Road User Charge Recovery Fee and other fees with this option.

What Do I Get with the Basic Cover Option?

If you opt for the Basic option, you are covered if the motorhome is lost or damaged, subject to the exclusions and limitation in our rental terms and conditions:

• A bond equivalent to the excess (deductible) will be required when picking up your rental.
• You may have to pay the daily rental rate for each day the vehicle is being repaired.
• If the motorhome is lost or damaged, the excess of NZ$7500 must be paid immediately, regardless of cover provided by an independent travel insurance policy.
• You are required to pay the Road User Charge Recovery Fee and other fees. 
• You are required to refill the LPG bottles at the end of your hire.

Ready to Select a Liability Reduction Option?

You can choose your package at the time of booking or at any time up to and including when you pick up your motorhome. Just make your selection on My Booking page. 

If you have any questions about liability reduction options, contact our reservations team. 

Bond

If you choose our Basic Cover, a bond of NZ$7500 is authorised when you sign the rental agreement. If you choose one of our other liability reduction options, the bond is reduced based on the option you select.

If you opt for our VIP liability option, pre-authorisation for the bond amount will be taken at the start of your rental. The bond amount will be charged to your credit card immediately and in full in the event of an accident or if the conditions of hire that you sign are not satisfied. If you breach the terms and conditions of your hire, you may void the applicable bond amount and be liable for the total cost of the damage and/or associated costs with the incident.

If you do not have a credit card, a payment equivalent to the bond amount will be taken at the start of your rental. 

Travel Insurance

We recommend that you also arrange your own travel insurance. Personal travel insurance usually covers you for other events such as illness, travel cancellation, delays, or missed connections. These plans may also cover lost, stolen, or damaged personal items and travel documents, and sometimes even personal accidents or personal liability.

We do not cover personal liability or lost, stolen, or damaged personal items in our insurance.

For more information, check out the cancellation and amendment terms in our rental terms and conditions.