What Happens If I Need To Cancel My Motorhome Trip In New Zealand?

We’ve all been there – you’re packed and ready to start your trip, but a cancelled flight or family emergency changes everything. Now you’re frantically combing through your rental contract, trying to figure out how much damage your wallet is going to take.

In the world of motorhome rentals, a cancellation can cost you anything from $0 to the full price of your holiday. Hidden hurdles like non-refundable deposits and strict cancellation deadlines can catch you out.

In this guide, we’ll lay out which operators have the most generous (and most strict) cancellation terms, and what to do if you’re past the fee-free deadline.

We’ll go through standard cancellation fees, as well as ‘hidden’ costs such as deposits, amendment fees, early return fees, and no-show fees – all current as of January 2026. It is always worth confirming the latest fine print on your specific quote, as industry policies can change.

We’ll also explain the role of travel insurance and how off-season bookings can offer more flexibility.

What are the most common reasons for cancelling a trip?

These are the most common reasons travellers have to pull the plug, according to our cancellations data from 2024 – 2025:

• The "life happens" category (20%): Medical emergencies and family crises are the top reasons for cancellations. These are unpredictable and high-stress, so having travel insurance can be a lifesaver here.
  
  

• The strategic pivot (15%): Not every cancellation is a "goodbye." Around 15% of our guests aren't actually leaving; they are just moving their dates to travel later.
  
  

• The change of heart (13%): "Change of mind" sits in the middle of the pack, but it is often the most painful. This is the primary reason for cancellation that standard travel insurance won’t cover, making it the most expensive way to walk away from a booking.
  
  

• The logistical pains (9%): We’ve seen a rise in visa delays, airline strikes, and flight disruptions. Travellers are being forced to cancel because they simply can't reach the depot on time.
  
  

• The rest: Other common hurdles include work commitments, or extreme weather events that make the roads impassable.

As soon as a guest realises their plans might change, they should reach out immediately. If they cancel before the fee-free deadline expires, it’s an easy full refund. If they are closer to the date, getting in touch early gives us the best chance to work with them to find a solution.

 

What are the standard cancellation fee tiers across the industry?

In the rental world, your cancellation policy is built around a cutoff date. Think of it as a deadline: once you pass this date, your deposit is no longer yours.

In New Zealand, this deadline sits anywhere from seven days to two months in advance of your trip.

If you cancel before the deadline (for example, more than 60 days away), you generally get your money back. If you cancel after the deadline (less than 60 days away), the "penalty period" begins, and the operator will keep a percentage of your hire cost.

Here are the standard cancellation fee tiers for the major motorhome and campervan rental operators in New Zealand, ranked by flexibility:

The most “risk-free” leaders (highly flexible)

Wilderness Motorhomes: The most generous fee-free period in the industry. You can cancel for $0 up to 7 days before pickup (extending to 21 days during the 21 December - 8 February peak season). If you miss that window, you may be able to move your booking to a later date.

Jucy: Offers a solid middle ground with $0 in fees if you cancel 22+ days in advance. After that, they charge a flat 20% until the final 24 hours, when the full booking becomes non-refundable.

The standard tiers: a 60 – 30-day cutoff

Maui & Britz: If you select their flexible cover option ($10 per day), you can cancel fee-free up to 15 days in advance. Without this cover, you must cancel 61+ days out to avoid these fees:

• Between 60 and 31 days, you’ll pay a $250 admin fee. 
  
  

• Inside 30 days, fees jump to 20% of the total booking
  
  

• If you cancel six days in advance or less, you’ll pay 50% of the value of your booking (minimum $250). 
  
  

• 100% is charged if you cancel on the day or don’t show up.

Mad Campers: Offers free cancellation until 32 days before pickup. However, their penalties are steeper once you hit that threshold, starting at 50% of the booking value if you cancel 15 - 31 days ahead. This goes up to 75% for a cancellation within two weeks of the booking, and rises to 100% within the final week.

The “high-commitment” policies

Tui Campers: You can cancel fee-free within 24 hours of making your booking. After that, the $300 deposit is non-refundable (though it can be held as credit for 18 months). The fees kick in at the 29-day mark:

• 29 - 20 days out:  20% of the total booking value
  
  

• 19 - 10 days out: 40% of the total booking value
  
  

• 9 - 1 days out: 75% of the total booking value
  
  

• No-show: 100% will be charged

Kiwi Motorhomes: There is no "fee-free" window here. You will be charged 25% even if you cancel more than a month out. This increases to 50% at the 30-day mark and 100% within the final week.

If you’re still confused by all the fine print, read our guide to motorhome rental terms and conditions.

If I cancel, will my deposit be refunded?

In most cases, yes. However, it depends on your provider and how far in advance you cancel.

If you’re within your provider’s fee-free cancellation period, you’ll generally get your deposit back. Otherwise, a portion may be held onto as a cancellation fee. 

A small number of operators take non-refundable deposits. These include:

• Kiwi Motorhomes: Takes a 25% non-refundable deposit immediately upon booking.
  
  

• Tui Campers: Charges a $300 non-refundable deposit (though this can be held as credit).

What if I return early or pick up late?

If you’ve run into transport trouble and are going to be late picking up your motorhome, you should let your operator know as soon as possible. They’re generally understanding and will hold onto your motorhome for you; however, you won’t get a refund for any missed days.

Operators are much stricter when it comes to returning your vehicle late. In all cases, you need to inform them well in advance if you’re going to be late dropping off – otherwise, the charges start piling up.

Fees for late returns:

If you simply don’t show up for your rental, all of the operators we’ve listed will charge you for your full booking without a refund.

Can I amend my booking dates instead of cancelling?

Generally, yes – but this is always subject to availability. 

Most rental companies would rather keep your business than lose the booking entirely, but the hurdle is often "flex rates" – that is, if you move your trip to a peak season where the daily rental rate is higher, you’ll have to pay the difference. Also, if the rates on the future date end up cheaper, you might not get the difference refunded.

If you want to change your dates, try to inform your operator as far in advance as possible. Some will allow fee-free amendments, while others will charge additional admin fees.

Inside the fee-free cancellation period, the amendment fees are:

Even if it’s too late for a refund, we don’t want guests to lose out. We may be able to look at postponing their trip to new dates. If a guest can’t reschedule, we are able to provide paperwork (if needed) for the guest to make a travel insurance claim. I would always recommend insurance so that even a last-minute emergency doesn't leave a guest out of pocket.

 

Will travel insurance cover me if I cancel my trip?

Only if the reason is "unforeseen" and outside your control. 

Most standard policies are designed to protect you from life’s curveballs, not a change of heart. If you have to cancel, the insurer will typically reimburse your non-refundable motorhome deposits under specific conditions.

What’s covered: the unforeseen

• Personal and medical emergencies: You, a travel companion, or a close relative falls seriously ill or is injured (this usually requires a doctor's certificate).
  
  

• Natural disasters: An earthquake, flood, or extreme weather event makes it impossible to reach your pickup location or travel the intended route.
  
  

• Transport failures: A cancelled flight or a strike that prevents you from reaching your motorhome operator.

What isn’t covered: the mundane

• Change of mind: Deciding you’d rather go to Fiji or that a road trip is "too much work."
  
  

• Work commitments: Your boss is cancelling your leave, or a new project is starting at the office.
  
  

• Relationship breakups: If a travel partner pulls out of the trip for personal reasons.
  
  

• Financial hardship: Simply realising the trip is more expensive than you thought.
  
  

• Pre-existing conditions: Unless you specifically declared them and paid an extra premium, any illness related to a known condition is usually excluded.

Keep in mind that insurance policies vary, so you should always check your policy wording carefully.

For more info on insurance while you’re on the road, have a look at our explainer on campervan rental cover.

What if I need to cancel during peak season?

In New Zealand, ‘peak season’ is December through to February – the height of summer. During this time, prices go up and cancellations become more costly for rental companies.

While most brands keep their rigid 61-day or 30-day timeframes year-round, Wilderness Motorhomes adjusts its policy based on the rush. During the summer peak, we require 21 days’ notice for a fee-free cancellation. But, as always, you have the option to move your trip to a later date, if necessary.

What is the first thing I should do if I need to cancel my trip?

If you’ve hit a point where the trip simply can’t happen, take a deep breath and don’t panic. Acting quickly and strategically can save you from losing the money you’ve put down. 

Here is your step-by-step plan to minimise the damage:

1. Check your cancellation policy for the fee-free threshold. You might have more breathing space than you think.
   
   

2. Contact the reservations team as soon as possible. Even if you’re outside of the window for fee-free cancellation, they might give you additional options.
   
   

3. See if you can change the dates of your trip. Depending on your operator’s policy, a successful re-booking can mean avoiding cancellation fees entirely. You might be charged a smaller administrative fee, but it’ll be a fraction of what you’d lose by cancelling outright.
   
   

4. Contact your travel insurer. Since most cancellations are emergency-related, travel insurance can be a lifesaver if you’re facing steep charges.

Ultimately, no one likes having to cancel plans – but being well-informed before booking and giving yourself the most flexibility possible can save a lot of stress.

If you’re ready to book your trip but want to make sure you’ve covered all bases, we’ve put together this “no surprises” checklist of 26 questions to ask your motorhome rental company before you book.