Tips: Before you buy an expensive motorhome, you should rent a motorhome for your first trip. There are plenty of offers, certainly also in your area. What to look out for before there are nasty surprises.
1. Check driver's license
For vehicles over 3,5 tons, all prospective drivers should check that their driving license is valid before renting a motorhome. Depending on whether the driver's license was issued before or after 1999, different rules apply. The minimum age is almost always 21 years and the driving license must be at least one year old.
2. Consider size carefully
How big is the perfect motorhome? This is of course also a matter of taste! You have to feel comfortable and remember that it can rain sometimes. The larger a mobile home is, the more fuel it consumes and the more impractical it is when looking for a parking space in cities and when the streets are narrower.
3. Book in time
If you have precise ideas about the time of travel and the desired motorhome model, you should book early - if possible six or more months before the start of the trip. Otherwise the risk is too great that the desired model is not available.
4. Motorhome rental from private (small business)
No mobile home or caravan owner uses his rolling home continuously. Some owners prefer to rent it out rather than just leave it unused. Some portals on the Internet broker private motorhomes cheaply and flexibly. Pay attention to the insurance conditions! The registration as a "self-drive rental vehicle" must be expressly entered in the vehicle documents. Otherwise you will not enjoy insurance cover in the event of damage!
5. Choose insurance coverage
In addition to the obligatory liability insurance, you can choose between fully comprehensive and partially comprehensive insurance (usually with a deductible). The personal contribution can be reduced to 200 to 250 euros with a deductible insurance.
Attention: Incorrect operation, such as filling up with petrol instead of diesel, is usually excluded from the comprehensive insurance.
6. Clarify cancellation options
Whether and under what conditions you can cancel is regulated by the rental conditions under which you rent the mobile home. A booking can rarely be canceled completely free of charge. Since the costs can account for up to 90% of the rental price, it makes sense to take out travel cancellation insurance, even when traveling in a mobile home.
7. Think about child seats
Rental mobile homes usually do not have child seats. It is best to bring these with you and install them on site. Attention: An Isofix anchorage is not part of the standard equipment in mobile homes.
8. Reserve campsites/pitches
If you want to stay in certain places, a reservation is a good idea, especially in the high season. Camping and parking space guides in book form or as a website or app provide information about the offer.
9. Use instruction
If you rent a mobile home, the landlord is obliged to explain all technical details such as heating, water connection or waste water disposal in detail. Even if you would like to jet off right away: you are on your own on the way, so you should take the introduction seriously.
10. Log damage
Many RV renters are inexperienced in handling such a large vehicle. Almost every rental vehicle shows minor scrapes and scratches. A meticulous tour before you start your journey (don't forget the roof!) protects you from unpleasant surprises when you return it.
11. Start carefully
If you drive a car on a daily basis, you should slowly and carefully get used to the driving characteristics of a mobile home. Cornering behavior, visibility, braking distances, acceleration and other characteristics differ significantly from normal passenger cars.
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