Hippie Terms & Conditions

This document contains a summary of some of the Rental Conditions. For full detailed Conditions refer to the Rental Agreement on pick-up.

Branch Opening Hours

(allow 1 hour for collection)

Branches Closed:

Christmas Day
New Years Day
Good Friday
Australia Day Holiday (observed)

$115 Public Holiday Surcharge

• 1 April 2024
• 25 April 2024
• 6 May 2024 - Alice Springs, Darwin, Brisbane & Cairns depots
• 3 June 2024- Broome & Perth depots only
• 10 June 2024-  Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney & Hobart depots
• 5 July 2024 - Alice Springs depot only
• 26 July 2024- Darwin depot only
• 5 August 2024- Picnic Day Alice Springs & Darwin depots
• 14 August 2024- Brisbane depots only
• 23 September 2024- Broome & Perth depots only
• 7 October 2024- Cairns, Brisbane Adelaide & Sydney depots
• 24 October 2024 - Hobart & Cairns Only
• 5 November 2024- Melbourne depot only
• 26 December 2024 - All Depots (excl Alice Springs, Darwin & Broome)
• 3 March 2025 - Perth, Hobart & Broome depots only
• 10 March 2025 - Melbourne, Adelaide & Hobart depots only

Included in Standard Daily Rate

• Unlimited Kilometres
• Vehicle Insurance (liability applies)
• 10% GST (Goods & Services Tax)*
• Kitchen Kit*
• Personal linen kit
• General Equipment*
• 24 Hour Roadside Assistance
• Maps & Campground Guides

*Goods & Services Tax (GST)

GST is an Australian Federal Government imposed tax. GST is included in all Hippie rates and is currently 10%. Hippie reserves the right to amend GST upon Government intervention.

*Kitchen Kit

Kitchen kit: plates, bowls, knives, forks, spoons, bottle opener, can opener, mixing bowls, colander, saucepans, frying pans, cooking utensils, chopping board, kettle, toaster and tea towel. Electrical appliances are supplied in vehicles that have 240V.

*Linen Kit

Complimentary bedding (including sheets, blankets, pillows, pillow cases and towels).

*General Equipment

pegs, clothes line, fire extinguisher, bucket, hose, broom, dustpan and brush. 4WD RVs also include a Personal Locator Beacon and solar shower.

Rate Exclusions

We’re cooking with gas! A gas bottle is necessary for cooking in the RV. A full gas bottle(s) needs to be pre-purchased and can be returned empty to Hippie at the completion of the road trip. Fee applies for each booking of a multiple rental.

Gas bottles for the Hitop & Endeavour cost $25. 

Protection Package

Personal Injury

The RV has third party insurance cover and it is likely that any other vehicle involved in an accident also has third-party insurance. Depending on the circumstances of an accident, the guest may be entitled to claim for their personal injury against the third-party insurance of the party responsible for the accident. The extent of such third-party insurance varies in different States and Territories and Hippie strongly recommends that all passengers take out their own Personal Injury Travel Insurance.

Property Damage

The RV is insured for damage to it and damage to the property of a third party. However, the guest is responsible up to the amount of the applicable liability for damage to third party property, or to the RV. The guest is also responsible for the cost of the daily rate for the period the vehicle is being repaired. There is no refund for unused portion of the rental period. The Liability applies to each claim, not RV.

The liability is applicable regardless of who is at fault and must be paid at the time the accident is reported to Hippieby telephone on a credit card, not on return of the RV. Hippie reserves the right to charge the guest for any RV damage including Third Party property damage not reported but identified on return of the RV.

Liability Options

We understand that everyone has different needs and therefore offer a range of liability options to provide peace of mind. The amount payable for each reduction option is based on the minimum rental period applicable for each RV or total days of RV booking. The maximum charge for liability reduction options is 50 days.

Bond

To keep this simple - the bond payment will depend on the liability option chosen. If the guest chooses to take ‘The Low Road’ or‘ The Middle Road’ the total bond will be debited to the Credit or Debit card immediately. 

If the guest chooses to take The High Road  the Bond is payable to Hippie by an open signed credit card imprint with an authorisation for $100. The credit card holder must be present to sign for the Bond when they pick-up the RV and is liable for any damage to the RV.

The Bond is fully refundable provided terms are met. The RV simply needs to be returned on time and full of fuel to the Hippie branch location booked. Credit card refunds including bond refunds can take up to 14 working days depending on the guest’s financial institution. If there is damage to the RV on its return or any other terms of the rental contract have not been met, the Bond will be used to cover the cost up to the amount of the relevant Liability. If the terms of the Rental Contract are not met and the Bond is not sufficient enough to cover the damage, extra costs will be charged.

If a guest is continuing on with another Hippie booking, the Bond can be transferred to the next booking within Australia.

Exchange Rate / Currency Variations

All transactions are conducted in Australian dollars. Due to exchange rate fluctuations, there could be some variance in the amount refunded compared to the amount initially charged. 

Value Pack - Stress Free

The Value Pack is a bundled extra which provides the highest liability cover option and basic items necessary for a great road trip. The minimum amount payable per rental for Value Pack is the five-day minimum booking period. 

$35 per day for Hitop & Endeavour

‘The High Road, Fan/Heater, Extra Driver/Renter Fees, Camp Chairs and Table, and Baby/Booster Seats (with prior request).

Long Hire & Early Bird Discounts

Guests who love road trips as much as we do and travel for more than 21 days receive 5% off daily rates. This is also available to guests with multiple bookings that total 21 days or more.

Drivers Licence and  Minimum Age

For the safety of our guests a current and full motor vehicle driver licence is required to be shown at pick-up and all drivers need to be present. If the driver licence is not in English then we require an accredited English translation or an International Driver Permit. For travel in the Northern Territory, an International Driving Permit is required along with the foreign driver licence. We do not accept Digital Driver licences.

Note: UK driver licences that have had approved extensions by the UK DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency) can still travel for up to 11 months past the licence expiry. This extension only applies to full GB driving licence holders. It does not apply to provisional driving licence entitlement.

Drivers must be over the age of 21, have held a licence for at least two years and the licence must be valid for the entire booking duration.

It is important to select the correct country in which the drivers licence was issued to ensure correct rates are calculated.

Multiple Rentals

Should a customer have more than one consecutive rental they can be combined to qualify for longer-term hire discounts off the daily vehicle rates.
Details are on application.

Change of Drop Off Destination

If the customer wishes to change the drop off destination, they must first obtain authorisation from the Reservations or Scheduling departments.

Subject to the change being approved, an additional charge or a relocation fee may apply.

The One Way Fee is non-refundable after pick up.

Vehicle Category

We understand guests’ needs are different and therefore our vehicles can be requested by category, however not by make or model. We always do our best to accommodate requests, however should the vehicle booked be unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances, we will substitute the booked vehicle with an alternative available at time of pick-up, at no extra cost. Any changes made to the booked vehicle and agreed to by the guest do not entitle the guest to a refund.

In the event of no alternative vehicle being available to the guest, Hippies liability is limited to a refund of the hire charge or in the case of mechanical failure (unless caused by the guest) the remainder of the hire period.

Customer Self Check

Please note that it is mandatory for all customers to complete our Customer Self Check In service.

https://selfcheckin.thlonline.com/sci/start

Transfers

Branches are conveniently located near major airports, making pick-up and drop-off even easier for our guests. Guests can arrange transport to and from the airport via taxi or rideshare at their own cost.

Rental Duration

A road trip allows guests to travel at their own pace. To ensure our guests get the most of their holiday a minimum five-day booking applies, when pick-up and drop-off is from the same branch location. Minimum booking periods may also apply during peak periods such as Christmas, Easter, Bathurst & Phillip Island motor racing, etc.

One-way Bookings

Road-trips don’t always finish where they started, some of the best adventures don’t. If a guest drops-off at a different branch location from which they picked-up, a minimum booking period applies and $185-$280 one-way fee applies. The minimum booking periods for one-way bookings are between 7 and 21 days dependent on destinations .

Travel Restrictions

Not all RVs are suitable for all driving situations, so it’s important the right RV is chosen for the travel planned. Hippie, at its discretion may restrict RV travel in certain areas due to adverse road or weather conditions, and the distance to nominated destinations in relation to the length of the rental period. For the safety of guests, the following travel restrictions are in place:

Hippie vehicles aren’t equipped for the rougher terrain and cannot be driven on unsealed roads. Well maintained access roads which lead to recognised campgrounds and are less than 10 kilometres long are allowed. 

Hippie Hitop and Endeavour Campers can be driven to the Northern Territory at an additional cost of $30.00 per day provided written permission is obtained from Apollo Assist prior to travel.

• Travel Restriction Table

Hippie at its discretion may restrict RV travel in certain areas due to adverse road or weather conditions, and the distance to nominated destinations in relation to the length of the rental period. If applicable, any further restrictions will be mentioned at pick-up. Guests are encouraged to contact Apollo Assist at 1800 849 859 if any concerns regarding road accessibility

Kilometres

For the safety of guests please don’t underestimate the time it will take to get from one point to another. While our RVs include unlimited kilometres we recommend travelling a maximum of 250 kilometres per day or the equivalent of 4-5 hours driving.

Returning the RV

The motorhome is a home away from home and for comfort, we recommend it’s kept tidy throughout the road trip. The vehicles need to be returned to the branch as they were taken, with the interior cleaned and holding tanks emptied. The vehicle exterior does not require cleaning unless it’s covered with excessive dirt or mud, making it difficult for our team to see its return condition. Drop and Go is available to be pre-purchased or added on pick-up to offer quick and easy return. (Not available in Broome)

Repairs

We understand that while on holiday the vehicle may require small repairs. So not to disrupt the road trip any further, if the damage was not caused by the guest, repairs up to $100 can be completed without authorisation and will be reimbursed. If repairs over $100 are needed, the Apollo Assist team should be informed prior to repair being completed.

All vehicles are enrolled in the Australian Automobile Association and 24hr mechanical emergency roadside assistance is available if needed simply contact Apollo Assist at 1800 849 859.

Infringements, Tolls & Fines

Hippie will pass on any charges the guest receives for traffic infringements, toll, or parking fines during their road trip. For toll way fees received, Apollo reserves the right to charge the guests credit or debit card upon receiving the toll way. An administration fee of $75 to cover associated administrative costs per, traffic infringement or parking fine received may be charged.

Animals

We believe fur friends can only make a road trip better and both service animals and pet dogs are allowed to travel in our RVs with written permission from Hippie at time of booking. There is a $200 pet service fee for each pet, this excludes service animals. If a vehicle is returned soiled by a pet, Apollo reserves the right to charge an extra cleaning fee, Our full policy can be viewed on the Hippie website

Smoking

Our vehicles are a smoke free zone, smoking is not allowed in any of our motorhomes. If smoke or drug residue is detected Apollo reserves the right to charge a cleaning fee.

Payment at Branches

For security reasons, Hippie accepts Credit card and Debit card for charges paid on RV pick-up and drop-off. We do not accept cash at Hippie branches. The Bond is payable at pick-up by Credit card or Debit Card and cannot be paid with a pre-paid Credit card.

Credit and Debit cards

Hippie accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express. The following fees apply for the rental and any additional products (irrespective of chosen account e.g. savings, credit, etc.):

Visa Debit card /MasterCard Debit card    1.21%
Visa Credit card/MasterCard Credit Card    1.21%
Amex                           2.60%

Fees are subject to change without notice

Credit Card Surcharge - Discovery Rentals

Credit card fees are payable when using Visa, Mastercard or AMEX as these are subject to change Find out the current rates for your card here credit card fees are not refundable

Travel Insurance

For peace of mind, we strongly recommend that all guests take out the highest level of private travel insurance.

Additional Products & Services

To be requested at time of reservation or upon vehicle collection and paid by customer on day of vehicle collection:

• Outdoor Table - $27 per rental
• Outdoor Chair - $19 each per rental
• Heater/Fan - $17 per rental
• Toilet Chemicals- $3 each - Cannot be pre-booked. Guest can request at Self Check-In or Pick-Up
• Baby/Booster Seat - $40 per rental
• Satellite Phone  - AU$23 per day plus call charges (Must be pre-booked at least 7 days prior to pick up.)
• Drop & Go - $85  Simply return the vehicle neat and tidy and we’ll take care of the rest including vehicle, cabin and bathroom cleaning. (Not available in Broome)
• First Aid Kit - AU$50  (A First Aid kit is supplied in every RV. If the seal is broken or the kit is not returned the kit becomes the property of the guest and fee is charged.)
• Extended Roadside Assistance - $5 per day capped at 25 days(This includes opening vehicle on lock out, lost key replacement up to $120, emergency towing up to 25km, jump start, flat tyre change using spare located in the vehicle, fuel delivery up to 20 litres. Non-mechanical issues are not covered and guests may be required to take the vehicle to a repairer.)
• Windscreen and Tyre Protection Plus Extended Roadside Assistance (WAP) - $10 per day capped at 25 Days This includes 1 windscreen, 2 tyres and the Extended Roadside Assistance. 

Fees

• First Aid Kit $50.00 A First Aid kit is supplied in every RV. If the seal is broken or the kit is not returned the kit becomes the property of the guest and the fee is charged.
• One-Way Fee $185.00 - $280 Minimum days apply.
• Pet Cleaning Fee $299.00 Applies on all bookings where a pet dog is travelling in the RV.
• Change of Drop-off location after Pick up $750.00 minimum Subject to availability
• Cleaning Fee $250.00 Applies only when the RV is returned without the

Cancellation and Amendments

You must put any request to Cancel or Amend in writing or we cannot action.  The date of the email will determine the following Cancellation fees:

• If cancelled up to 31+ days prior to pick-up = Loss of deposit or 20%
• If cancelled from 30 to 7 days prior to pick-up = 40% of Rental
• If cancelled from 6 days or less days prior to pick-up = 70% of Rental
• If cancelled within 24 hours of pick-up or No-Show = 100% of Rental
• If vehicle is returned early there is no refund available for the unused days and a No Show is considered as 100% Cancellation.

Original pick-up date or the earliest confirmed pick-up date is used to calculate the cancellation fee. 

Amendments: If a bookings travel dates are amended within the cancellation fee period to be outside of the cancellation fee period and is subsequently cancelled, the cancellation fee for the original booking will apply. 

$50 per change. This applies but is not limited to changing the client name, vehicle type, reducing the number of rental days, changing the pickup dates or locations. If rental is shortened, no refund will be given on the initial deposit.  In addition, if an amendment is made inside 14 days of pick up, the rental will be charged at the number of days originally booked. A relocation fee may also apply if the collection or return location is amended.  Where the hire is being extended, the amendment fee will not apply.

If the amendment results in changing vehicle brands your deposit may not transferable.

Amendments may result in the daily rental rate to be recalculated at the rate applicable on the date of the amendment for the entire rental period.

Any amendments within cancellation time period is subject to the supplier providing permission to amend the travel dates, or cancel the reservation and having to re-book.

Change of rate scheme including special rates. If the rate scheme or vehicle category is changed, this is considered a new booking and cancellation fees may apply to the original booking.

If a bookings travel dates are amended within the cancellation fee period to be outside of the cancellation fee period and is subsequently cancelled, the cancellation fee for the original booking will apply.

Other Things You Need To Know

Hippie reserves the right to refuse any rental at our discretion.

While on their road trip guests are responsible for:

• Damage caused where the terms of Rental Contract have not been met of the guest (other than when a third party damage admits fault and provides full contact and licence details).
• Damage caused by negligence and/or wilful conduct.
• Damage caused to the vehicle in any way by part or total water submersion or salt water. It’s true, our vehicles can’t swim.
• Damage caused to tyres and windscreen except where ‘Value Pack’  has been purchased and applies.
• Damage caused to the vehicle when using the RV in contravention of any legislation or regulation controlling vehicular traffic.
• Damage caused due to a single vehicle roll over except where the ‘Value Pack' or ‘Single Vehicle Rollover’ has been purchased and applies.
• Damage and associated costs with recovery of a bogged vehicle.
• Damage or loss caused to any personal belongings.
• Damage caused due to use of incorrect or contaminated fuel.
• Damage to the slide out of the RV.
• Damage to the underbody or overhead of the RV except where the ‘Value Pack’ has been purchased and applies.
• Damage to the awning of the RV except where the ‘Value Pack’ has been purchased and applies.
• Our RVs are equipped with a tracking device. Hippie reserves the right to send warnings to guests that are driving in contradiction to the terms and conditions, or exceeding the speed limits. Guests that continuously ignore the warnings may be subject to a penalty fee of $300 charged on each occasion identified.

Rates/Terms/Conditions are subject to change without notice.

Enjoy the adventure, wherever it takes you.

Disclaimer

Illustrations and text in any of our documentation, brochures or website are subject to change. Images are a representation only of the vehicle depicted. Variances in the vehicles offered for rental may occur due to substitutions made by Hippie or modifications and/or upgrades to the vehicle design made by the manufacturer.