A Guide to Renting from Q Campervans

Table of Contents

Click to jump to that section.

Before your trip

When you first book your trip, you will pay 25% non-refundable reservation deposit, and the rest is due 14 days prior to departure. The security deposit (which is the same as your insurance deductible) is due 2 days before your departure. You will get emails prompting you for these key dates. Please check your spam/junk folders for any Q Campervan correspondence. With the card on file, the payments will automatically be charged.

If you are an international renter, there is an International Transaction Fee of 3% that Q Campervans’ payment software, Stripe, charges on each transaction. If you would like to avoid this, there are 2 options!

Number 1: use a North American card/account

Number 2: Wire/Bank transfer = This option will require you to contact us in advance so that we can manually approve your reservation when the wire transfer is received (it does not immediately appear in our account). We will send you our transfer details. Companies like Wise and Revolut are examples of cheap ways to bank transfer.

Driver Verification + Contract Signature

After completing your booking there are 2 simple steps to be taken.

  1. Driver Verification: You can verify as many drivers as you like free of charge. Once you complete your booking, there should be prompts to add drivers to the reservation. If you have trouble, please contact us. Q Campervans now accepts drivers 22-24 (additional insurance premium)! Drivers under 22 are subject to approval by Q Campervans. Please contact us if you are under 22.

  2. Contract signature (E-sign): On our “About” page, is where our rental contract resides. Please read this then e-sign.

Booking

Payment

Pick-up/Drop-off, Delivery, and Date Selection

Q Campervans is very flexible with pick-up times (9 am-5pm). With drop-offs, the van will need to be returned before 12pm, unless otherwise stated. Quennel (owner of Q Campervans) will message you shortly after booking and arrange a pick-up time at Moody Centre Skytrain Station (if delivery is not purchased) that works well for both parties! The address of the pick-up location is 3002 Spring St, Port Moody, BC V3H 2Y9, which is a small “kiss and ride” lot in front of the train station. Quennel will also follow-up to confirm pick-up details a couple days before your reservation begins.

All pick-ups will occur at Moody Centre Skytrain Station in Port Moody, BC. The station connects all the way to downtown Vancouver and YVR airport through the Skytrain. There is a small Park and Ride lot to the left of the station where you will meet with Quennel :)

There are a few things that occur at pick-up. They occur in this order:

  1. Pictures of licences and the van itself for insurance purposes.

  2. Signatures for an inventory list, departure form and rental contract (if not signed online).

  3. Full walk-through of the entire van (driving the van, operating instructions)

  4. Answering any questions + providing advice.

  5. Test drive (always offered, not required)

If you purchased delivery, the campervan you booked will be brought to you. Delivery costs $5/km away from the normal pick-up location at Moody Centre Skytrain Station. There is a 50 km radius limit for deliveries.

Q Campervans is closed on Saturdays. Bookings cannot start or end on Saturday. Q Campervans is open Sunday-Friday and all holidays.

Insurance

Here at Q Campervans we like to keep things simple! Insurance can be extremely confusing for those that don’t deal with it regularly. That’s why our singular package has all the coverage you need.

Q Campervan Insurance : $27.99/night

-Third Party Liability coverage ($3,000,000): Covers damage and injury to others. Liability coverage helps pay for property damage or bodily injury.

-Collision: Pays for repair or replacement of our vehicles if damaged in a crash

-Comprehensive: Covers non-collision related losses, like theft, vandalism, fire, or other perils

Deductibles (same amount as security deposit)

  • Fred: $800, Big Blue: $900, Lenny $900, Marvin $900, Rocky $900, Jayne $700, Beatrice $800, Walter $900

  • Underage deductibles increase by 1.5 times the numbers listed above.

Roadside assistance is required for each booking (unless otherwise approved) and covers many things like towing, flat tires, battery jumps, lock-outs, and emergency gas. Furthermore, Quennel is almost always available to give technical assistance on the vans and assist you with any concerns you may have related to your trip!

Underage Insurance: we cover drivers under 25! For all underage drivers, there is a $15/night premium on top of the Q Campervan Insurance. For those under 22, we accept bookings on a case-by-case basis. If under 22, please contact us about your booking. All underage drivers will go through a more extensive driver verification process.

General Information

Packing Guide

All “essentials” are included in a Q Campervan rental free of charge. Based on this list, you can judge what you may want to bring. Items included:

  • Kitchenware (Induction cooktop, cutlery, pots, pan, bowls, plates, cups, hot pads, can opener, spatulla, cheese grater, serving bowls, Tupperware, cutting board, knives, dish mat, strainer, french press)

  • Cleaning supplies (Garbage bin + extra bags, disinfecting wipes, dish-soap, sponges, Dust pan, toilet paper)

  • Sink (23 litres of fresh water ready for use)

  • Fridge (42 quart /40 litre)

  • Heated Blanket

  • Bedding, linens, 2 towels + 2 facecloths, dish cloths/handcloths

  • Window covers and curtains

  • Outdoor shower (runs off of propane which is provided. 20 litre water jug filled to get you started) The shower uses any fresh water source.

  • 2 camping chairs

  • Porti-potti (tank filled with water and scent/disintegration pods included)

  • Straps for roof rack

  • Extension cord to cook outside/charge the van at campsites

  • BONUS: contact in advance about stock of bear spray, bug spray, fire starter/lighters, salt+pepper, oils, tea, etc.

Optional Add-ons

There are a number of items that we are able to rent to make your trip extra fun! These items include 2 person inflatable SUP’s, 2 person inflatable kayaks, bike racks, 10x10 canopy tents, firewood, and hatchets. When you check out you can add these to the booking. (Lifejackets not provided). Extra Linens can also be purchased.

Notable Reservation Policies

Cancelation policy: 75% refund up to 7 days before pickup, then 50% refund for less than 7 days before pick-up. The 25% reservation deposit is non-refundable.

Mileage: Each rental includes 200km/day. For example, a 10 day trip, you’d get 2000km to use how ever you’d like. All additional km’s are charged at a rate of $.40/km. The charge will be calculated at the end of your trip unless you prefer to pre-purchase additional km’s (please contact us to add this to the invoice).

Pets: Q Campervans are pet friendly. However, there are pet-related damage fees, so only well-trained pets are allowed. Each rental is sanitized completely to ensure everything is clean.

Fuel: Each rental comes with a full tank of gas/diesel. The vans must be returned with a full tank. The vans get a range of fuel economy from 13L/100km to 18L/100km. Big Blue and Beatrice (diesels) are the most fuel efficient. The rest of the vans take gas/petrol. Gas prices obviously fluctuate but a full tank costs around $150-$210 CAD and will get you around 650-750km for gas engines, 850-950 for diesel engines.

Damage: The renter accepts all responsibility for all and any damage during rental period. Which begins after the keys are handed off to the renter, and ends after keys are handed back to Q Campervans.

For more information on all the nitty gritty policies, please refer to the Rental Contract or contact Quennel at campervanq@gmail.com or (+1) 778-858-8863

During your trip

Driving and Weather

Q Campervans are quite easy to drive. You may have difficulty finding parking in larger cities like downtown Vancouver or Victoria, but everywhere else should be quite easy to navigate. All Q Campervans have winter tires but are not 4-wheel drive. Walter and Quincy have a back-up cameras for those more nervous about operating a larger vehicle. Lenny, Marvin, and Rocky have back-up sensors that beep when you get close to an object.

Off-roading is not allowed. Short gravel roads (no more than 1-2 km) to campsites and various locations are okay, but extended off-road travel can lead to many problems.

Many places in BC and Alberta have long steep hill climbs and descents . It is always advised to use overdrive or gear down to not only help the transmission and engine stay cool, but also to prevent the brakes from heating up too much. Quennel will go over all driving related controls and advice at pick-up.

Weather can be extremely variable. For example, overnight snow in the rockies as late as June is not unheard of. Make sure to research the area you are going to and look at typical forecasts for that time of year. Vancouver and Vancouver Island are considered “Rain-Forests” so always plan for the possibility of rain.

Forest fires are a worry during peak summer months. Be prepared for highway detours/closures or occasional hazy conditions from smoke.

Roadside Assistance and Breakdowns'

In the unfortunate event that you or your van need help, roadside assistance takes care of that stress. It is required for bookings. As previously mentioned, it will cover a wide variety of things like towing, flat tires, battery jumps, emergency gas, and lock-outs. Make sure to also call Quennel at (+1) 778-858-8863 to ensure that you are safe and taken care of! It is hard to emphasize enough, the lengths we will go to make sure your trip goes smoothly.

Another reason as to why off-roading is not allowed is because roadside assistance may not be able to help you/you are more difficult to access if the van breaks down. Furthermore, cell service may be more severely limited.

Breakdowns happen and it’s important that renters realize this possibility. Q Campervans goes to extreme lengths to ensure a well-oiled machine is provided to you! When something goes wrong, from Q Campervans’ perspective its ALL HANDS ON DECK! We will call, organize, and confirm all appropriate parties to aid not only in the towing of your van but the timely repair. Mechanical repairs are often covered by Q Campervans unless it is determined that negligence or improper use caused the problem. The saying, “It's just a rental, don't be gentle” isn’t so funny when you are broken down in the Rockies with all local shops booking weeks in advance! If roadside assistance cannot reach you because the vehicle was taken off-road, it is your responsibility to cover any other costs.

If you are in an accident of any kind, it is crucial that all necessary documentation/info is sent to campervanq@gmail.com. Furthermore, the renter must collect driver’s licences, pictures of all damages, witness contact information, insurance details, and any other relevant information. The renter is responsible for all damages to themselves, the rental, and their own belongings if not covered by insurance. Any tickets, parking charges, tolls, and any other driving related charges are the responsibility of the renter.

Please see rental contract for further information. The info above is a guide, but does not replace the legally binding information in the rental contract.

Ferries, Park Passes, Campsites

When booking ferry reservations, it is important you inform them of the dimensions of your van and show up at least 30 minutes prior to the sailing departure. They have the ability to waive reservations for not doing either.

  • Fred, Big Blue, Lenny, Rocky, Jayne, Beatrice= 20 ft long, 7’3 tall

  • Marvin= 20 ft long, 9’2 tall

  • Walter= 20 ft long, 9’6 tall

  • Quincy= 24 ft long, 9’6 tall

  • For all vans not listed, please contact Quennel for dimensions.

For campsites, it may depend on the location, but all Q Campervans should be able to easily fit in any vehicle accommodating campsite! If you choose to free-camp make sure you feel safe and are respectful to your surroundings; both people and nature. To view my blog post about free-camping/booking a campsite click here.

One thing about Q Campervans is they are very self-sufficient with power. Hook-ups at campsites are not really necessary. As long as you get some sun and drive the van, they will never run out of power.

Park passes may be required in National and Provincial Parks. Make sure to plan for this in advance. Day passes or Discovery passes are required for National Parks. Provincial park passes in BC are also required at Joffre Lakes, Garibaldi, and Golden Ears. Valid park passes may already be in the campervan you are renting.

After your Trip

Pre-Return

We get this question a lot, “what do I need to do before I bring the van back?”. Here are the main things!

  1. Empty and clean the porti-potti (if used)

  2. Fill the fuel tank

  3. Ensure all your belongings are packed

  4. Inspect for any damages

  5. Clean the interior to a reasonable degree. We understand its camping…

Please do not wash the exterior of the vehicle. We will do that :)

Rental Drop-off

When you bring your Q Campervan back to Moody Centre Skytrain Station at the arranged time for drop-off (unless delivery is purchased), a few things will happen. Drop-offs are can performed quickly, especially if you are in a rush.

  1. Short conversation about the trip. Feedback, concerns, suggestions, etc… We loving hearing about the highlights and learning from your lowlights :)

  2. Quennel will fill out a return form. This is where the mileage is checked, any damages declared, and any additional charges added. A signature will be required. Any additional charges are added to the invoice, card on file used.

  3. Goodbyes! Quennel may ask if you took any videos/photos. Also, if you have time, for a review!

  4. Security deposit will be returned usually within 24-48 hours. We do our best to get it back quickly (we clean and inspect the van first) and will update you on our progress.