Campervan hire deposit: how it works and how to get it back
Almost every campervan rental asks for a deposit. It is usually blocked on your card, released some days after the return and, if the company reports damage, it can be kept to cover it. Here is what to check before paying and what to do if it does not come back.
Before booking: four questions
- How much and how is it taken? A hold on a credit card is not the same as a charge: a hold is released, a charge has to be refunded. Ask which one applies and whether a debit card is accepted.
- When is it released? Look for the deadline in the conditions. If it is not there, ask in writing and keep the answer.
- What can be deducted? Damage, fuel, cleaning, tolls, fines… The contract should detail what is and is not covered, and the excess that may be charged in the event of damage (European Consumer Centre Ireland).
- "No deposit" offers. A low or zero deposit is usually linked to buying extra protection. Compare the total price, not the deposit alone, and read what that protection excludes: insurance and excess guide.
What customers report
Figures calculated on 13 October 2026 from 293 public complaints published on Altroconsumo, DECO PROteste, OCU, Portal da Queixa, Test-Aankoop, indiecampersopiniones.com. These are complaint platforms: they collect problems, not satisfaction, and the samples differ in size and country, so they cannot be used to rank companies. How we classify each complaint: methodology.
| Issue | Indie Campers | Roadsurfer |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit slow to be returned | 5% (13)OCU, Oct 2026; Portal da Queixa, Oct 2026 | 25% (9)OCU, Sep 2026; OCU, Sep 2026 |
| Refunds that are late or never arrive | 5% (12)OCU, Sep 2026; Portal da Queixa, Sep 2026 | 6% (2)OCU, Sep 2026; OCU, Sep 2026 |
| Damage charge after return | 24% (62)OCU, Sep 2026; Altroconsumo, Sep 2026, Catania | 58% (21)OCU, Sep 2026; OCU, Sep 2026 |
| Referred to a debt collection agency | 1% (2)OCU, Aug 2026; indiecampersopiniones.com, Jun 2026, Edinburgh | 0% (0) |
If you dispute a damage charge, the deposit can stay blocked while the damage is assessed. Roadsurfer, for example, explains that the deposit may be held during the review and then released or used to offset the cost (source).
If the deposit does not come back
- Check your bank statement: was it a hold that expired, or a charge?
- Ask the company in writing for the release date, the amount kept and the reason, with photos and an invoice for any damage.
- Set a deadline, for example 10 working days, and keep every answer.
- Watch your bank's deadline for a chargeback: it usually counts from the date of the charge (source). Confirm it with your bank.
- Escalate: if the company is in another EU country, the European Consumer Centre in your country can help for free. Step by step: charged for damage after returning the vehicle.