Escape Rentals New Zealand was established in 2003 by three good mates (Peter, Mike and Andrew) with a passion for surfing…and for travel.
Whilst traveling and exploring the various surf-breaks around the world, these guys gained an understanding of what really matters when it comes to backpacker transport.
It’s a simple formula; good, solid, reliable vehicles, a large comfortable bed and an easy, functional kitchen. Combine that with friendly, personalised service and excellent support whilst you’re on the road and you have one of the best ways to travel New Zealand.
And of course…Price. These guys knew the importance of value when it comes to backpacking and travelling the world. You want to spend your money on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and activities, not on your daily transport requirements. We get it!
And that’s Escape.
We’re still a family-owned business, delivering a great product and service to our international visitors. We’re proud of New Zealand and proud of our history.
And yes, we’re still mates with the three founders of Escape New Zealand.
Even now, 15 years and 30,000+ hires later, we still embrace the ethos and spirit that started it all.
So, thanks for checking us out and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Oh, and if you’re heading to the USA check out Escape Campervans USA. Rob and his crew have hundreds of Escape campervans spread out over 10 depots throughout North America.
and Terms & Conditions.
We try to be as open and transparent as possible, so please read our full/detailed terms and conditions below. Alternatively, please download a pdf version of our terms and conditions.
1.1 The owner will let and the hirer will hire the motor vehicle described in the associated Rental Agreement.
2.1 The owner will provide the vehicle in a roadworthy condition and pay for all tyres, batteries and mechanical repairs required during the hire period arising from fair wear and tear providing reasonable care has been taken by the hirer and the hirer has complied with all these terms and conditions and the Rental Agreement.
2.2 All existing damage to the vehicle is recorded in the Rental Agreement and acknowledged by the parties.
3.1 The term of hire shall be for the calendar days stated in the Rental Agreement. Vehicle collections or drop offs outside the times and periods or locations detailed in the rental agreement will incur a fee not exceeding $1000.
4.1 The vehicle may be driven during the period of hire only by authorised drivers, who are persons holding a current full driver’s licence valid in New Zealand (translated into English language where applicable) and appropriate for the vehicle, and who are named on the Rental Agreement.
(c) any penalties relating to freedom camping, parking and/or traffic offences specific to the period of hire together with an administration fee of $75.00 in respect of each infringement.
(d) any penalties relating to the late collection, or return of the vehicle or any penalties where the vehicle has been returned to a location which is not agreed within the rental agreement.
(e) an insurance documentation processing fee of $50 when a vehicle is damaged and insurance has been exercised (excluding windscreen damage). Any payment under clause 5.1(b) or 5.1(c) can be deducted from the hirer’s security deposit or transacted directly on the hirer’s credit card.
5.2 Where there is more than one hirer, each hirer is jointly and severally liable for all obligations of the hirer pursuant to this Agreement.
5.3 The hirer will be liable for a late payment penalty of 10% (compounded daily) of the total amount due to the owner, together with any costs incurred in respect of collection of the amount due (including but not limited to legal costs, administration and debt collection costs). Such penalty will begin to accrue on the expiry of 14 days from the due date for payment.
(f) stop driving the vehicle and advise the owner immediately if a warning light is illuminated or the hirer believes that the vehicle requires mechanical attention.
6.2 The hirer will be liable for all damage, costs and expenses associated with any careless or negligent use of the vehicle, including but not limited to damage arising from failure to ensure appropriate levels of petrol, oil or water are maintained.
7.1 The hirer will notify the owner and the owner’s roadside assistance representative of any mechanical irregularity immediately. The hirer shall not arrange or undertake any repairs (including purchase of replacement tyres) without the authority of the owner except to the extent that the repairs are necessary to prevent further damage to the vehicle. The hirer will comply with all reasonable instructions of the owner.
7.2 The owner will be responsible for repairs or damage arising directly or indirectly from fair wear and tear of the vehicle.
(a) The hirer purchasing replacement equipment to an agreed/ authorised cost, which will be reimbursed upon completion of hire.
(b) The owner providing replacement equipment.
(c ) The owner reimbursing the client an agreed level of compensation.
In all instances, the owner will exercise one of the three options listed above, only during the hire and at the time the equipment failure/fault has been reported. The owner accepts no liability for equipment failure if it is only reported at the end of the rental agreement period.
7.4 Without limiting any other provision of this agreement, in the event of a mechanical breakdown, if a replacement vehicle is not available or accessible to the hirer, the owner will not be liable for any personal expenses or costs associated with any missed activities or accommodation.
8.1 – Notify the appropriate New Zealand Emergency Service (Ambulance, Police, Fire) immediately by phoning ‘111’ if the accident or incident involves injury.
8.2 – Notify the owner and advise the full situation and circumstances as soon as practicable and in any event, within of 24 hours from the time of the accident or incident.
8.3 – Record full details of all parties, witnesses to and vehicles involved in the incident or accident.
8.6 – Arrange to undertake any repairs or salvage without the owners prior authority, except to the extent that repairs or salvage are necessary to prevent any further damage to the vehicle and/or to other property.
8.8 If a replacement vehicle is authorised by the owner, the hirer is responsible for making their own way back to the appropriate depot or designated location as dictated by the owner.
8.9 The hirer is responsible for the cost of transporting the hirer and any accompanying passengers away from the accident location.
8.10 The owner reserves the right to on-charge towing or salvage expenses to the hirer if it is a single vehicle accident or the accident is due to the hirers error/fault.
8.11 Provided the owner has complied with clause 2.1 the hirer must pay for any costs relating to the delivery of a replacement vehicle. These costs apply irrespective of any excess waiver insurance applicable to this agreement.
8.12 In the event that a replacement vehicle is given due to an accident, any insurance coverage or excess waiver insurance is not transferable to the replacement vehicle.
8.13 Without limiting any other provision of this Rental Agreement, in the event of an accident, if a replacement vehicle is not available or accessible to the hirer, the owner will not be liable for any resulting accommodation or living expenses that are incurred, nor personal expenses for missed activities unless such an accident has been caused by or contributed to by breach of this Rental Agreement or the negligent act, error or omission of the owner. No replacement vehicle will be provided without receipt of a completed damage claim form where one is required by the owner. An additional Insurance/Damage Administration fee of $50 (inclusive of GST) will be applied for processing insurance/damage claims. This fee applies to all damage claims regardless of whether the hirer elects to use excess waiver insurance or has made their own travel insurance arrangements. This fee may be refunded if it is proven that the damage was not due to the hirer’s behaviour or fault. No replacement vehicle will be provided and the Rental Agreement will be cancelled if any of the insurance exclusions detailed within clause 9.2 are exercised.
(b) indemnified to the extent of $1,000,000.00 in respect of any liability he or she might have for damage to any property (including injury to any animal) belonging to any person and arising out of the use of the vehicle.
(j) The vehicle keys have become lost, broken or damaged, stolen or of retrieval of keys which have been locked in the vehicle, or the vehicle has been stolen due to it being unlocked. All costs associated with replacement keys (including roadside assistance/call out costs) are therefore the responsibility of the hirer.
(l) There is a breach of any of these terms and conditions or the Rental Agreement, and in any of such circumstances the hirer will be liable for all costs associated with any incident, including but not limited to the full replacement or repair cost of the vehicle and any third party damage.
9.3 No insurance applies to personal property of the hirer or contents of the vehicle and the hirer will be responsible for all damage to the interior of the vehicle and to all damage to or loss of all property of the owner, including any documents related to the vehicle, except where such damage is a result of a vehicular collision to the extent that insurance (and any applicable excess) shall apply.
9.4 Where any loss or damage is not covered by insurance, the amount due by the hirer in respect of such loss or damage is payable by the hirer from the date such loss or damage occurred.
9.5 It is agreed between the owner and the hirer that section 11 of the Insurance Law Reform Act 1977 shall apply with respect to the above exclusions as if this clause constituted a contract of insurance. In general this provision means that an exclusion will not apply if the hirer proves on the balance of probability that the damage or loss was not caused or contributed to by the matters referred to under the exclusion clause. The hirer acknowledges by signing the Rental Agreement that the hirer is aware of the above exclusions.
(c) he or she may be liable to the owner for damage to or loss of the vehicle and consequential loss; and he or she may be liable for the higher ‘single vehicle incident’ excess, which is an additional charge of $1,000 over and above the $3,000 bond (campervans) or $2000 bond (rental cars).
(a) In the event of an accident the hirer is responsible for ensuring that the correct insurance forms are fully completed. The owner will take no responsibility for the hirer’s failure to do so or any lack of insurance cover arising from such failure.
(b) In the event of an accident, the excess amount will be charged to the hirer by the owner regardless of who is at fault. The excess amount will be reimbursed to the hirer where a third party is deemed by the owner’s insurance company to be at fault and repair costs have been recovered from the third party or that party’s insurer.
(c) Where an accident or damage involves a third party, the hirer will be liable for the excess amount (regardless of who is at fault) if: the hirer fails to obtain the full and correct contact details of the third party; or it is not possible to obtain the insurance excess amount from the third party.
(d) The owner will hold the excess amount (or the credit card payment slip for the excess amount) for a period of 42 days from the date the vehicle is returned and where no excess is required to be paid in respect of any loss or damage or fines incurred, the owner will then refund the excess amount to the hirer or ensure the credit card payment slip is not processed.
(f) Where the actual cost of repair or replacement for loss or damage is less than the excess amount, the owner will refund the difference to the hirer once the relevant costs have been established.
of their components. The renter agrees to release and hold the owner harmless for any GPS unit failures.
(j) Operate the vehicle on any of the roads set out in clause 9.2j park the vehicle in any area of a ski field not designated as a car park.
(k) Smoking in the vehicle will be deemed to be soiling the vehicle, in which case the owner reserves the right to charge a minimum cleaning fee of $200.00.
(l) Returning any self-contained campervan without first cleaning the portable toilet will be deemed to be soiling the vehicle also, in which case the owner reserves the right to charge a minimum cleaning fee of $200.00.
The owner reserves the right to cancel the rental agreement (and vehicle hire) when advised by the NZ Police that the vehicle has been witnessed as and /or reported as being driven in an unsafe manner. When this occurs, the hirer must present the vehicle keys to the NZ Police Officer as requested and the vehicle hire will be terminated with immediate effect, without recourse or refund. The hirer is also liable for the towing costs associated with the relocation of vehicle back to the nearest Escape depot. Under these circumstances, the hirer is not entitled to any refunds or compensation.
location described in the Rental Agreement or obtain the owner’s consent to the continuation of hire. Return to a location other than that specified in the Rental Agreement may incur a fee of up to $1,000 at the owner’s discretion. No refund will be given where the vehicle is returned prior to the scheduled return date.
incurred, including any costs associated with loss of subsequent hire, to a maximum penalty of $1,000.
(g) the owner believes, on reasonable grounds, that payment for any charges associated with the hire have not or will not be paid to the owner.
14.2 The termination of the hiring under clause 12.1 shall be without prejudice to the other rights of the owner and the hirer.
14.3 Where the hiring is terminated under clause 12.1, no refund of any part of the rental charges will be given and the hirer will be liable for all reasonable costs of repossessing the vehicle including but not limited to towing costs and any charges imposed by persons whose property is entered onto by the owner for purposes of repossession.
15.1 Subject to the insurance arrangements agreed with the owner, the hirer hereby indemnifies and shall keep indemnified the owner, its employees or agents against any claims, demands and expenses (including legal costs) incurred or sustained by the owner, its employees or agents or any of them by reason of the hirer’s use and/or possession of the vehicle.
16.1 The hirer acknowledges that the owner will collect, hold and use the hirer’s personal information for purposes related to the hire of the vehicle and the provision of related customer services, including direct marketing and assessing customer satisfaction with products and services of the owner. The hirer further acknowledges that such personal information may be disclosed to debt collection agencies in the event that the hirer defaults in the payment of any monies owing to the owner and the hirer hereby authorises the disclosure of its personal information for such purpose.
If you cancel your confirmed Escape reservation more than 22 days before your scheduled pick up date, we will refund your deposit in full.
If you cancel your confirmed Escape reservation within 7 to 21 days before your scheduled pick up date, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $300 (lose your deposit) or 20% of your total hire cost, whichever is higher.
If you cancel your confirmed Escape reservation within 1 to 6 days before your scheduled pick up date, you will be charged a cancellation fee of 50% of your total gross rental cost.
If you cancel your confirmed Escape reservation on day of pick up, or you ‘no-show’ (fail to collect your vehicle on the agreed date) then you will be charged 100% of your gross rental cost.
If you return your Escape Campervan early for any reason whatsoever after travel has commenced, then no refund is available.
This privacy statement describes how Escape Rentals Limited (operator of Hugo Rentals) collects and uses the information you have provided to us on our website. It also describes the options available to you concerning our use of your personal information I.e. How you can access this information and amend or update it.
Preference information such as booking requirements, product requests and preferences.
We automatically gather information about your computer such as your IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages, and operating system.
We enable you to create a profile, and share information such as messages, photos, and videos with others. Please note that we cannot control the actions of others with whom you may choose to share your pages and information.
If you provide us personal information about others, or if others give us your information, we will only use that information for the specific reason for which it was provided to us.
We will share your personal information with third parties only in the ways that are described in this privacy statement.
Escape Rentals will not sell your personal information to third parties.
We may provide your personal information to companies that provide services to help us with our business activities such as New Zealand Roadside Assistance. Such companies are authorised to use your personal information only as necessary to provide these services to you or us.
to any other third party with your prior consent to do so.
We may make your contact information available to other users that you transact with on this site to help complete the transaction.
Please note this does not opt you out of being served advertising. You will continue to receive generic ads.
The security of your personal information is important to us. When you enter sensitive information (such as credit card number) on our order forms, we encrypt the transmission of that information using secure technology (SSL).
We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. No method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure however. We therefore cannot guarantee its absolute security.
We will retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services ( for a maximum of three months from your vehicle drop-off date) If you wish to cancel your account or request that we no longer use your information to provide you services contact us at bookings@escaperentals.co.nz We will retain and use your information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
Our website includes widgets, which are interactive mini-programs that run on our site to provide specific services from another company (e.g. displaying the prices, availability etc.) Personal information, such as your email address, may be collected through the widget. Cookies may also be set by the widget to enable it to function properly. Information collected by this widget is governed by the privacy policy of the company that created it.
Our website offers publicly accessible blogs or community forums. You should be aware that any information you provide in these areas may be read, collected and used by others who access them.
We may update this privacy statement to reflect changes to our information practices. If we make any material changes we will notify you by email (sent to the e-mail address specified in your account) or by means of a notice on this Site prior to the change becoming effective. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices.
