How Much Does a Camper Van Rental Cost?
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Your Guide To What New Age Travel and Services Includes vs What Others Charge Extra
Shopping for a campervan rental can feel a bit like booking a flight… The headline price looks great until you get to checkout. Suddenly, there's a fee for this, a charge for that, and what looked affordable has crept up considerably.
We think that's frustrating. So consider this your guide to understanding what campervan rental pricing actually means, what to watch for when comparing companies, and what we include at New Age, so you know exactly what you're getting before you book.
What Some Campervan Rental Companies Often Don't Tell You Upfront
The daily rate is rarely the full story. Here are the things worth looking for in the fine print before you commit to any rental.
Bedding and Kitchen Supplies
Some companies list a van as "fully equipped" but charge separately for bedding, pillows, towels, or kitchen kits. Always confirm what's physically in the van vs. what costs extra.
Bear Spray
In Alberta, bear spray is an essential safety item, not an optional upgrade. Most rental companies charge for it separately. We include it in every single van because the safety of our campers is our priority. (Make sure you know how to use it properly. Read our guide on bear spray safety)
Refrigerator, Portable Shower & Toilet
This is generally where most companies will add a fee (and potentially an expensive add-on fee!) At New Age, all these items are included in your campervans. See our article “Camping Toilets and Showers” for more information.
Early Pickup and Late Drop-Off Fees
If you want to pick up your van before a set time or return it after, some companies will charge you for that flexibility. We charge per day because we want you to have the full day to maximize your pickup and drop-off; however, it works best for your trip.
Cleaning Fees
These exist across the industry and are worth factoring in when you compare quotes. A lower daily rate with a high cleaning fee at the end isn't actually cheaper.
Kilometre Limits
All rentals include a daily km allowance and a charge per kilometre after that. When you're road-tripping the Rockies, Banff to Jasper is about 290km of the most beautiful road in the world. Luckily, it’s rarely a limiting factor, since travelers enjoy taking their time on this notorious Highway 93! That being said, planning your kilometres remains an important part of your travel.
At New Age, the majority of our customers stay below the included kilometres on their rental. If you're planning to exceed, we offer prepaid packages at a lower cost per km (which we will discuss in more detail below).
Not all companies work this way, so it's worth asking before you book.
The Charges Worth Comparing Across Companies
When you're getting quotes from multiple rental companies, here's what to ask so you're comparing apples to apples:
What's included in the daily rate?
Is bedding, cookware and kitchen kit included or extra?
Is there a cleaning fee and if so, how much?
How many kilometres are included per day and what's the overage rate? Does it really matter for the km I planned to drive?
Are there fees for early pickup or late drop-off?
What does the base insurance cover and what does each upgrade add?
A rental that looks $30/day cheaper can easily flip once you add bedding, a kitchen kit, bear spray, and a cleaning fee. Do the math with the full picture, and, of course, check the companies' reputation on Google/Tripadvisor, for example! Look at their reviews and the length of time in business (since some of them change names every year, you can imagine why).
What New Age Includes in Every Rental
We built our pricing around one simple idea: pack your bags, pick up your van, and go. No scrambling for supplies, no surprise charges at checkout.
Here's what's in every New Age van, included in your daily rate:
Bedding: Fitted sheets, pillows, duvet
Towels: Both shower towels and dish towels
Full kitchen kit: Dishes, pots, pans, utensils, cutting board
Propane: 1L bottle, which covers a solid amount of cooking
Bear spray: Because the Rockies are bear country and safety comes first (learn more in our Bear Safety Guide)
Cleaning supplies: All-purpose cleaner, dish soap
Bags (Grocery, Garbage, Compost): We care about sustainability, genuinely
Extra blankets: added in shoulder seasons and removed when it's warm to save you storage space
Outdoor supplies (Chairs, Table, Axe): All our campers have a designated way to cook outside, if you don’t have access to a picnic table.
Bluetooth radio connector: Because a road trip needs a good soundtrack
Pick your van, pack your clothes, and play in the mountains. That's really it.
The Extras Worth Planning For
We keep what we include generous on purpose, but there are a few things worth budgeting for or deciding on in advance.
Kilometre Packages
If you're planning a big trip (for example, a climbing trip in Chilliwack or a surf trip in Tofino), it's worth looking at our kilometre packages upfront. The bundled rate is meaningfully better than the overage rate if you go over. Plan ahead and save!
Insurance Upgrades
Every rental requires our Basic coverage as a minimum. We also offer the Essential or the Peace of Mind packages, depending on how much you want covered. Worth a read before you book, especially given Alberta's gravel roads (windshield chips are genuinely common out here, so our windshield add-on covers you for that).
Add-ons that are genuinely worth it
Our most popular extras are the shelter tent, upgraded insurance, and the hammock. But we also love seeing people grab the yoga mat, the travel guitar, or the projector for outdoor movie nights.
Little things that make a big difference at the end of a long hiking day.
How to Compare Rental Quotes Fairly
Most campervan rental companies, including ours, are booked entirely online, so the best way to compare is to go through the booking flow on each company's site.
Don't stop at the daily rate on the listings page. Click through to the actual booking process and pay attention to what gets added along the way: Cleaning fees, insurance minimums, km limits, and any items that need to be added to get a properly equipped van.
That's where the real price reveals itself and where the differences between companies become obvious. A rental that looks $30/day cheaper can flip quickly once the extras stack up.
One more thing, pay close attention to the reputation of the companies. Because, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for!
We're always happy to walk through any questions before you book. No pressure, just transparency. This is what we do best.
