FAQ

HOW FAR CAN I GO?

As far as you want! Vander bookings include 150 miles per day in the rental price. Mileage beyond the included amount costs 35 cents per additional mile.

For example, a Cascade Camper that is booked for five (5) nights, six (6) days would include 900 miles (6 days x 150 miles per night). If the customer returns with 1,000 total miles, an additional 100 miles will be purchased for $35.

WHERE CAN I GO?

Vander campervans may be driven throughout the United States and Canada, but are not allowed to cross the border into Mexico. They must remain on recognized roads, as they are not off-road vehicles.

IS INSURANCE REQUIRED?

Yes! Insurance coverage protects you and ensures peace of mind. Your reservation includes industry-leading coverage through our partner, MBA Insurance for $15 per day. All drivers must be over the age of 25 at the time of booking and will be required to provide scan or photos (front and back) of valid driver's licenses.

For questions regarding the included insurance coverage, please contact an MBA representative at (800) 622-2201, or info@mbainsurance.net.

CAN I USE MY OWN PERSONAL AUTO INSURANCE POLICY?

No. Specialized RV rental insurance through MBA is required for all reservations.. If you decide to rent through our listings on GoCamp or Outdoorsy, coverage must be purchased through those platforms.

WHAT ABOUT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE?

Roadside assistance coverage is required for all rentals to ensure that you do not end up stranded. CoachNet roadside assistance is included on all bookings, but we will remove the fee upon receipt of documentation of your own roadside assistance policy coverage (AAA, Good Sam's, insurance policy) during the rental period. In the unlikely event of a mechanical problem with the vehicle, including flat tires, renters must use roadside assistance.

WHAT IS THE VANDER CANCELLATION POLICY?

We understand that plans can change at the last minute due to circumstances beyond our control.

- A reservation made more than 14 days prior to departure may be cancelled for a full refund within a 48 hour grace period from the time of booking.

- After the grace period, the reservation deposit will not be refunded if the the renter decides to cancel.

- Cancellation within 7 days of departure will receive a 50 percent refund of the total booking cost (rental nights and add-ons),

- Cancellations made on or after the date of departure will not receive a booking refund.

- Insurance payment will be returned for any unused days.

- For bookings through Outdoorsy, refer to their cancellation policies to determine whether platform service fees are eligible for refund.

HOW MANY PEOPLE FIT IN A VANDER?

The Cascade Campers safely and comfortably accommodate up to two human passengers. The couch in the rear of the van folds out to a comfortable double bed. The couch/bed does not have seat belts and should only be used while parked, never while the vehicle is in motion.

The Caravan campers have 5 seat belts, but can comfortably accommodate four humans and maybe a medium-sized dog. The lower full-size bed will sleep 2-3, and the Roofnest penthouse can sleep 2.

MAY I BRING MY PET?

Dogs are welcome! We love to help people find a way to bring their furry friends along on road trips and camping adventures. However, because we want to ensure all of our customers rent a pristine van, a cleaning fee of $25 per dog is required to keep the vans immaculate.

WHERE DO I PICK UP MY VANDER?

The rental rate includes departure from, and return to, the Huntington Metro station at the southern terminus of the WMATA Metro Yellow Line. Other departure and return locations listed below can be requested:

- Dulles International Airport (IAD). $200

- Union Station. $150

- Reagan National Airport (DCA). $100

- Franconia-Springfield Metro (Blue Line southern terminus). $50

- Branch Avenue Metro (Green Line southern terminus). $50

- Vienna Metro (Orange Line western terminus). $100

- Wiehle-Reston Metro (Silver Line western terminus). $150

HOW DOES VANDER KEEP VANS SAFE?

Between each booking, Vander cleans the vans in accordance with CDC guidelines. After first cleaning all interior surfaces with a detergent solution to remove any dirt, grime, or contaminants, Vander then wipes down all surfaces with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (EPA Registration #5813-79), which eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus and 99.9% of all viruses and bacteria. The fresh water tank is disinfected with environmentally-friendly ONE STEP cleanser after every rental. Linens and blankets are washed at the highest temperature settings, or you can opt out of linens if you prefer to bring your own.

WHAT COMES WITH MY VANDER RENTAL?

Our vans are designed with with all the basics in mind, allowing you to get straight to adventure. Your van will come with a full tank of gas, a full 5 gallon tank of fresh water, a chilled Dometic fridge/freezer, and a GasOne single-burner butane stove.

On board your Vander, you'll find:

Plates, bowls, and utensils for two (Cascade Campers) or four (DMV Cruiser and Caravans)
Camp cook set: frying pan, pot with lid and strainer, cutting board, hot pad, and kettle.
Drinkware: cups and coffee mugs
Kitchen Gear: kitchen knife, French press, spatula, tongs, can opener, tin foil, paper towels, corkscrew and bottle opener, dish soap and sponge, and dish cloth
Kitchen Staples: salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil, instant oatmeal, instant coffee, tea
Camp gear: extra butane cylinder, camp headlamps, marshmallow roasting sticks
Bedding: your choice of linens and comforter, or sleeping bags (ask about our Marmot 2-person bags)

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

Of course, that's entirely up to you. Our vans are designed to be simple and convenient, allowing you to focus time and efforts on planning a great adventure. If you prefer to bring your own bedding or camp gear, that's great! Just let us know and we will pull these items from your van to free up storage space for you!

Many people pack more than they will actually need for their trip and find organization a challenge while on the road. We recommend packing light, just a backpack or duffel per person, to get the most out of the experience.

We do not offer bath towels or washcloths, please pack these items before your trip!

DO YOU OFFER ONE-WAY RENTALS?

Yes! Starting in October 2022, we will begin accepting requests for one-way rentals. One-way rental requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on availability and mutual agreement to terms. A one-way rental incurs a retrieval fee to cover the cost of flying to the return point and driving the campervan back to our location in Alexandria, Virginia (airfare, fuel, mileage, time). This calculation will vary by time of year and destination, so please contact us directly at info@vanderoutdoors.com with requested dates and destination to receive a no-obligation quote for the retrieval cost.

IS THERE A MINIMUM RENTAL PERIOD?

For reservations from May 1 through October 31, a 3-night minimum booking applies. If you prefer to return early, the minimum booking price will be charged, but insurance and roadside assistance will only be paid for your actual driving days.

For reservations from November 1 through April 30, a 2-night minimum booking applies.

DO YOU SELL YOUR VANS?

Yes! We periodically rotate our campervan fleet to keep our vehicles fresh. We will post vans on this site when they are for sale, or be the first to find out when vans are offered for sale by signing up to the Vander mailing list.

If you want a new campervan and do not have the time for a roundtrip to California, we partner with the good folks at Cascade Campervans to provide a DMV (DC area) pickup option. Cascade Campers will build your van in their Nevada City, CA location and ship it to Vander where you can pick it up and get the full tour.