I camper leggeri generalmente necessitano di un certificato di idoneità aggiornato e di una patente di guida, mentre i veicoli più pesanti o per il servizio passeggeri possono operare con diversi sistemi di ispezione. Controlla il veicolo esatto invece di dare per scontato che la categoria di noleggio risponda.
Leggi le etichette
Confermare le date di scadenza dell'ispezione e della licenza prima della partenza. Un WoF controlla gli elementi di sicurezza specificati alla data dell'ispezione; non costituisce una garanzia contro successivi guasti meccanici.
Chiedere all'operatore di spiegare qualsiasi certificato di idoneità o visualizzazione del pedaggio stradale rilevante per il veicolo.
I controlli dei conducenti contano ancora
Ispezionare pneumatici, luci, specchietti, parabrezza, liquidi e spie. Segnalare eventuali danni prima di lasciare il deposito e fotografare lo stato concordato.
Metti al sicuro armadi, bombole del gas, tavoli e attrezzi sciolti. Un veicolo legale può ancora diventare pericoloso se lo spazio abitativo non è preparato per il movimento.
Quando qualcosa cambia
Fermati in sicurezza in caso di spia luminosa, problema ai pneumatici o nuova vibrazione. Contattare il noleggiatore o il fornitore di servizi stradali prima di procedere in un modo che potrebbe peggiorare il danno.
Non modificare sedili, impianti idraulici, raccordi del gas o strutturali senza l'approvazione qualificata. Le modifiche possono influenzare l'ispezione, la certificazione e l'assicurazione.
What a WoF actually covers
A Warrant of Fitness is a periodic safety inspection covering brakes, tyres, lights, steering, structure and glazing. It is a snapshot on the day of inspection rather than a guarantee of condition, and the legal responsibility to keep the vehicle roadworthy sits with the driver at all times.
Driving a vehicle with an expired WoF is an offence and can void insurance. Check the label on the windscreen when you collect a rental, and check that the expiry covers your entire hire period rather than just the pickup date.
Registration and road user charges
Vehicle licensing, commonly called rego, must be current and is displayed on the windscreen. Diesel vehicles additionally require road user charges purchased in advance per thousand kilometres, and running past the distance purchased carries a penalty.
For a rental, ask whether RUC is included in the daily rate or billed separately at the end, because on a long trip in a diesel campervan it is a meaningful amount that can arrive as an unexpected charge.
Self-containment is a separate certificate
Self-containment certification is not part of a WoF and proves nothing about roadworthiness. Equally, a current WoF says nothing about whether a vehicle may be used for freedom camping. They are independent requirements and you may need both.
Check the self-containment warrant against the vehicle registration on the public register rather than trusting the sticker, and confirm the certified occupancy matches your party.
Checks worth doing yourself
Before a long leg, check tyre pressures and tread including the spare, the oil and coolant levels, the lights and the windscreen washers. Rental campervans are frequently handed over with underinflated tyres, which costs fuel and handling at once.
Confirm the spare, jack and wheel brace are actually present and that you know where the jacking points are. Discovering they are missing on a gravel road on the West Coast is a considerably worse time to find out.
If something goes wrong on the road
Rental agreements set out who to call and what you may arrange yourself. Getting repairs done without approval frequently voids reimbursement, so call first even when the fix seems obvious and the delay is irritating.
For a breakdown in a remote area, stay with the vehicle. It is shelter, it is far easier for rescuers to spot than a person walking, and on many South Island roads walking out is considerably worse than waiting.
Carry the roadside assistance number written down rather than only in a phone, and be able to describe where you are. A road name and the nearest identifiable landmark is usually enough for a tow operator to find you.
Returning the vehicle
Most disputes at return are about cleanliness, fuel level, tank emptying and undeclared damage. Photograph the vehicle inside and out at pickup and again at return, with the odometer and fuel gauge visible.
Empty and rinse the waste tanks before returning, because cleaning charges are high and easily avoided. Read what condition the agreement requires rather than assuming a reasonable standard.
Luoghi lungo il percorso
Controlla prima di andare
Cambiano le regole e le condizioni. Ricontrolla la fonte ufficiale e la pagina relativa al tuo parco o campeggio esatto prima della partenza.
Portalo in viaggio
Salva le fermate. Pianifica l'intero viaggio.
Costruisci un percorso ordinato partendo dai luoghi salvati, calcola la distanza e mantieni allegate date, note e cose da fare.