The pick-up/return depots are located at Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle/Vancouver YVR, and Washington, DC.

The minimum official rental duration is 7 nights.

One-way rentals are possible between these depots for fees ranging from US$ 250 to US$ 750, as figured and presented by our online reservation software.

Clients are allowed to pick-up the rental vehicle on the day their flight arrives — but only if the client calls El Monte RV (tel. 800 367 6507) upon that arrival and arrives by his/her own means at the rental depot no less than one hour before the depot's official closing time. El Monte RV does not provide transfer service in connection with same-day flight arrival. Whether the flight is domestic or international, the rules regarding same day flight arrival are the same.

Similarly, other clients who provide their own transportation to the rental depot — i.e. who do not take advantage of El Monte RV's transfer shuttle service — must call El Monte RV at tel. 800 367 6507 between 8:00 am and 9:30 am on the morning of the pick-up day, this to learn precisely when the vehicle will be ready that afternoon; such clients must arrive at the rental depot no less than one hour before the depot's closing time. Under no circumstances should clients arrive by their own means without first calling El Monte RV as described above.

Customer vehicles cannot be stored at the rental depot without prior authorization from the depot's rental manager; and nominal charges apply, typically US$ 5 per night.

Towing is allowed with non-one-way rentals of the C25, CS25, C26, CS26, C28, CS28, AS32, AF35 and AB35 El Monte RV vehicles, but a 3000 pound maximum weight applies (therefore most cars are prohibited; small utility, motorcycle and single axle enclosed trailers no larger than 5 feet by 8 feet are usually less than 3000 pounds). Only one object may be towed at a time and the combined length of motorhome and object being towed cannot exceed 65 feet. The towing surcharge is US$ 10 per night (with a US$ 100 minimum). The vehicles have a 2 inch x 2 inch square receiver mounted to the rear. However, El Monte RV neither carries nor provides nor installs a towing hitch nor assists clients in this respect. There are different plug-styles for electrical hook-up; 2-prong, 3-prong and 4-prong systems exist. This feature varies year by year, model by model and manufacturer by manufacturer. As the specific vehicle to be received is not assigned until the day of scheduled pick-up, the clients will need to find out at the counter what plug-style is in place on their assigned unit. Only then should one acquire an adaptor. El Monte RV provides no insurance to cover towed items.

Standard shuttle transfer: The shuttle service is available at Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle/Vancouver YVR only. Note: At Seattle/Vancouver YVR depot the service is available in connection with Vancouver YVR airport area hotels only (not with the Seattle area and hence not with Seattle/Tacoma SEA airport), this for a cost of US$ 100 each way per rental vehicle, plus US$ 6 fee per person to be paid (in US$ cash to the US government) at the border. (Due to increased security and traffic, delays crossing into the USA are possible. El Monte RV is not responsible for refunds of any type as a result of border delays.) Otherwise the shuttle service (where available, as listed above) is free of charge. The client opting for this service must call the rental depot directly no later than 9:30 am the morning of motorhome pick-up, this to schedule transfer and the precise pick-up time. The shuttle arrives between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm (or at the Vancouver airport area about 12:00 noon) at designated hotels only. … Transfer from the rental depot following the return occasion occurs between 9:00 and 13:00 (9 am and 1 pm), although at the Seattle/Vancouver YVR depot the shuttle departs about 11:00 am; these return transfers typically stop at the airports as well as at the airport area hotels. … Delays may occur during peak season and certain holiday periods; no refunds are given for transfer delays. Transfers are provided as a courtesy and are not financially negotiable or refundable. Transfers to the rental depot may occasionally be subject to restrictions or limitations beyond El Monte RV’s control. In such circumstances, transfers may be the financial and logistical responsibility of the renter.

Priority AM Departure (PAD): This option guarantees a departure-ready motorhome by 11:00 am, this for a one-time surcharge of US$ 85. PAD departure must be booked at least 7 days in advance and is available at Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando only. The PAD shuttle service is restricted to those hotels designated as PAD shuttle hotels by El Monte RV. Upon arriving at the hotel, clients should call 800 337 2199 for recorded detailed instructions. To meet the shuttle, clients must be at the designated point mentioned. The PAD shuttle typically arrives between 7:15 am and 8:00 am, although it may need to arrive as early as 6:45 am. There are no refunds for PAD surcharge if El Monte RV does not receive PAD hotel information 7 days prior to pick up.

Luggage capacity of the El Monte RV shuttles is of course limited and may require clients with excess luggage or oversized items to store and later retrieve them from their hotel. Typically the complimentary luggage capacity is in accordance with the airline regulations: two suitcases weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kilograms) plus two pieces of hand luggage per person.

Note: for motorhome travel soft-sided or collapsable bags are the best sort to use.

Vehicle pick-up (or return) is not possible directly at locations other than the depots.

The depots are closed during certain holidays, which are accounted for by our online reservation software.

The depots are open for standard pick-up Monday–Saturday from 13:00 to 16:00 (1 pm to 4 pm), and Sunday from 13:00 to 15:00 (1 pm to 3 pm); except Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver*, Miami, Phoenix, Salt Lake City*, and Washington DC, which are closed all Saturdays and Sundays; and except Dallas, New York / New Jersey, and Seattle*/Vancouver* YVR*, which are closed Sundays. However, as described above, Priority AM Departure (PAD) available only at certain depots facilitates pick-up between 8:00 am and 11:00 am for a surcharge of US$ 85. In all cases clients must call ahead to El Monte RV, as described above, to learn precisely the time the vehicle will be ready for them. Clients must arrive at the rental depot no less than one hour before the depot's closing time. Clients should allow 1–2 hours after arrival for vehicle orientation and rental contract processing.

The depots are open for standard return Monday–Sunday, 9:00 am to 11:00 am, i.e. mornings; this with the time-wise exception of Seattle*/Vancouver* YVR* (opens at 9:00 am) and the weekend-wise exception of the other depots which are noted above as being closed Saturdays and/or Sundays. Recall as well, transfer from the rental depot following the return occasion occurs between 9:00 and 13:00 (9 am and 1 pm), although at the Seattle/Vancouver YVR depot the shuttle departs about 11:00 am. A vehicle cannot be dropped off later than 1 hour before or anytime outside an El Monte RV rental depot's official hours of operation.

* The Denver depot and the Salt Lake City depot are closed during November–March. The Seattle/Vancouver YVR depot is closed Sundays and Saturdays during October–March, and is closed every day the last full week of January through the last full week of February. During October–April this depot closes an hour early; therefore the standard pick-up window becomes 13:00 to 15:00 (1 pm to 3 pm).

A non-standard return time (i.e. an afternoon return) entails an extra night's worth of cost. The vendor imposes the standard pick-up and return times such that most vehicles can be prepared during regular business hours and delivered to a client on the same day that the vehicle is returned by the previous client. Thus the vendor doesn't lose out on renting that vehicle for that night. The IdeaMerge software accounts for non-standard return times.

A fee of at least US$ 50 per hour applies to unauthorized late return of the vehicle. Authorized extensions of the rental duration are those which occur at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled date of return.

El Monte RV provides free storage of luggage at the rental depot (but at the client's risk). Again, for motorhome travel soft-sided or collapsable bags are the best sort to use.

If you want to park a car at or near the rental depot for the duration of your rental, please contact the depot directly a day or so before your rental, this to learn whether they happen to have room. Such parking is generally at the client's risk and it typically costs about US$ 5 per night. A set of keys must be left with the El Monte RV staff.

El Monte RV is not responsible for items left in the motorhome after the client returns the vehicle and departs. El Monte RV will not mail such items to the client; instead El Monte RV reserves the right to donate or dispose of such items as it sees fit.

A thorough explanation and demonstration of the rental vehicle will be provided upon pick-up. This orientation, together with completion of the relevant paperwork, requires approximately one hour, although clients should allow 1–2 hours for this.

No special authorization is required by El Monte for non-Canadians to travel into Canada, Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Alaska, but travel to the latter three regions is at the client's risk, as described our El Monte RV "Insurance" page.

IMPORTANT: Canadian residents are not permitted by Canada to rent a motorhome in the USA to travel in Canada. A similar restriction applies to Mexican residents renting in the USA and wanting to travel in Mexico.

The El Monte RV vehicles are otherwise allowed to travel into Mexico if such travel is confirmed in advance and the client purchases directly from a southwestern USA El Monte RV rental depot (typically upon the pick-up occasion) the vendor's Mexico Auto Liability Insurance (MALI) to cover the specific range of dates during which the vehicle might be in Mexico. The cost of this MALI coverage is US$ 22 per such calendar date. Relative to travel in Mexico, MALI provides coverage for physical damage to or total theft of the El Monte RV rental vehicle, as well as third-party liability and medical payments, and legal assistance (especially to aid in preventing the client or clients from being jailed in Mexico). El Monte RV's Roadside Assistance does not extend into Mexico; and any repair costs, lost use, towing or fines incurred in Mexico are the client's (i.e. customer's, traveler's, renter's) responsibility and are not reimbursed by El Monte RV.

At the Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, New York, Salt Lake City, and Seattle/Vancouver YVR El Monte RV rental depots each motorhome is winterized during November through April or during any other stretch of space–time in which the ambient temperatures of the low-altitude regions near the depot are expected to be below the freezing point during a client's rental. Winterization means that the water is drained from the fresh water tank, hot water heater and both waste tanks. Of course this drainage involves the water pipes, toilet, sink, shower, and external shower (if this latter feature is present). Once the vehicle is winterized, no water should be put into the fresh water tank and it should not be hooked up to the public water supply. Therefore no water at all is available from the motorhome. The toilet, however, can still be used as long as windshield washer antifreeze is poured down to rinse it. Pink RV antifreeze will have been run through all the pipes and put into the black and grey tanks. If the client removes the antifreeze and puts water into the system, the tanks and pipes will likely crack. If this damage occurs, the client will be responsible for repairing these systems and any other consequent damages. If the client unwinterizes the vehicle for travel into a warmer climate, it is the client's responsibility to have the vehicle re-winterized before returning it. Of course upon the pick-up occasion the vendor can provide instruction regarding the draining and rehydration of that system.

The El Monte RV rental depot addresses and contact numbers are as follows: