vendor
Apart from any IdeaMerge discount,
the prices and policies
presented on the IdeaMerge Website match the prices and policies of our
vendors. You aren't paying extra by going through IdeaMerge
— in fact you may be paying less.
IdeaMerge facilitates the whole rental process, presenting
a single total cost you can count on and
acting for you as an accessible resource
and, if necessary, as a mediator.
With a foot naturally in the vendor's camp, we carefully
manage expectations so that the entire rental experience is maximally enjoyable
for all involved.
pricing and payment options with IdeaMerge
Please click here for an explanation of our excellent pricing and payment options.
reservation and booking
In accord with the automobile rental industry standard,
reservations may be made for a vendor's particular vehicle category
(what we might call a vendor's "group") only, not for a specific vehicle.
Which is to say,
although the various images, model numbers and vehicle specifications presented
throughout the IdeaMerge motorhome rental pages — especially on the
vehicle-specification pages — are carefully selected to accurately
and precisely indicate the vehicle that you will get, the vehicle model
(and layout) you get might not be identical to what is indicated by said
information.
In the very unlikely event that
a vehicle in the reserved category is not available upon the pick-up date, the
rental company reserves the right to substitute a comparable or larger vehicle
with the same equipment and the capacity to accommodate the number persons you have delineated (in terms of, say, adults and children) as being in your party. In this case there will be no additional charge for a larger
vehicle. However, the higher ancillary costs associated with a larger
vehicle — such as campground fees,
tolls, and fueling costs — are to be borne by the customer.
Of course IdeaMerge will not charge your credit card unless the vendor you select does have availability in the
particular vehicle category you select.
After you place a complete online reservation request with IdeaMerge (i.e. including your credit card details), IdeaMerge will straightaway query the vendor.
If a vehicle in the selected vehicle category of that selected vendor is indeed have available, we will immediately book the rental with that vendor and charge your card —
binding you per the cancellation policy noted below. Either way, we will then inform you as soon as possible,
often within an hour but most certainly within 24 hours
(or perhaps 48 hours if you enter the reservation request on a Friday or Saturday,
since the booking facilities of some vendors are closed on weekends).
The USA rental motorhomes presented on this Website are designed to
safely transport the number of occupants which equals the maximum number
of sleeping places stated as characterizing the vehicle.
To transport in such motorhome
more than said maximum number of people is to risk violating traffic
safety laws in this respect and, due in part to the cumulative weight of the
passengers, causing mechanical failure or accidental damage to the
vehicle and injury to the occupants and other persons. The
rental client (i.e. the customer) will be held fully responsible for
such damages and injuries. Of course all driver's seats and front
passenger seats of these vehicles have safety belts, and these devices
should be worn whenever the vehicle is in motion. Although many motorhomes
accommodate passengers in places where safety belts are perhaps not
required by law (e.g. at the dining table), any safety belts present in the
rear area are at least significant of a recommended rear seating position.
Rear occupants of a moving motorhome should oblige
themselves — and any rear occupants dependent on them —
to sit in such places only and to use appropriately the seatbelt gracing such
seat. Riding in a place which is not equipped with a safety belt increases
the danger of injury to one's self and others.
cancellation fees
We require the aforementioned downpayment and prepaid balance because the vendor
imposes a schedule of considerable cancellations fees. Necessarily reflecting that schedule of fees,
our cancellation policy is as follows:
changes
A. Authorization required. Once a rental is booked, any request to change any part of the booking,
such as adding or eliminating accessories or changing the dates, must be authorized by the rental company in advance.
Do not expect to make changes when you pick up the vehicle.
B. Cost. The vendor may charge a US$ 25 change fee.
C. Rates. Any rates and/or discount will be adjusted to the level valid at the time of name,
date, vehicle or location changes.
D. Cancellation Fee for Shortening. If you request to shorten your rental duration, you must pay a cancellation fee
on the days that you eliminate. For example, if you reduce the number of rental days by moving the pick-up date closer
to the return date, or the return date closer to the pick-up date, or both closer to each other, you must pay a
cancellation fee on the days you eliminate. The general cancellation fee schedule for this vendor applies.
E. Cancellation Fee for Shift of Rental. If a change involves a shift of both the pick-up date and return
date away from of their original dates, or of pick-up or return location away from the original location, it may be
considered by the vendor a full or partial cancellation rather than a mere change. The general cancellation fee
schedule for this vendor applies.
F. Early Return. There is no refund for early return of the vehicle.
G. Return Location. If after the rental has commenced the client wants to
change return location, the client should first obtain authorization
from the vendor and ascertain the additional charge that would apply.
H. Extension. If after the rental has commenced the client wants to extend
the duration of the rental, the client should obtain authorization
from the vendor. Failure to obtain such authorization will result in
a US$ 30 per hour or US$ 300 per night penalty.
taxes
The tax is determined according state and city in which the pick-up occurs:
6% at Atlanta,
5% at Boston,
8.5% at Chicago,
8.25% at Dallas,
8.35% at Denver (plus US$ 2 per night road safety fee, maximum US$ 90),
6% at Fort Lauderdale,
7% at Orlando,
8.10% at Las Vegas,
8.75% at Los Angeles,
9.25% at Nashville,
8.375% at New York,
8.05% at Phoenix,
6.6% at Salt Lake City,
9% at San Francisco,
16.5% at Seattle/Tacoma SEA.
The tax does not apply to the optional insurance.
Of course the IdeaMerge online reservation software
includes the tax in the total cost it computes.
pick-up & return constraints
The minimum official rental duration is 7 nights.
Clients arriving on flights from overseas (i.e. outside North America)
are not allowed to pick-up on the day their flight arrives,
this constraint being imposed by the vendor's insurance company
in recognition of the naturally fatigued state of such clients
upon flight arrival.
Shuttle transfer is available in connection with all the Moturis depots.
Shuttle transfer to a participating Moturis rental depot is offered at 7:30 am only
— exceptions are listed separately with the transfer hotel information —
but it is only available from
designated transfer hotels.
Clients opting for shuttle transfer should book it no later than three working days prior to the transfer occasion, ideally when placing the rental booking.
The shuttle is free of charge.
The complimentary permitted amount of luggage the shuttle will take 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. Excessive luggage is the client's responsibility. …
Shuttle transfer from a participating Moturis depot to the
designated transfer hotels
is offered at 11:00 am
— exceptions being listed separately with the transfer hotel information.
In connection with such transfer, please do not book return flights which depart prior to 2:00 pm.
Again, the shuttle is free of charge.
The complimentary permitted amount of luggage the shuttle will take 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. Excessive luggage is the client's responsibility.
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 rental depots.
The depots are open for pick-up
Monday–Saturday, 9:00 am to 10:00 am — although
early pick-up is provided starting at 8:00 am for clients using the
hotel shuttle transfer (see above for exceptions!) and for clients who otherwise arrive at the depot between
8:00 am and 8:30 am and who have informed Moturis of their early arrival at
least three working days before.
Afternoon pick-up (i.e. at the rental depot) is available Monday–Friday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
— although at Orlando and for clients staying at the designated San Francisco
downtown (alias city center) transfer hotels,
such afternoon pick-up is provided on Saturdays as well,
but only in connection with the Moturis shuttle transfer.
From April through September a US$ 64 surcharge applies for
pick-up on Saturday or Monday. This surcharge
is referred to as the "weekend" surcharge.
The depots are open for standard return
Monday–Saturday, 9:00 am to 10:30 am, i.e. mornings.
A non-standard return time (i.e. an afternoon return) entails an
extra night's worth of cost, and a Saturday afternoon return entails
charge for Sunday night as well.
The vendor imposes these standards 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.
A Saturday afternoon return means the vendor doesn't have time to prepare
and rent the vehicle to someone else for Saturday night; and because the
vendor is closed Sundays, the vendor cannot rent the vehicle Sunday night
too. The IdeaMerge software accounts for non-standard return times.
Sorry but Sunday pick-up or return is not possible with Moturis.
A fee of US$ 30 per hour or US$ 300 per night applies to late return of the
vehicle. The depots are closed during certain holidays, which are accounted for
by our online reservation software.
security deposit
Upon pick-up the vendor will authorize an
US$ 1000
security deposit
on the Visa, MasterCard or EuroCard credit card or American Express card you present.
That authorization only blocks that amount of credit; it is not an actual charge.
The person whose name is on that card must be present upon said pick-up occasion and be one of the persons
signing the vendor's rental contract on that occasion.
(However, the credit card can be different than the card that was used to pay us for the rental.)
Debit cards, cash or travelers checks are not accepted for the
security deposit; only Visa and MasterCard and EuroCard credit cards and the American Express card are accepted,
and the amount cannot be split between credit cards.
Said blocked amount — minus the cost of
any damages (up to the relevant insurance deductible or deductibles), fuel charges,
and traffic or parking tickets — will be
returned to the customer's credit within a month after the customer returns the vehicle.
The vendor reserves the right to retain a minimum US$ 50 fee if the vehicle
is not returned with the interior in a clean condition. The toilet and
waste water tank should be emptied prior to the return of the
vehicle, or the vendor will retain a separate US$ 75 fee.
Exceptions regarding the security deposit:
what's included
The vehicle will be delivered with a full tank of engine fuel;
and it should be returned with a full tank.
The water tank, propane tank,
and any toilet chemical repository will be full; but you will not be
charged if they are returned less than full. No refunds are given for
unused water, propane and toilet chemicals
By the way, the client is responsible for checking all vehicle fluid levels
at each refueling during the rental. Refills of all these fluids
— except of course the engine fuel and the propane (LPG) — will
be reimbursed by Moturis upon the return occasion if the client presents
receipts for such.
All the Moturis motorhome rentals also include collision and
comprehensive insurance
inhering a deductible
(a.k.a. excess; applicable per claim/occurrence not per rental)
which is effectively US$ 1000. See the commentary below about Moturis's
vacation interruption protection (VIP).
The term comprehensive here signifies
vehicular damage due to vandalism, fire, theft of the vehicle, break-in, and weather,
as well as animal impact,
and towing and recovery costs.
Of course said deductible/excess
is void if the client/customer fails to file a relevant and timely accident/damage
report with the police and/or Moturis or fails to inform the Moturis pick-up depot within
24 hours with a full written report or if the client uses the vehicle in
violation of the rental contract he/she signs with Moturis; the
said coverage is also void in connection with the following "exceptions"
and the "exclusions" noted farther down:
(a) operation without Moturis's expressed permission or consent,
(b) damage caused by striking overhead objects,
(c) damage caused by freezing or overheating vehicle systems,
(d) all damage caused during any use of vehicle off public roads (including at campgrounds,
parking lots, service stations, etc),
(e) undercarriage damage, including tires and wheels,
(f) damage caused from backing up vehicle,
(g) all glass damage.
Also included with Moturis's insurance coverage is
Moturis's vacation interruption protection (VIP).
This protection reduces to US$ 1000 the
US$ 2500 deductible/excess applying to accidental damage
and to theft of the vehicle and to vandalism of the vehicle.
Relative to mechanical breakdown (but not accident) requiring
the vehicle to be in repair for more than 12 working hours, the VIP provides
US$ 30 per person per day for lodging and US$ 30 per group per day
for other transportation, the limit of these payouts being altogether
US$ 3000 per rental, and the payouts being contingent upon client's
presentation of receipts.
The VIP is void if (a) the client/customer fails to file a relevant
and timely accident/damage police report or (b) if the vehicle is used in violation
of the terms of the rental contract.
Said deductibles/excesses are void in connection with the following "exceptions":
(a) operation without Moturis's expressed permission or consent,
(b) damage caused by striking overhead objects,
(c) damage caused by freezing or overheating vehicle systems,
(d) all damage caused during any use of vehicle off public roads (including at campgrounds,
parking lots, service stations, etc),
(e) undercarriage damage, including tires and wheels,
(f) damage caused from backing up vehicle,
(g) all glass damage.
Also included by default is 24/7 assistance.
The vendor provides free storage of luggage at their depot (at the
client's own risk).
Included in the preparation fee are the first tank of propane,
the first supply of toilet chemicals, a water hose, sewer hose,
flashlight (i.e. torch) and batteries, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, 110 V adapter,
and the final cleaning of the outside
of the vehicle.
Also included are the operator's manual, a road atlas,
campground guide, KOA Atlas, and KOA discount card
(giving customers a 10% discount).
A free 60-day membership in the President's Club and the Good Sam Club comes with each rental.
Benefits include: free technical service hotline, minimum 10 percent discount on nightly rates
at over 1700 Good Sam RV Parks, and 10 percent discount on all Camping World store purchases.
All Moturis's rentals include 60 miles per day,
with extra miles being available as described on the "Extras" page.
There is no charge for additional drivers.
age and license(s)
The minimum age limit for Moturis motorhome rentals
is only 21 years, and typically there is no maximum
age limit.
Upon pick-up the vendor (Moturis) requires of the client
merely a non-provisional resident-country drivers license.
But if said license is not primarily or secondarily (i.e. in parallel)
written in English, the vendor suggests that the client carry
an international drivers permit (IDP).
(Regarding such permits, see the country listings posted on the New Zealand Automobile
Association's Website.)
Basically an IDP is a means by which police in a foreign
country can know — in terms of translations in nearly a dozen
different languages —
that your domestic driver's license is indeed recognized as being valid by
the proper authorities in your country. (See the
excellent article at
Drivers.com.)
The local office of your auto club (AA, AA, RAC, ADAC, etc.) sells IDPs for
about US$ 20. If you need an IDP, take
your license, two passport-sized photos and the requisite cash to the club office. (Though for about US$ 6 the
club may snap Polaroid photos for you.) If you
plan to operate a motorcycle, be sure to have the auto club certify your
qualification to do so.
Web searches will bring up a host of Websites selling documents that conform
to the model delineated in annex 10 of the United Nations Convention on Road
Traffic (1949); but according to Article 24 of that convention,
a truly valid IDP is one which is "issued .. by the competent authority of
another Contracting State or subdivision thereof, or by an association duly
empowered by such authority ...."
Good news: In the USA the standard domestic drivers licenses of foreign states
are, in connection with foreign tourists, considered equal to a standard USA
drivers license.
Therefore the foreign drivers license allows the holder to drive the same
range of vehicle types as does a USA license. This means, for instance,
that the 3500 kg permissible-weight constraint that applies to European
Union licenses in Europe is effectively raised in the USA to match the
USA standards, which are invariably so high that all the vehicles
represented on IdeaMerge's USA "Rates & Reservations" page may be driven
by a standard-European-drivers-licensed client.
(See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver's_license and, say,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Driving_Licence_codes.)
breakdown
If a mechanical breakdown of the vehicle renders it inoperable
for the 12 consecutive working hours after the client makes a
timely report to the
vendor about the breakdown, and if this breakdown is through no fault of the
client, Moturis is responsible to refund the client but that responsibility
is limited to refund of the
daily rate or (i.e. with VIP coverage, as described above) a portion thereof .
Clients assume full responsibility
for any additional expenses incurred by reasons of a breakdown of vehicle.
The term breakdown as used above does not refer to the vehicle's
air conditioning, plumbing, refrigerator, microwave, other appliances,
slide-out functionality, automatic step, awning, radio, CD player,
TV/DVD, generator, and cruise control, among other functionalities not
essential to travel.
For repairs exceeding US$ 50, the customer must call
the vendor to get authorization. Non-authorized repairs over US$ 50 will not
be reimbursed. Receipts must be presented for reimbursement to occur.
See our Moturis "Insurance"
page for details concerning the included insurance and assistance.
geographical restrictions
Travel into New York City is not permitted.
Travel into Death Valley is not allowed from 15 June to 15 September.
Authorization is required to travel into Alaska, Yukon,
and the NW Territories. This authorization costs US$ 450.
No such authorization is required for non-Canadians travel elsewhere in Canada,
although travel to the greater metropolitan areas of Montreal and Quebec City
is prohibited.
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 Moturis vehicles are allowed to travel into
Mexico if such
travel is confirmed in advance and the additional Mexico liability
insurance and CDW, which together cost US$ 19 per night,
is purchased.
Area restrictions might apply. Clients have to provide
the depot with the exact dates the vehicle will be in Mexico.
Relative to a vehicle traveling in Mexico,
Moturis's traveler assistance is not available 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 Moturis.
further restrictions
accident
In the event of an accident, the customer must obtain a local police
report as provided by the attending police officer investigating the accident.
The client should notify the Moturis pick-up depot
about the accident as soon as possible. On said accident report
the client should make a full, written report including the other
party's name, address, phone number and driver's license information. The client
should submit that form to the pick-up depot within 24 hours of the accident. All documents
relating to the accident should include a police report number or other
pertinent identifying number. Insurance coverage may be void if these
measures are not performed.
parking tickets, etc.
Upon returning the vehicle the client should report and pay to the vendor
all parking/traffic/toll-road violations
(and the documentation thereof,
i.e. the ticket itself)
levied on the vehicle or driver
during the rental.
Per such violation unreported on that occasion, the vendor will levy upon
the client a US$ 100 administration fee — in addition to the fine
itself. The vendor takes these fines and charges and fees very seriously,
so you are advised to be forthcoming in this respect upon returning
the vehicle.
