Rental Policies

Rental Requirements

Additional Drivers

There is no extra charge for adding drivers. All additional drivers must:

• Be 25+ years old to drive a full-size van or 21+ to drive a minivan
• Present a valid driver’s license
• Be listed on the rental agreement

You may email copies of licenses and proof of insurance to [email protected]. Please include your name and confirmation/agreement number in the subject line of the email, so we know which rental to attach the documents to. Only authorized drivers may operate the vehicle.

Deposits & Payments

All renters must present a major credit card in their name at the time of pickup. Your card must have enough available funds to cover the full rental amount plus a security deposit.

• Credit cards: $200 security deposit per vehicle
• Debit cards: $400 security deposit per vehicle

These are minimum deposits and may be increased based on travel plans, expected mileage, or other factors. Security deposit amounts may change without notice.

Cash or check deposits are not accepted.

The security deposit may be applied toward any additional charges at the end of the rental, including extra rental days, mileage overages, fuel charges, hourly late fees, lost keys, damages, or collision deductibles.

Payment Methods Accepted

• Credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
• Debit cards (higher deposit required)
• Cash for final rental charges (a card is still required for the deposit)
• Traveler’s checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks

Final payment is due immediately upon return of the vehicle and must be made in U.S. dollars. By renting a vehicle, you authorize A-1 Van Rental to process your credit card for all charges owed under the rental agreement.

Deposits are refundable upon satisfactory return with a full tank of gas. Banks may take up to 10 business days to release authorization holds.

Insurance Options

To rent a van, you must have both liability coverage and collision coverage.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance covers damage or injuries you cause to others. Most personal auto policies include liability, but limits vary. Check with your insurance provider to confirm your liability coverage extends to rental vehicles.

Collision Insurance

Collision coverage protects the rented vehicle from damage, regardless of who is at fault. This coverage typically includes a deductible that you are responsible for paying.

Because coverage varies between insurers, we recommend calling your insurance company before your rental to confirm your policy applies to the size and type of van you will be renting. Some policies have restrictions based on passenger capacity or vehicle weight.

If you plan to rely on credit card rental coverage, be sure to review your card’s terms, as most credit card insurance will not extend to passenger vans.

Mileage Policy

All of our rentals include 200 free miles per day. Additional miles are charged at $0.25 per mile plus tax.

Fuel Policy

Customers are required to return vehicles with the same level of fuel they were at when rented.

The outbound fuel will be noted on the rental agreement and the damage inspection. Most rentals will leave with a full tank, and will be no less than 3/4 full.

All of our vehicles use regular unleaded (87 octane) only.

Travel Restrictions & Guidelines

USA & Canada allowed. Mexico requires advance notice and special insurance. No off-road, racing, ride-share, or commercial hauling.

Traveling to Mexico

We limit our vehicles traveling within Mexico to the states of Sonora and Baja only. You may travel with our van to Mexico, provided you have:

• Made A1 aware of your plans to cross the border, including for what range of dates.
• Purchased Mexico insurance through A1 (this is included on your reservation confirmation if you have told us your plans to travel to Mexico).

We purchase the most well-rounded insurance policy that we have been able to find, which is provided through a Mexico insurance company called GNP. The insurance provided to you has the highest coverage limits available while still being affordable to our customers, and consequently we do not allow the use of any other form of insurance when taking our vehicles into Mexico.

Vehicle Return Policy

Rentals are based on a 24 hour period and include a 2 hour free grace period before being charged another day.

All vehicles must be returned to our office at 2217 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85034.

We are unable to accommodate after hours pick ups. A-1 can accommodate after-hours returns for out of state renters with a return flight only. If you need to make these arrangements please speak to one of our customer service representatives.

Cancellation & Changes

There is no cost required to book a reservation with us which makes cancelling a rental easy if your plans change. You can cancel reservations by phone during our normal business hours or any time via email. During peak rental seasons, we require at least a three-days notice for cancellations without penalty. Our busiest seasons are usually the spring and summer, although other peak dates may be subject to cancellation deadlines depending on demand. During peak seasons, we will require a credit card number to book your reservation over the phone at (800) 899-4320 or via email at [email protected]. The rental cost and deposit(s) are not due until the day you pick up the van, but in the event that you need to cancel your reservation after the deadline we do charge a fee. Typically, the fee would be one day’s rental cost with taxes. Our staff will notify you of your cancellation deadline at the time of booking.

If you are cancelling a rental to Mexico after your cancellation deadline, you may also be subject to the cost of the Mexico insurance policy which we prepare ahead of your pick up date.

Vehicle Condition & Cleanliness

Cleaning:
While we do not expect our vans to come back pristine, we do ask that you please be courteous when returning your vehicle. Any van returned with an excessive amount of mud, sand, trash, pet hair, etc. may be assessed a cleaning fee, the cost of which depends on how much extra time is required to properly clean the vehicle, with a minimum fee of $50.

Non-Smoking Policy:
We maintain a strict non-smoking policy in every one of our vehicles. Smoking of any type in our vans will result in a $250 fee for cleaning and deodorizing.

Damage & Accidents

In the event of an accident, no matter how minor, we require you to notify us immediately. We will provide you with an Accident Reporting Form which can either be emailed to [email protected] or given to us upon return of the vehicle (no later than five days after the accident occurred). If you purchased our CDW, the damage will be assessed and the CDW deductible may be collected upon return of the van. If you declined coverage from A1, we will need your own insurance’s claim number and contact information within five days of the date the accident occurred.

We recommend obtaining a police accident exchange form or police report whenever possible for any accident involving another vehicle on public roadways.

Although A1 cannot guarantee a replacement vehicle will be available in the event of an accident causing the van to not be driveable, we will still do our best to get you moving again.

Accidents in Mexico

Accidents in Mexico are handled through the GNP, the provider we use for Mexico insurance. Their claim reporting phone number can be found in the Mexico insurance packet issued to you when picking up your van. GNP will typically send an adjuster out the same day to write an estimate for the van, but it is important you follow their directions to be sure they can process the paperwork properly and in a timely manner. The renter will be responsible for the cost of damages due to any failure to report damage which occurred while in Mexico.

Toll Violations & Tickets

The renter is responsible for all toll violations, tickets, fees, permits, or fines, required by or resulting from the renter’s use or operation of the vehicle. We highly recommend that our renters visit the website of the toll company or agency issuing the ticket to pay all tolls and violations as they are generated. These companies and agencies will typically start adding late fees and other additional charges very quickly after the violation occurs. Additionally, A1 may charge additional administration fees to process and pay a violation on your behalf.