Driving Guide
What a Camper Van Rental in Japan Really Costs
The scary part of renting a camper isn't the price — it's the fees you only learn about after you've committed. Here is DREAMAX's complete fee structure, plus the five places to check when comparing any rental company.
Day rates: three tiers
Camper day rates come in weekday / weekend / peak-season tiers, listed pre-tax per vehicle right on each car page — no quote request, no email capture. Japanese consumption tax (10%) is added at checkout, with every line item shown before you pay.
What's free
Every vehicle has a built-in ETC unit with a free ETC card (tolls settled at return). Infant seats (0–4) and booster seats (4–10) are free. Campers include a basic 4-person cooking set, and 20+ outdoor equipment items are available as optional add-ons.
Insurance and cleaning
Vehicle insurance is optional, charged per day and listed on each car page. Without it, accident repair and third-party liability are entirely the customer's responsibility — so we strongly recommend adding it. The cleaning fee is a fixed per-trip amount, also listed up front.
The deposit — do you get it back?
Yes. The deposit is refunded after return and inspection (within one month, to the original payment method); the amount varies by vehicle. Accidents carry a deductible, which is also listed on the car page before you book — never revealed after the fact.
Cancellation policy
Cancel 15+ days before pick-up: full refund. 8–14 days: 70%. 4–7 days: 50%. Within 3 days: no refund. A 4% payment-processing fee is deducted from all refunds. If your itinerary is not fully settled, booking early protects you.
5 hidden fees to check when comparing
Fee structures vary wildly between companies. Check these five before booking anywhere: (1) Over-mileage fees — some charge ¥500/km; DREAMAX has no driving-range limit. (2) Mandatory daily insurance — some "cheap" day rates hide a compulsory ¥9,000/day insurance line. (3) NOC (non-operation charge) — a five-to-six-figure business-loss fee after an accident; is the amount published? (4) One-way and airport handover fees. (5) Peak-season minimum rental lengths — some require 4–7 days minimum. If any of these is not written down, ask before you book.
See each vehicle's actual rates
Browse camper vans & rates