When you pick up a rental motorhome or caravan in Norway, set aside time for a proper walkthrough with the owner before you drive off. Ask to be shown the documents, safety equipment, electricity, water and gas, and complete the check-in in the app, where the vehicle's condition and any existing damage are recorded. It makes the trip safer for both you and the owner.
Whether this is your first rental or you have done it before, this guide covers what to ask to see, which questions to ask and the mistakes renters most often make on the road.
Quick overview
- Take your time: the handover is not a formality – ask everything
- Document: complete the check-in in the app with condition, damage and equipment
- Motorhome: learn the height, width and weight, mirrors, reversing camera and safety kit
- Caravan: learn the hitch, stabiliser, breakaway cable and support legs
- On the road: contact the owner straight away if anything happens
What happens when you pick up a rental motorhome?
You meet the owner and go through the vehicle and equipment together. The goal is that you feel confident about how everything works before you leave. The owner will usually show you:
- Documents and the vehicle registration certificate (vognkort)
- Safety equipment
- Electricity, water and gas
- Kitchen, toilet and shower
- How to set up the beds
- Outdoor equipment such as the awning and camping furniture
- What applies when you return the vehicle
There are no silly questions. Take photos or short videos of what you are shown – they are very handy on your first evening at a campsite.
Why complete the check-in in the app?
Before you leave, the check-in (pick-up) is completed in the app. It records:
- The condition of the vehicle
- Any existing damage
- Mileage (for motorhomes)
- Equipment included in the rental
Walk around the vehicle with the owner and photograph any scratches or dents. Good documentation protects both of you if questions come up at return.
What should you know when renting a motorhome?
Most people find a motorhome easy to drive, but it is bigger than a normal car. Make sure you know:
Height, width and weight
This matters under bridges, in multi-storey car parks, on narrow roads and on ferries. Many of the most common motorhome damages happen because the driver underestimates the height. Write it on a note by the steering wheel. Norwegian roads are often narrow, with passing places (møteplasser) for meeting oncoming traffic.
Mirrors and reversing camera
Ask the owner to show you how to adjust the mirrors, how the reversing camera works and any sensors or driver-assistance systems.
Safety equipment
Know where the warning triangle, high-visibility vest and fire extinguisher are kept.
Electricity, water and gas: what to have demonstrated
For many first-timers this is the least familiar part, but it is simpler than it looks.
- Electricity: most campsites have a hook-up at the pitch. Learn which cable to use, where it is stored and how to connect it.
- Fresh water: used for the kitchen, sink and shower. Learn where the tank is filled.
- Grey water and toilet: learn where grey water is emptied, how to remove the toilet cassette and how to empty it at a dump station.
- Heating and hot water: learn how to switch on heating, activate hot water and use the control panel.
- Kitchen: the hob, fridge, any oven, the fuses and where to shut off the gas. Never close the glass lid over the hob while the burners are hot – the glass can crack.
- Toilet and shower: how they work and how to save water when you are not connected.
Setting up the beds
Beds and seating vary between models. Ask to see the drop-down bed, how the seating converts into a bed and any extra sleeping places. It is much easier to learn at pick-up than late on the first night.
What should you know when renting a caravan?
With a caravan, hitching it to your car is the most important thing to learn. Have the owner show you the coupling, stabiliser, breakaway (safety) cable and electrical connection, and check that the caravan's lights work before you leave. At the campsite you need to know how to use the jockey wheel and support legs to level the caravan.
Awning and outdoor equipment
Rentals often include an awning, camping furniture, power cables, water hoses and more. Never drive with the awning out – it is one of the most common causes of damage.
Common mistakes new renters make
- Forgetting the vehicle's height
- Driving with roof hatches open
- Not securing loose items
- Forgetting to retract the awning
- Waiting too long to contact the owner when something happens
All of these are easy to avoid with a quick check before every departure.
What if something goes wrong?
Contact the owner as soon as possible. Many problems are solved quickly when reported early. Do not wait until you return the vehicle.
What do you need to do before returning it?
- Clean the vehicle as agreed
- Empty the toilet and tanks
- Refuel to the agreed level (motorhomes)
- Return all equipment that came with the rental
- Check the terms of your rental agreement
Planning your route? See our guide to the best campervan routes in Norway.
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