What are the cancellation and reservation deposit policies for Guests?

Planning a trip is an exciting time. But, you’re smart to pay attention to the finer details before making any commitments. That includes things like the cancellation policy and reservation deposit.

So, let’s take a look at Outdoorsy’s.

On February 2nd, 2026, we updated our Outdoorsy Cancellation Policy for bookings created that date and onwards. Please note that the Legacy Outdoorsy Cancellation Policies govern any bookings created before February 2nd, 2026.

What if I need to cancel right after booking?

Once your booking is confirmed, you can cancel within 24 hours for a full refund if your trip is more than 7 days away, or within 1 hour if your trip is within 7 days or less. Please note there is no grace period available for same-day bookings

What are the cancellation policies?

Outdoorsy has 3 different cancellation policies. Hosts choose the policy that's best for them and their listing.

That means, as a Guest, it's important to check the cancellation policy of a listing before you book it. Just scroll down the listing page until you find it. Then, make sure you're comfortable with the policy the Host has in place before proceeding with a booking.

Once you're booked, you can always review the cancellation policy on your trip page.

Flexible

Moderate

Strict

What do terms like ‘rental amount’ and ‘service fee’ mean?

The total cost of a rental on Outdoorsy is broken down into three main components:

Rental amount

The base cost of the rental is calculated as the nightly rate multiplied by the number of nights.  Refundability of the rental amount depends on the Host's selected cancellation policy and when you cancel. 

Add-ons

Optional extras or services provided by the Host to enhance a Guest's booking. These optional services or items may include camping chairs, bikes, pet fee, and other equipment or services.

Protection Package

Required excess collision and liability coverage for all rentals. May include a Young Driver Surcharge for drivers under 25 years of age.

Service Fee

Supports Outdoorsy's platform operations and provides Guests with access to 24/7 customer support.

Protection Package

The bundle selected by the Guest can include things like collision and comprehensive coverages, which are active only when the vehicle is with the Guest.

Security Deposit Waiver

An optional alternative to a traditional security deposit authorization. It allows Guests to pay a smaller fee at checkout to ensure deductible coverage (up to $1500 for non-Class A RVs and up to $4,000 for Class A RVs ) and avoid a large hold on their payment method.

Taxes

Applied to applicable charges based on local and state requirements. Taxes are refunded in proportion to their associated charges. If an item is refunded, its taxes are refunded. If an item is non-refundable, its taxes are non-refundable.

Prep Fee

Refers to a single, transparent fee that consolidates all standard cleaning and preparation costs for getting a vehicle ready for a Guest.

Do I have to pay the full reservation amount when I book?

It depends on how far in advance you book your trip. During checkout, you will be able to select your payment options.

If, at the time of booking, the start date of your trip is less than 30 days away, the reservation is charged in full.

If a booking is more than 30 days away, you can choose to pay:

• The reservation total

• Only the reservation deposit (50% of the trip cost, excluding the service fee and its associated taxes)

Fig 1. A Guest's payment options, displayed on their checkout page

If you choose to pay only the reservation deposit:

Initial Payment: The reservation deposit is 50% of the trip cost (rental amount, add-ons, delivery, prep fee, Protection Package) plus their taxes are due at the time of booking.

Final Balance: 30 days before the start of your trip, the remaining 50% of the trip cost, the Outdoorsy service fee, and all associated taxes are due.

Security Deposit: This is a separate transaction processed 2 days before your trip start date.

Note! If you're paying with PayPal, you'll have to pay the full amount of your booking upfront, regardless of when you make your reservation.

What if I have extenuating circumstances and need to cancel?

If there is a complaint from either party or if either party feels there are unique or extenuating circumstances in their booking, Outdoorsy must be notified within 24 hours of the issue / complaint.

U.S. military service members are eligible for a full refund if their cancellation is due to them, or a family member, entering active military duty.

Outdoorsy reserves the right to have sole and absolute discretion in all cancellation amounts and disputes.

How does COVID-19 affect the cancellation policy?

We’re currently unable to adapt our policies for COVID-19. Though we made exceptions in the past, our original cancellation policies are once again in place. This is for the protection of our valued Guests and dedicated Hosts.

Before booking a planned vacation or last-minute getaway, please examine the Host’s cancellation policy thoroughly and research how COVID-19 may be affecting your travel destination. Purchasing Trip Protection on your booking is a great way to help protect against the risk of a covered illness or personal emergency derailing your plans. Please note that this coverage is only available for purchase by U.S. residents. Click here for more information about Trip Protection and what kinds of events it's designed to cover.