Effective February 2, 2026 - For bookings created before this, see below
This policy applies when a Guest cancels a confirmed booking. If a Host cancels a booking, the Guest receives a full refund of all amounts paid.
Grace Period for Full Refunds
Before your booking request is accepted by a Host, you may withdraw for a full refund.
Once your booking is confirmed, you may cancel for a full refund within:
- 24 hours of booking confirmation if departure is 7 or more days away, OR
- 1 hour of booking confirmation if departure is fewer than 7 days away
Military Service: U.S. military service members are eligible for a full refund if their cancellation is due to the service member or an immediate family member entering active military duty.
Host-Selected Cancellation Policy
Hosts select one of three standardized cancellation policies. The selected policy determines the refund amount for the rental amount when cancellations occur outside the grace period.
Flexible Policy
- Cancel more than 30 days before departure: Full refund of the rental amount
-
Cancel 30 days or fewer before departure: 50% refund of the rental amount (Guest is responsible for 50%)
Moderate Policy
- Cancel more than 30 days before departure: Full refund of the rental amount
- Cancel between 8 and 30 days before departure: 50% refund of the rental amount (Guest is responsible for 50%)
-
Cancel 7 days or fewer before departure: No refund of the rental amount (Guest is responsible for 100%)
Strict Policy
- Cancel more than 30 days before departure: Full refund of the rental amount
- Cancel 30 days or fewer before departure: No refund of the rental amount (Guest is responsible for 100%)
What's Always Refundable
The following charges are 100% refundable regardless of when you cancel:
- Add-ons ( chairs, bikes, and other extras)
- Delivery fees
- Prep fees
- Protection packages
- Interior Damage Protection
- Security Deposit Waiver
- Roadside Assistance
-
Taxes associated with the above items
What's Conditionally Refundable
-
Trip Protection (travel insurance): Refundable only if cancelled within 10 days of purchase, or if the Host cancels the booking
What's Never Refundable
- Service fees and their associated taxes are non-refundable in all circumstances
Understanding Refunds and Costs
Your total booking cost includes several components, each with different refund rules:
What You're Paying For
Rental Amount: The base cost of the rental, 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 such as generators, chairs, bikes, and other equipment. Plus any fees set by the Host for prep, delivery, mileage & generator usage, cleaning, or dumping.
Protection Package: Required excess collision and liability coverage for all rentals. May include a Young Driver Surcharge for drivers under 25 years of age.
Optional Coverage: Trip Protection, Interior Damage Protection, Security Deposit Waiver, and standalone Roadside Assistance (not included in your Protection Package).
Service Fee: Supports Outdoorsy's platform operations and provides Guests with access to 24/7 customer support.
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.
Payment Terms
For bookings made more than 30 days before departure:
- 50% of the rental amount is due at booking
- Remaining 50% is due 30 days before departure
If you cancel after booking but have not yet paid the full rental amount, you remain responsible for any amounts owed according to the applicable cancellation policy.
Special Circumstances
Disputes and Discretion: Outdoorsy reserves the right to exercise sole and absolute discretion in determining cancellation refund amounts and resolving disputes. Guests or Hosts with unique or extenuating circumstances must notify Outdoorsy within 24 hours of the issue arising.
For questions about cancellations or to cancel a booking, contact our 24/7 support team.
Effective for bookings created before February 2, 2026
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.
What if I need to cancel right after booking?
Once a host accepts a reservation request, a full refund (including the service fee) is available for 48 hours—only if the start date of the trip is more than 14 days away. Otherwise, the host’s cancellation policy applies.
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
If a reservation is canceled more than 5 days prior to the start date of the trip:
Refunded
- 100% of the booking total, including tax
- Anything paid toward the protection package, including tax
Not refunded
- The service fee, including tax
If a reservation is canceled less than 5 days prior to the start date of the trip:
Refunded
- 75% of the booking total, including tax
- Anything paid toward the protection package, including tax
Not refunded
- The service fee, including tax
Moderate
If a reservation is canceled more than 7 days prior to the start date of the trip:
Refunded
- 75% of the booking total, including tax
- Anything paid toward the protection package, including tax
Not refunded
- The service fee, including tax
If a reservation is canceled less than 7 days prior to the start date of the trip:
Refunded
- 50% of the booking total, including tax
- Anything paid toward the protection package, including tax
Not refunded
- The service fee, including tax
Strict
If a reservation is canceled more than 14 days prior to the start date of the trip:
Refunded
- 50% of the booking total, including tax
- Anything paid toward the protection package, including tax
Not refunded
- The service fee, including tax
If a reservation is canceled less than 14 days prior to the start date of the trip:
Refunded
- Anything paid toward the protection package, including tax
Not refunded
- The entire booking total, including tax
- The service fee, including tax
What do terms like ‘booking total’ and ‘service fee’ mean?
The total cost of a rental on Outdoorsy is broken down into three main components:
Booking total
The direct cost of the rental itself, inclusive of the nightly rate x number of nights, plus any add-ons or fees charged by the host for services like mileage, cleaning, or dumping tanks.
Service fee
Helps us keep the lights on and gives guests access to our 24 / 7 customer support team.
Protection package
The bundle selected by the guest that can include things like collision and comprehensive coverages, which are active only when the vehicle is with the 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 14 days away, the reservation is charged in full.
If a booking is more than 14 days away, you can choose to pay:
- The reservation total
- Only the reservation deposit
The amount of the reservation deposit depends on the listing's cancellation policy.
- Listings with a flexible or moderate cancellation policy:
- 25% of the full cost of the trip (nightly rental amount, add-ons, delivery, prep fee, Protection Package)
- 100% Outdoorsy service fee
- Listings with a strict policy:
- 50% of the full cost of the trip (nightly rental amount, add-ons, delivery, prep fee, Protection Package)
- 100% Outdoorsy service fee
At 14 days from the start of your trip, the balance of the trip cost is due.
Additionally, the Security Deposit is processed 2 days before the start of your trip.
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.