In short: Every campervan in the Quirky Campers NZ fleet meets the same safety and compliance standards as the largest commercial campervan operators in New Zealand. We hold an NZTA Transport Service Licence. Every van carries a current Certificate of Fitness, gas and electrical safety certificates (where required), and self-containment certification. Every booking includes fully comprehensive insurance and 24/7 AA roadside assistance, with the Quirky team on hand if you need us.
By James O’Hern · General Manager, Quirky Campers NZ · Published June 2026
How does Quirky Campers NZ keep you safe on the road?
Safety is the starting point for everything we do at Quirky Campers NZ. We want every customer to feel confident from the moment they pick up their van, whether it’s their first campervan trip or their hundredth!
We operate under the same legal framework as every other commercial campervan operator in New Zealand. That includes peer-to-peer platforms like ours, right through to large fleet rental companies. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) sets the rules, and we follow them.
What is a Transport Service Licence?
Quirky Campers NZ holds a Transport Service Licence (TSL) with NZTA. This is the legal permit you need to operate a rental vehicle service anywhere in New Zealand. Taxi, lorry and bus operators hold the same licence, as do direct-hire campervan operators.
As the TSL holder, Quirky Campers NZ takes legal responsibility for the safety, roadworthiness and compliance of every vehicle on the platform. In practice, we maintain current certificates for every van. We document pre-hire inspections before every rental, verify driver credentials at every handover, and keep records ready for NZTA audit.
You can read more about the rental service TSL on the NZTA website.
What certificates does every Quirky campervan need?
Every van in the Quirky fleet must hold the following certificates before it can take a booking. We track every expiry date and follow up with owners in advance, so no van ever goes on hire with an expired certificate. If this isn’t enough to put your mind at rest, ask your owner to see their certificates on pick-up. Most live on the windscreen of the vehicle.
| Certificate | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Fitness (CoF) | A six-monthly safety inspection covering brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure and emissions. All commercial vehicles in New Zealand need one. |
| Vehicle Registration (rego) | Current government registration showing the van can legally drive on New Zealand roads. |
| Green sticker self-containment | Confirms the van has a fixed toilet, fresh and grey water tanks, rubbish containment, and a valid green warrant card. You need this for freedom camping. |
| Gas Safety Certificate | Any van with fixed gas appliances (cookers, water heaters) needs one. It confirms the gas components are safe, the bottle is secure, and the vehicle is properly ventilated. |
| Electrical Warrant of Fitness (EWoF) | Any van with a 230V campsite hook-up needs one. It confirms the electrical installation is safe and up to standard. |
For more on the Certificate of Fitness process, see VTNZ’s CoF explainer. For more on self-containment certification, visit the New Zealand Self-Containment Vehicles website. The WorkSafe NZ caravan and motorhome electrical and gas safety page explains the gas and electrical safety requirements in detail.
The role our owners play in safety
Our owners sit at the heart of how we keep the fleet safe. Each one looks after their van’s day-to-day condition, and we work closely with them so the standards stay high.
Before every rental, the owner runs a pre-hire inspection. This covers fluids, tyres, lights, brakes, mirrors, seatbelts, wipers and gauges. The owner also walks the customer through every system in the van: gas, electrical, water, waste, emergency contacts, and any rules in the booking conditions.
Owners also report any incident, mechanical issue or post-rental damage to Quirky within 24 hours. This lets us maintain the incident register that NZTA requires us to hold. You can read more about what we look for in our owners in our guide to hiring out your campervan with Quirky Campers NZ.
How we keep our campervans reliable
Safety is the first concern, reliability is the close second. The last thing any customer wants is to lose precious holiday time to a mechanical issue.
Our owners invest in regular servicing to keep their vans running well, especially through the busy summer months. The standards we ask for sit alongside the Certificate of Fitness schedule. That means oil changes every 10,000 kilometres or 12 months (whichever comes first), a comprehensive service annually or to the manufacturer’s schedule, and immediate attention to anything safety-related.
There’s a genuine alignment of interests too. Every day a van is off the road for unplanned repairs is a day the owner doesn’t earn. Repairs out on hire also tend to cost more than preventive maintenance done at home. So owners who look after their vans tend to do better financially, and their customers have smoother trips. Win-win. Plus, all our owners are rooting for visitors to have a great time in NZ, and nobody wants to let a customer down.
What happens if my Quirky campervan breaks down?
Even with the checks and servicing in place, mechanical issues can still happen on the road. If something goes wrong with your van during your trip, here’s how we look after you.
Every Quirky booking includes 24/7 roadside assistance through the AA, New Zealand’s largest roadside provider. The AA can fix many small issues at the roadside in under an hour, including flat batteries, punctures and lockouts.
If the issue needs a mechanic, the AA can tow the van to the nearest MTA-certified garage. The Motor Trade Association is New Zealand’s main industry body for certified workshops. The Quirky team and the van’s owner will work together to get the van repaired as quickly as possible.
If repairs will take time, we book you into a hotel at our cost while we sort it out. Our priority is making sure you’re safe and comfortable, then getting you back on the road. If the van isn’t fixable within a reasonable window, we’ll look at moving you onto another van from the Quirky fleet, or refunding the unused portion of your booking. We treat lost holiday days as something to put right, not something to argue about. We’ll work with you to find a fair resolution.
What if I have an accident?
If you’re in an accident, the first priority is everyone’s safety. Stop, turn the engine off, and put your hazard lights on. Call 111 if anyone is injured. For a minor incident with no injuries, report to Police on 105 within 24 hours. Then, once you’re safe, call the van owner and Quirky NZ on +64 (0)800 437 680.
Every customer receives our Accident, Breakdown and Windscreen Information Sheet ahead of their trip, with all the contact numbers in one place. The Quirky team and your owner will support you through whatever comes next.
For more on what’s covered, see our campervan insurance guide.
Insurance and roadside assistance, included as standard
Every Quirky Campers NZ booking includes fully comprehensive insurance through Vero, one of New Zealand’s largest insurers, and 24/7 AA roadside assistance. You can also upgrade your protection plan at checkout. This reduces what you’d pay if there’s an incident on the road. Our three plans (Ready Traveller, Relaxed Traveller, Carefree Traveller) give you the flexibility to match your cover to your comfort level.
Our campervan insurance guide walks through every plan in detail, including what’s covered, what isn’t, and how to choose the right level for your trip.
Campervan safety FAQs
Is it safe to hire a campervan with Quirky Campers NZ?
Yes, it’s safe to hire a campervan with Quirky Campers NZ. Every van in our fleet meets the same NZTA safety and compliance standards as the largest commercial campervan operators in New Zealand. We hold a Transport Service Licence. Every van carries a current Certificate of Fitness, gas and electrical safety certificates where applicable, and self-containment certification.
What is a Transport Service Licence?
A Transport Service Licence (TSL) is the legal permit you need to operate a rental vehicle service in New Zealand. NZTA issues it under the Land Transport Act 1998. As the TSL holder, Quirky Campers NZ takes legal responsibility for the safety and compliance of every vehicle on our platform.
Are Quirky campervans regularly inspected?
Yes, Quirky campervans go through regular inspections. Every van carries a Certificate of Fitness renewed every six months. The owner also runs pre-hire safety inspections before every rental. We track every certificate and expiry date centrally.
What happens if my Quirky campervan breaks down?
If your Quirky campervan breaks down, call the van owner first. If you can’t reach them, call Quirky NZ on +64 (0)800 437 680. You can also call AA Roadside Assistance directly on 0800 837 627 (24/7, via Vero). We’ll get the van repaired as quickly as possible. We’ll also cover overnight accommodation if you need it.
Is roadside assistance included with Quirky Campers NZ bookings?
Yes, every Quirky Campers NZ booking includes 24/7 AA roadside assistance on every protection plan. There’s no additional cost to the customer for mechanical breakdown support.
Are Quirky campervans insured?
Yes, a fully comprehensive commercial motor fleet insurance policy with Vero Insurance NZ covers every Quirky Campers NZ campervan. The policy covers every van on the platform whenever it’s on the road with a paying customer.
What if I can’t continue my trip due to a major breakdown?
If you can’t continue your trip due to a major breakdown, Quirky Campers NZ will work with you to find a solution. We might move you onto another van from our fleet, arrange accommodation while repairs happen, or refund the unused portion of your booking. Our priority is making sure you’re safe and that you get your lost holiday days back. We try to be fair in these situations and take our responsibility as your campervan provider seriously.
Who do I call if I have an incident on the road?
If you have an incident on the road, call 111 immediately if anyone is injured. For non-emergency incidents, report to Police on 105 within 24 hours. Then call the van owner and Quirky NZ on +64 (0)800 437 680. Every customer receives an Accident, Breakdown and Windscreen Information Sheet with all the contact numbers in one place.
Got more questions?
If you have any questions about safety, compliance, or anything else about hiring a Quirky campervan, please drop us a line at bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com and the team will be happy to help. You can also see our current fleet or read our full FAQs.
