Star RV Motorhome Hire - Auckland Reviews 15

Best service in town! Pick up was so easy, late return easy to amend. Just a little bit confusing on the guideline as the late drop off should be more details, as the gate is closed already we we arrive, but we manage to park in front of the office (even we thought is not quit secure)

We hired a motorhome from Auckland for 18 days and returned it at Christchurch for our flight home.
Our flight arrived in Auckland late so we didn’t get to pick the motorhome up the first night which I know isn’t star RVs fault but after calling them multiple times at 4 pm and then calling the after hours number to be greeted with someone that can’t speak English was no help at all to me. We decided to go and get a room for the night and get a taxi to the rv in the morning.
Arrived in the morning to pick up the RV and was pretty much laughed at when we mentioned how upset we were that we missed them the day before.
Ask them why they hadn’t taken the payment out of our account like they were supposed to 2 days beforehand. She said we would have to pay on Card and it has to go through as a Credit. which they charged us $130 surcharge fee. Had a very quick tour of the van.
the girl said that the grey tank light will stay on, It’s faulty but the grey tank is empty. Driving along all the shelves in the fridge collapse because they are all flimsy and broken so all our food smashes and spilt everywhere. When we start to use the water to clean the mess up we realise the grey tank is full and clogged and can’t be emptied so we had to go and find sticks to unblock it. The smell was horrendous.
Next we go to use the toilet and there is pee up the walls and behind the toilet absolutely disgusting. I had to clean it all and disinfected before we could use it.
Bedsheets were all stained.
the cutlery and the crockery was dirty and there was food and drinks stains all through the drawers. We went and purchased paper plates and bought our own saucepans because they were so gross we didn’t want to eat out of them. The cupboard under the sink with the bin in it didn’t open it was jammed shut.
Then we ran out of gas after just cooking for a few days, no showers.
So obviously there wasn’t a full gas bottle put in them when we hired it
Then the ad blue light came on.
So we had to buy some of that.
We did some research and one full tank of ad blue will last 10,000 km so it obviously hadn’t been checked for quite a long time.
Paid extra for outdoor chairs and table, the chairs with flimsy crap and all broken and bent, we couldn’t sit on them. Returned the van, we didn’t even bother to tell them how upset we were with it because nobody there seemed to care.
then we had to pay an RUC fee.
WOULD NEVER EVER EVER HIRE FROM THEM AGAIN.

Hired Polaris 6 from Auckland for a two week trip for our family of 5. The short version is:
Van 1
- Had a faulty gas hot water system. It failed repeatedly. Calls to the support line showed that there is little knowledge of the functionality of the vans. I was told the system used both gas and Diesel??
- Missing smoke alarm
- Drawers repeatedly flew open when locked while driving. Clearly an ongoing issue if the tape marks on the drawers are anything to go by.
- I reported that the gas heating had failed again. Was told they would investigate a repairer in the area. Heard nothing back despite repeated emails.
- Spoke to someone 4 days later who couldn't say if any effort to find a repairer had occurred.
- I requested a replacement vehicle be driven to us given the ongoing nature of the issue and the inconvenience. I was told this is against policy.
- I requested the case to be escalated and was told the manager may take a while to call (spoiler - I'm still waiting).
- after 5 hours I was eventually told that a replacement vehicle may be able to be provided - still no call from management.
- after a flurry of emails including request that we further change our plans to accommodate a vehicle 18 hours later. We still have no idea when the replace vehicle will arrive.
- 4pm the next day we are told a vehicle will be delivered in 4 hours. Instead it is almost 6 hours (9.30pm) as the driver had to wait for the vehicle to be ready!?
- 10pm settle my overtired 2, 6 and 9 year olds in the new van. No walk through with different features as the driver knew nothing.

New van:
- Couldn't get the fridge to work but due to sheer exhaustion dealing with Star didn't bother phoning this one in.
- Found stinky sheets and towels from the previous client in a cupboard - gross.
- When dropping back to the depot the staff couldn't figure out the right road user charge. Luckily we took photos to prove we hadn't driven 5 times the distance.

All in all I certainly won't be trying them a second time. What a joke

... And I didn't even get into the complete farce how some vans have completely different quality of specifications I e. Combined shower toilet in some (awful!!) vs separate in others.

We picked up the Polaris 6 for our 7,5 week road trip from Auckland, staff were friendly and helpful. The camper is very spacious and we had plenty of room with the 4 of us.

Along the way we stopped at the other locations of StarRV to swap our linen, which is a great service when your on the road for so long.

If your planning on doing a road trip with a family of 4 or 5, then definitely check out the Polaris 6 of StarRV.

Picked up the first Polaris 6 in Auckland ,discovered only one plug worked ,aerial on roof not connected, windscreen wiper split, staff didn’t know what ad blue was.Managed to arrange a van swap for a more “ modern “ van at Christchurch,then our problems really started.
Gas bottles empty ,dump valve for the grey water broken ,wiper washer hanging off, dining table couldn’t secured so banged around, cushions missing for rear bed, 240v lead broken, electric heater test a year out of date.
A company who clearly put taking your money first before thinking about any kind of quality control.
Mainly inexperienced front facing staff. No response from multiple emails , now taking it up with credit card company.
Worse service ever ,avoid.

Quote and invoice different! Waited 7 hours to pick up. No "walk through to explain workings. Chair broken, coffee plunger broken. Doors and fridge open while driving. Seat behind driver broken. Toilet seal broken, urine in shower basin. No AD blue, gastank empty! What a lemon. Were told in Auckland had to pay $0.08 c per km + $247 for credit card surcharge. Tried to steal $$ from debit card!
Absolute horrible company, we paid way too much for this lemon!

We’ve had the best time with our Polaris 6 RV! It was perfect for our family of 4 (two adults and two toddlers).

The RV was super spacious. The bed in the back of the RV was easily converted from table to bed. The large fridge and separate freezer could store enough for a couple of days and the RV had enough storage space for all our belongings (our double stroller even fit in the back).

The minor issues we encountered were rapidly fixed with great service! Super convenient that they allow you to change your linnen and towels if you pass one of their offices. It has been our second time taking a RV of StarRV on the road, and we will definitely continue to do so 🙌

Avoid Star RV at all costs. One of the worst rental experiences we’ve ever had.

Our 32-day motorhome rental with Star RV in New Zealand turned into a constant stream of problems and disappointment. The vehicle they provided was clearly not properly checked or maintained. We had to deal with a fridge that didn’t work for nearly half the trip, a damaged rear door, a non-functioning airbag, and even an expired gas bottle. For a company renting vehicles meant for long-distance travel and remote camping, this is completely unacceptable.

Because of these issues, we lost three full days of our holiday sitting in repair shops instead of exploring the country. These unplanned detours caused extra fuel costs, cancellation fees for activities, and a lot of stress. Star RV cost us time, money, and a significant part of a trip we had been looking forward to for a long time.

The worst part, however, was how Star RV handled the compensation process. We contacted them more than a week before drop-off in Auckland, clearly describing the issues, our expectations for compensation, and our request to have someone familiar with our case present at the branch to discuss everything in person. Instead of supporting us, the contact center delayed responses, dragged the process out, and showed no sense of responsibility.

When we arrived in Auckland, it was clear that no one there had been briefed about our case — except for one staff member, Vinay, who genuinely tried to help us within his limited authority. His effort was appreciated, but he was the only one who showed any real initiative.

When we finally returned the vehicle, the contact team suddenly scrambled and worked frantically on something they had plenty of time to handle earlier. They delayed everything so long that they only presented us with a laughably low offer — a little over $500 instead of the roughly $900 we were owed for the lost days — when we were already at the airport and moments away from boarding our flight home. Considering all the additional costs caused by the vehicle issues, we estimate we are eligible for around $2,500 in total compensation.

There was no real apology, no ownership, and no proper customer service — just empty phrases and a clear attempt to minimize their responsibility.

Based on our experience, Star RV appears far more focused on pushing vehicles out the door for lots of money than on safety, maintenance, or customer care. After everything we went through, we strongly advise future customers to stay far away from this company. There are rental providers in New Zealand who take their responsibilities seriously — Star RV is not one of them.

We rented a campervan from Jucy / StarRV in February 2025, and we’re only writing this review now because we’ve just returned from a long round-the-world trip. Unfortunately, our experience was far below expectations – both in terms of quality, service, and price transparency.

Already at pick-up, it became clear that the agreed price didn’t hold.
We were charged over USD 1,000 in extra fees, a 2.4% card surcharge, and additional costs for AdBlue and a diesel fee per kilometer, none of which had been clearly stated in advance.

The campervan itself was of very poor quality.
We had to spend time almost daily fixing small issues – curtains kept falling down, drawers and handles needed to be re-screwed repeatedly, flyscreens and bathroom door frames came loose, and only one USB port worked (and only while driving).
Several interior parts were loose or defective, and the water gauges didn’t work at all.

The extra equipment offered for rent – such as outdoor chairs, tables, and child seats – was also hugely overpriced. For example, we rented a child seat for USD 40, even though there was a price tag of USD 25 on it, and their camping chairs cost USD 18, while identical ones cost USD 7 at the hardware store.

When we returned the vehicle, we also experienced something very unpleasant.
We handed in leftover supplies such as toilet paper and canned food for the next customers, but when I stepped outside briefly to get more, most of it was gone – even though only staff members were present. It left a very poor impression.

Overall, Jucy / StarRV feels like a highly unprofessional and self-serving company that doesn’t treat its customers with honesty or respect.
The standard of their vehicles does not match the price, and their transparency around fees is seriously lacking.

I cannot recommend Jucy / StarRV and hope others read this before booking.

I was only after a quotation but money has been deducted from my card and they won't refund.
Further to your reply below, I am in touch with your team but not getting anywhere!!

We received in Auckland hours after our appointment an old camper with many problems and lost a lot of time before Katrine A and the manager of Christchurch could resolve the problem.
Fine people that helped us but why did we wait so many hours for a terrible camper? Not enough people to work was said but I don't believe that.
The fridge was not working and completely broken, advise of Wellington repair centre and we lost some smal items of the bodywork of the camper.

Extremely Disappointing Experience – Avoid at All Costs

Short Summary:
Our experience with this motorhome rental company was absolutely terrible. The motorhome did not match the description, communication with the reservations team was horrendous, and the overall value for money was shockingly poor. Save yourself the trouble—rent a normal car and stay at quality hotels instead.

Full Review:
We rented a motorhome for over five weeks, expecting a high-quality experience based on the company’s claims. Unfortunately, the reality was far from the promises.

1. Motorhome Not as Advertised
The motorhome we received was nothing like the “comfortable and stylish” design advertised. Instead, it was outdated, worn down, and riddled with issues:
• The interior was in poor condition, with sagging cushions and mattresses that made sleeping nearly impossible.
• The vehicle was so noisy during the drive that I had to wear earplugs to endure the rattling.
• Basic cooking essentials were missing, such as scissors, a whisk, and an extra pot, which made meal prep unnecessarily difficult.

2. Unacceptable Customer Service
The level of service from the reservations team was appalling:
• At pick-up, the motorhome was not ready because the previous renter returned it late. While I was refunded for the day, this delay forced me to rush to my destination on New Year’s Eve—a stress I shouldn’t have had to bear.
• When I reported the issues and requested a swap, I was told I could only get an upgraded motorhome if I paid extra. This is unacceptable; I should not have been charged for an issue caused by the company’s negligence.
• Communication was abysmal. I had to repeatedly call the reservations team, only to be ignored or given vague promises of callbacks that never happened.

3. A Ruined Start to Our Trip
We eventually decided to stop relying on the company and fix the problems ourselves to salvage our holiday. We bought duct tape and tension straps to reduce the rattling, an extra mattress for comfort, and additional kitchen essentials. These out-of-pocket expenses should never have been necessary.

Conclusion:
This company’s lack of professionalism, poor customer service, and misrepresentation of their product made for a deeply disappointing experience. While New Zealand is a stunning country that ultimately saved our trip, the rental process was a disgrace. Save yourself the frustration and avoid this company at all costs.

Very good and new campervan-highly recommand