Star RV Motorhome HireReviews 

This company should not be in operation. We experienced the worst holiday possible with Star RV Australia. Our van was old, covered in bog, the fridge didn't work and were told by their call centre to purchase ice packs, the stove top didn't work and told to purchase a gas cooker!! We had warning lights appear on dash, was told to drive it to their closest base which was 5 hours in the opposite direction we were going. Airbag malfunction light came on and they finally sorted an auto electrician who told us their were 23 errors. Van failed to start the following day, we waited 3 days for a replacement, which was smaller 6 berth down to 2 berth. We were told by the company to book extra accomodation while we waited for replacement, which they said they would refund. My son had to catch a bus back to his home as he had work and we weren't able to get him home.
Have approached them for compensation and the refunds for the accomodation, still waiting and now we are being ghosted, they aren't replying to emails and when I call am told I am a priority and they will call back. Have heard nothing. Totally disgusting!!!

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.

This was the absolute worst experience a traveler could have. Two hours out of Adelaide we discovered we had no water. We emailed, texted and messaged but no one got back to us until many hours later. When we finally found a campsite that had both water and power, we learned the hose they supplied had the end cut off with no way to hook up to water. Late that night we also discovered we had no power.
The 1-800 number was completely useless - every time we called they told us we were calling New Zealand and they couldn't help. There were no phone numbers for the physical business, either in Adelaide or Melbourne.
We did the best we could and lived with the piece of garbage they'd stuck us with for a week, until we got to Melbourne, where they told us they would have a replacement vehicle waiting fur us, but the crew in Melbourne had no idea we were even coming and had no vehicle. They asked us to wait while they checked
out the vehicle and after several hours told us the water pump was broken and the alternator was also broken. They wanted us to wait for a few days while it got fixed! They never seemed to understand we were on the trip of a lifetime, from the US, and they had already wasted three days of that trip, and caused us terrible stress.
We have a record of 53 pages of emails, Whatsapp messages and phone calls and are fighting the charges through our credit card company.
We used Rat Pack as a sub rental and they were not able to get anyone to help us.
A word of great warning to all future renters: Don't! Caveat emptor.

We made a RV booking with Star RV through Ratpack travel and sadly 2 weeks before arring in Australia had to cancel due to middle east travel restrictions . Both Ratpack and Star RV were fantastic with us when we cancelled. Our deposit understandingly was not refundable but Ratpack travel and Star RV have offered to hold our deposit for 2 years allowing us to use it on a future trip next year . Brilliant service from day 1 and wonderful customer service .

Premium Price for a Maintenance Nightmare – Management Ignoring Issues

​Avoid Star RV if you expect a "Premium" service. We even completed the Online Check-In days in advance, yet the handover in Sydney was a disaster.

​The Reality:

​Infested with cockroaches upon pickup.

​Major repairs needed mid-trip: In Melbourne, the team had to RE-SEAL a leaking window and REPLACE the broken range hood.

​Safety Risks: Worn-out tires and old wipers for a 4,000km journey across the Nullarbor.

​Disorganized: Despite the online check-in, items were missing and we were given the wrong pickup address.

​Management Failure:

While the staff in Melbourne and Perth were helpful, the Sydney Branch Manager, Robert, has been unprofessional. He offered a small $500 refund and has been ignoring my emails for over 8 days now. It seems they prefer to sweep safety and hygiene issues under the rug.

​Save your money and your nerves – this is NOT a premium provider.

Picked up the motorhome (Polaris 6) from Perth branch and plan was to leave for a trip across the Nullarbor to Melbourne the day after. So on the day of pick up, only drove 20 minutes and then had the motorhome overnight in front of the house, unused. Next day, when we wanted to leave, engine did not start. The service subsequently provided was horrendous, worst experience of my life. It took 20 minutes to get connected to a real person, who then connected us to RAC - they hung up on us. Had to call and wait again, another 15 minutes gone before we spoke to someone. Mechanic was sent out (RAC) and arrived 1.5 hours after issue encountered. He replaced the battery, it was leaking and overall the engine was very badly maintained, oil everywhere. We also did not get a call through number, had to call via the hotline again only to be hung up on again. We were lucky that the mechanic was actually capable and checked everything for us again.
Further issues encountered:
- motorhome had an empty gas bottle installed at pick up, that was only replaced with a full one upon request
- fly screen door broken; overall condition of fly screens not acceptable
- mould in fridge
- driver's seat plastic cover on left-hand side not attached anymore
- outside compartment hatches are difficult to open / close properly
- cleanliness of basically everything was insufficient
- toilet cassette seams to be leaking - chemical residue found in compartment
- waited 90 minutes with an already later pick up time

Do not use this company! Got left stranded in the dessert after our van broke down for 30hrs. They provided no roadside assistance and told us to make our own way back home, without any compensation of travel costs. Holiday is now cut 5 days short with no sympathy

Worst company to deal with , picked rv Polaris 6 berth up and an hour into trip had fridge problems, failed to assist an hep and only support was troubleshooting with emails of incorrect information. Policy to compensate until after matter is fixed when your waiting ages for a repairer and service manager to call you. Don’t use this company at / rv.

We rented a Polaris 6 campervan from Star RV, picking up and dropping off at Queenstown Airport, from 23 to 29 January 2026. Unfortunately, the vehicle had multiple issues throughout the trip, several of which raised genuine safety concerns for our family.

The bathroom door would sometimes fly open while driving. Kitchen drawers and overhead cupboards also opened in transit, and on one occasion bottles of water fell out of an overhead cabinet into the cabin. We were very lucky our children were not injured. We had raised a drawer issue at pick-up and staff adjusted one drawer, but the problem continued with that drawer and others for the rest of the trip. In the end, we had to buy gaffer tape ourselves to keep drawers shut while driving.

Other problems included constantly squealing brakes, a faulty grey water gauge that showed full even after emptying, a stove knob that had fallen off, air conditioning that blew hot air even when turned down, and a table in the middle seating area that slid along its rail while driving, including while our children were seated there.

We raised these issues with staff when we returned the vehicle and later wrote to request a partial refund equivalent to one day’s rental. What has been most disappointing is that the company has not even bothered to reply.

We enjoyed our time in New Zealand, but this campervan was not in a condition that met a reasonable standard for a family hire, and the lack of response afterwards has made the experience even worse.

If only there was an option for zero stars.

Possibly the worst customer service at time of pick up that I have ever experienced.

Arrived 15 minutes prior to our pick up time (945am) and was informed that our allocated time was 10am - which I was very aware of. Also told the vehicle was having a final check.

Around 45 minutes later checked with them as to the delay to be told the tyres were being checked.

Yet more waiting, after around an hours wait checked again and told that because people returned vehicles late it meant there was a delay in pick ups.

After almost 2 hours I enquired again for them to shrug their shoulders as to the reason for the delay. Thereafter all the customer service people disappeared out the back. There was another customer waiting and he was ordering a pizza delivery given the delay and another couple were given keys to use a vehicle to go away and come back. A couple returning their vehicle said they also waited an hour and a half at pick up and were told they would be to given a half day refund but that had not happened.

Eventually, I drove out in the vehicle at 1215pm. I had to request a show around the vehicle as they simply wanted to hand me the keys.

I was told we would receive a half days refund but, unsurprisingly, nothing has appeared.

The only saving grace was when the fridge would not work that the guy on the help line was actually helpful and we got it set up and working.

I went through RatPack to hire and therefore did not read reviews prior - wish I had as would never have used this company and will never again use them.

Avoid at all costs.

We rented a mobile home from StarRV. It was dirty, pick up was delayed while they fixed the brakes, the cupboards and rear seats were dirty with exhaust muck (inside).
We persevered and put up with that but gave up when it started raining and the window frames leaked, making the beds wet and the van uninhabitable. We cut our trip short, complained snd were ignored. Avoid them at all costs

We booked the Polaris 2 through Ratpack Travel, to drive from Brisbane to Cairns. We had to wait around a hour for the camper to be sorted on pick up despite booking a pick up time. The camper van was fairly clean and in a good condition, modern and exactly how it was advertised. Unfortunately we didn’t check our electric cable before we left and when we got to our first powered campsite it was partially melted. It was resolved by a phone call to the emergency number who stated we’d be reimbursed for buying a new cable, which we were. Just make sure you check the state of the camper before you leave the pick up location, check the cables and watch the help videos that they have. Overall we had a great experience.

This was by far the worst rental experience we have ever had.

We were given three different cars during our trip because of serious technical failures (engine warning lights, broken refrigerator, windshield replacement, complete breakdown). We lost multiple travel days, ferry bookings, prepaid campsites, paid for hotels and Ubers ourselves, and spent countless hours on the phone with call centers who promised call-backs that never happened.

There is no proper 24-hour support, no clear communication, and no responsibility taken when things go wrong.

Despite being promised refunds several times, we still have not received our money back.

Our road trip in Australia was heavily ruined because of this company.

Do yourself a favor: rent somewhere else.

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.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!
A list of issues. DO NOT BOOK

The vehicle we were provided is in an unacceptable, unsafe, and unhygienic condition, and does not reflect the standard promised in your advertising or expected from a professional rental company at over $2,000.00 for less than a week. The condition of this vehicle represents a major failure under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

Despite completing your “pre-check-in” process, which was intended to streamline our pickup; we waited over 45 minutes to receive the vehicle. Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated further once the campervan was handed over to us.

We identified the following serious issues:

Severe interior deterioration: Most seating surfaces throughout the vehicle have significant peeling and damage, exposing material underneath. This is clearly visible throughout the cabin and living area.

Poor hygiene: The vehicle smells extremely unpleasant, and the interior was noticeably dirty upon pickup. This is not acceptable for a vehicle intended for accommodation, also indicating the vehicle was not cleaned or prepared to any acceptable standard before being supplied.

Missing equipment: The rear bed had no cushions, and your staff were unable to provide a complete set until we specifically raised the issue, however this further delayed our departure until something was found.

Mechanical concerns: The moment the vehicle was turned on, an oil level warning light illuminated on the dashboard — indicating the vehicle may not be safe to drive. This raises concerns about roadworthiness and safety. Your staff provided no proper solution and no alternative vehicle.

General neglect: The entry area and cabin floors were dirty, worn, and in visibly poor condition.

After arriving at destination, we discovered additional serious issues with the motorhome that further confirm this vehicle is unsafe, unroadworthy, and completely unfit for hire under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

Rear bed cushions do not fit the bed setup:
The cushions your staff eventually located, after initially failing to provide any, do not fit the rear bed configuration at all. They appear to be taken from an entirely different vehicle layout. This means the sleeping area cannot be used, leaving us without a functional bed.

Front left tyre is severely damaged and close to delaminating: Upon inspecting the vehicle further after arrival, we discovered the front left tyre is visibly deteriorated, cracked, and nearing delamination. This is an extreme safety hazard. Driving this vehicle any further places us at immediate risk of a tyre blowout and serious injury.

Providing a motorhome with a tyre in this condition is unacceptable, unsafe, and a clear breach of your duty of care. This alone represents a major failure under the ACL due to the vehicle being unsafe to operate.

It is unreasonable and unfair to provide a vehicle in such a neglected state, and even more concerning that no alternative resolution was offered.

Do not book with this company!
From the outset we were let down by the company.
3 hour wait to pick up at arranged time.
Van not full of fuel
No hot water
Broken cupboard door
Warning lights on dash
Broken glassware, missing crockery
Kettle not working
No attachment on hose
Emails to the company were not responded to for several days by which time my partner had fixed the hot water, we purchased missing items . They literally did not care, very disappointing.
If you do book with them check everything is working before you leave the depot. Not a professional service and would be we use them again.

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.

The vehicle (Polaris 6) was booked early in 2025 for a trip from Perth to Port Pirie (SA) on 19th Dec 2025. It was booked for 3 adults and 3 dogs. The process was relatively straight forward.
The vehicle was picked up on the 18th of Dec. The run through was straight forward - all the general do's and don'ts. What we didn't do was check that the vehicle was within service period, generally it would be assumed that the vehicle would be serviced and ready to go when being picked up. Suggest that when anyone takes charge of a hire vehicle that it would be fit for use and ready to go. In hind-sight this was not the case.
The trip to Port Pirie went without a hitch and the vehicle performed as expected.
Left Port Pirie on 27th Dec returning to Perth. Second day (Sunday 28th) started well. About 60km from Balladonia error message comes up on the dash "burn not complete" and throws the vehicle into limp mode. If you have not guessed yet the vehicle is a diesel powered vehicle. We pull over and check the paperwork on what to do next. It was suggested to google for a solution. It was suggested that the dust particle filter had not completed its burn to clean the exhaust. The suggestion was to travel in limp mode (60km/h) for 15 minutes to force the burn to occur. This did not happen. We called StarRV for assistance and was directed to their service center, which happens to be in Queensland. We were very lucky in that where we pulled over that we had signal and were able to use our mobile phones. The service center said they would organize someone to come out and look at the vehicle and get us going. This did not happen, we got a call from the RAC (based in Jurien - north of Perth). Had a chat with the technician about what we had done and were informed we had done everything that he would have suggested we do or he would have done. We were passed back to the service center and waited for another call. Finally got a call back to say they were trying to organise a tow truck to come and pick us up. Late in the afternoon get another phone call to say a tow truck had been organised and then informed that the tow truck can only take two people. This left us with 3 dogs and an adult left on the side of the road. When asked what would be done about that it was suggested we organise a taxi to come and pick the remainder up. The nearest taxi was Kalgoorlie (approx 300km away) and there was no certainty that they would pick up the 3 dogs plus one adult and transport them to Norseman. We organised a taxi to pick us up (arriving late that night). We then got a call to say that the tow truck could not pick us up until Monday. It was decided to stay with the van until Monday and the tow truck. It was also uncertain we would have accommodation in Norseman suitable for dogs and adults, on the Sunday night.
On Monday morning after calling the service center to find out what was happening we were informed there was no set time for the tow truck to pick us up and secondly there was no replacement vehicle within a reasonable distance to replace the vehicle we had for us to return to Perth.
Eventually the service center gave us an option to "Cease the Hire" and refund the money from the remainder of the hire to aid us in getting ourselves back to Perth. We accepted this as the other options were not working. This meant we got a taxi from Kalgoorlie to take one adult back to Kalgoorlie to get a hire vehicle and then drive back to the stranded van, transfer everything to the hire vehicle and drive back to Perth.
Issue 1: The Polaris 6 was due for a service at 151,000km. When we stopped the odometer was 157,982km, we had travelled a total distance of 4230km. This meant the vehicle was 2770km past the service distance when we picked up the vehicle.
Issue 2: It appeared during conversations with the service center that they really did not understand the remoteness of our location.
Issue 3: The ceasing of the hire to refund funds took way longer than it should have and we had to communicate with StarRV to find out where our money was. We were informed they had made a mistake and it took another 4 working days for the money to appear in the account.
Issue 4: On the day the van was supposed to be returned to the depot in Perth we received an email asking why we had not returned the vehicle. It is obvious that the communication between different sections of the organisation needs to be improved.

TERRIBLE DO NOT BOOK - wish I had the good sense to look here before booking. We had a Polaris 6 van and had to have THREE van substitutions over our 6 week trip due to various issues. The most concerning of which was a damning report from a mechanic stating the vehicle was unsafe to drive and posed a serious fire risk. The process to change vans was hideous and we spent over 5hrs on the phone to Star Rv throughout our trip plus another 8 trips to different mechanics to prove the various faults with the vans wasting time and resulting in changes to our planned itinerary. In addition to the unsafe wiring / fire hazard - one van was leaky so we were absolutely soaked on 2 nights when it rained, the fridge didn’t work in the other 2 so we had spoiled food, and we were unable to freedom camp as advertised as the vans didn’t charge whilst driving The compensation process and complaints process were appalling in my view these guys shouldn’t be allowed to operate. Honestly i was disgusted with the service and quality of vehicles - the worst £7000 I’ve ever spent and I wouldn’t wish this experience on my worst enemy.

HORRIFIC - van smelled, was filthy, and the car was unsafe to drive. We returned the car early and was advised to put in a complaint when we returned home but have had no response in a month. Scam company, disgusting treatment of their customers. Go anywhere else.