Everything covering license and insurance requirements, mileage, deposits, cancellations, and pickup and return rules — in one place before you book.
Rental Requirements
What you need to bring and know before pickup.
A valid driver's license and proof of insurance are required at pickup. International visitors must present either an international driver's license or an English translation of their license, along with their passport.
Drivers must be 25 or older. Renters aged 21–24 may qualify with a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or with management approval under special circumstances.
Renters must carry valid Primary Liability Insurance from a major carrier, with coverage that extends to rental vehicles. We're unable to accept coverage from carriers whose policies exclude rental use — if you're unsure whether your policy qualifies, contact us before booking.
A $500 refundable security deposit is authorized at pickup and returned within 3 business days after drop-off, minus any tolls, fines, or damage.
Every rental includes 250 free miles per day (e.g. 2,500 free miles on a 10-day rental). Additional miles are billed at $0.35/mile.
Drivers must be 25 or older, hold a valid driver's license, and carry their own primary liability insurance.
Questions about any of this? Call us at (773) 872-6655 or email bookings@family-van-chicago.com before you book.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund of your $200 deposit. If our card processor charges us a fee to refund your payment, that fee is deducted from your refund.
From the end of the free cancellation window up until 72 hours before pickup, the $200 deposit is retained as a cancellation fee.
Reservations made or confirmed within 72 hours of pickup can't be cancelled, changed, or refunded, and the full rental amount is charged. Once we confirm a van to you this close to pickup, we turn away every other customer waiting for that same vehicle — so we're unable to release it back.
All cancellations must be submitted by email to bookings@family-van-chicago.com so we have a written record.
Payment & Deposit
A $200 reservation deposit is charged at the time of booking to hold your van. The remaining rental balance is invoiced to your email approximately 3 days before pickup.
A separate $500 refundable security deposit is authorized at pickup and released within 3 business days after return, minus any tolls, fines, or damage.
Cars: the security deposit at pickup is a flat $500. You may still provide your own auto insurance policy details when booking — we verify the policy before pickup.
Your card stays on file after the rental. You authorize us to charge it — up to 90 days after return — for tolls, traffic or parking fines, towing, and damage found later, plus a $15 processing fee per case. We email you a copy of each toll or fine notice before charging.
Pickup & Return
Pickup starts at 7:00 AM daily. A rental day is a 24-hour period (7 AM to 7 AM), with a 1-hour grace period on return. Late returns beyond the grace period are billed as an additional full day.
We deliver to O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) for a $160 flat delivery fee. Select this option when booking, or call us to arrange.
Vehicle Condition & Prohibited Use
Smoking and vaping are not permitted in any of our vans; a cleaning fee applies if detected on return. Pets are welcome, but the van must come back free of pet hair and odor, or a pet-cleaning fee will apply.
Any tolls, parking tickets, red-light camera or speeding violations incurred during your rental are the renter's responsibility and will be deducted from the security deposit, along with a standard administration fee.
Accidents & Roadside Help
Any accident, regardless of severity, must be reported to us right away at (773) 872-6655 and to the police — a police report is required for all incidents.
If your van has a mechanical issue that isn't the result of misuse, call us immediately — we'll arrange towing and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Early Return & Extensions
If you return your van earlier than the date and time agreed in your reservation, you won't receive a refund for the unused portion — the full rental rate for the entire period still applies. This keeps things fair and equitable for all our customers.
Need more time? Call us at (773) 872-6655 — we'll let you know if an extension is possible. If approved, the full estimated balance for the updated reservation must be paid before the extension is confirmed. Reach out as early as possible so we have time to work it out.
Rental Policy FAQs
Quick answers to the most common policy questions.
Ready to book? Head to Book a Minivan Online, or call us at (773) 872-6655 with any questions before you reserve.