Cancellation Policy
The short version: you choose Flexible, Standard, or Saver at checkout. Standard is selected by default. Instant bookings are charged when confirmed; booking requests place an authorization on your payment method and are charged when the host approves. Your chosen terms are saved with the trip, and Carvia shows the exact refund before you confirm a cancellation. Trip fees, guest protection costs, and taxes always refund when a trip does not happen.
1. The three guest-chosen plans
The plan changes the trip subtotal before the Trip fee, guest protection, and taxes are calculated. The host receives the Flexible premium or absorbs the Saver discount.
| Plan | Price | Free cancellation | Guest cancellation charge after the free window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible | 10% more than the trip subtotal | Until 24 hours before pickup | Inside 24 hours: one day's trip price |
| Standard | Base trip subtotal | Until 3 days before pickup | From 3 days to 24 hours: one day's trip price. Inside 24 hours: 50% of the trip price |
| Saver | 10% less than the trip subtotal | Booking grace only | The trip price is not refunded |
For a trip of 7 days or more, a host may deepen the Saver discount from 10% to as much as 20%. A host may also choose not to offer Saver for a vehicle. Flexible and Standard remain available.
2. Universal 24-hour booking grace
If you book at least 3 days before pickup, every plan includes 24 hours from booking to cancel for a full refund of everything you paid. The clock for every other cancellation window is measured from the trip's scheduled pickup timestamp.
3. What always refunds
When the trip does not happen, the Trip fee, guest protection cost, and taxes refund in full on every plan. Extras and delivery charges also refund. The only amount kept from a guest is the cancellation charge stated above, calculated from the adjusted trip price—not from Carvia fees, protection, taxes, extras, or delivery.
A guest cancellation charge is paid 100% to the host. Carvia takes no commission from that cancellation payout.
4. Who caused the cancellation
Guest-facing cancellation charges apply only when the cancellation is attributed to the guest. If the host causes the cancellation, the guest receives a full refund, including all fees. Carvia records whether each cancellation was caused by the host, guest, platform, or a neutral external event, along with any approved waiver and supporting evidence.
5. Cancelling and rebooking the same car
If a guest cancels and rebooks the same car for overlapping dates within 24 hours, the original cancellation plan remains attached to the rebooking. This prevents changing plans after cancellation to avoid the terms originally selected.
6. Before you confirm
The trip screen shows the plan saved at booking. Before a guest confirms a cancellation, Carvia shows the exact total paid, amount refunded, cancellation charge, why that charge applies, and the amount that goes to the host.