Deposits, replacements and returns: how a radio rental actually works
What the $100 deposit covers, what happens when a unit fails, and how adding, removing and returning radios works mid-contract.
Updated September 10, 2026 · 3 min read · Elite2Way
The rental rate is simple. The questions come from the edges: what if a radio breaks, what if we need more, what happens at the end. Here is how each one works.
The deposit
$100 per radio is held against the contract. At the end, radios come back in normal working condition and the deposit is returned in full. If a radio is missing or damaged beyond normal wear, the documented repair or replacement cost is deducted and the remainder returned — and you see the repair quote before any deduction.
When a radio fails
Call or email. A replacement ships within 24–72 hours, included in your rate, with a return label for the failed unit. Normal wear and tear — batteries, buttons, microphones — is covered at no charge. Physical damage, such as a radio dropped in water, may be deducted from the deposit after you have seen the quote.
Adding and removing radios mid-contract
Add radios any time: new ones ship within 72 hours, pre-programmed for your group, and the rental charge is prorated from the day they arrive. Remove radios with seven days notice: send them back in working condition and the remaining days are credited to your next month.
End of contract
Contracts auto-renew month-to-month at the same rate unless you give seven days notice. Return all units within seven days of contract end using the prepaid UPS labels we send. Deposit refunded in full when the fleet comes back in normal working condition.