Help We’re here for you.

We want to make renting books as easy and simple as possible. If you have any questions about how the renting process works, check out the FAQs on this page or look up commonly used terms under the Glossary.

To learn more about what to do at the end of your book’s rental period, click on the box icon to go to the page How to Return. If you still have a question, or just want to send a suggestion or comment, visit our Contact Us page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Help Categories

Getting Started back to top

Which Internet browsers are best for visiting this site?

Our website is best viewed with the latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Safari.

What are the lengths of the 5 rental periods you offer?

We offer rental terms for any type of school term. The five rental periods we offer are 30 days, 45 days, 60 days, Quarter (90 days), and Semester (125 days). Your rental period does not start until your books are delivered.

Can I buy books, too?

Yes, books can be purchased in two different ways:

Buy a book by selecting purchase (new or used) from the availability drop down of a book's product details page.
Buy a book you are currently renting through the Extensions/Buyouts Page. For more information, see the Can I buy my rented books? help question.

How do I search?

Enter title, author, or ISBN 10 or 13 into the search field for a basic search. ISBN will always give you the most accurate results. To find a book specifically by author or title, type author: "author name" or title: "title name". (e.g. You want to search for the book Economics by Michael Scott. In the search field, type author: Michael Scott or title: Economics. )

Are supplements included with books?

Supplements are not guaranteed with any books, whether you order a rental or purchase a new or used book. Some publishers reference supplements in the title of the book, however, these supplements are also separate items and not guaranteed to come with your book. However, if you rent a book and a supplement is included, you are allowed to use it. If a supplement comes with a book you buy on this site, that supplement is yours to keep.

Are there any membership fees?

No, we do not charge any membership or subscription fees.

Do I get my money back when I return my rental?

Since you only pay for a fraction of the total book cost when you check out with your rental, no money is returned to your credit/debit card once we get your rental back on time.

Why are some books only available for purchase?

Books that are meant to be used only once, such as workbooks, coloring books, or other books that are written in, along with books that may not be popular enough for us to rent again, are only available for purchase, not rent.

What condition do books come in?

All rental books and purchase used books are in good condition or better. Books may have some writing and highlighting, but nothing that interferes with readability. Purchased new books are in brand new condition and have never been used.

Can I choose the quality of the book that I want?

Due to our dynamic inventory, we are unable to fulfill requests for specific book conditions. If you require a book be in new condition, please purchase a new copy of the book.

Why doesn’t the book I need have a “purchase used” option?

Whenever we have used inventory available, we will offer a purchase used option for a book. If we can’t find used copies of a book, no purchase used option will show in the availability drop down. We get new inventory all the time, so check back often to see if a purchase used option becomes available.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy used?

The prices for a book are listed in the availability drop-down menu for convenient comparison. The best option for you will be based on how long you need the book and how you plan to use it while in your possession. If you want to make a lot of notations and highlights in your book or keep it permanently, we suggest you purchase a used or new copy of the book you need.

Can I buy a used copy of the book I need?

If you see a purchase used option in the availability dropdown for the book you need, you can choose to purchase a used copy. If you don’t see a purchase used option, a used copy for purchase is not available at this time.

Checkout Process back to top

What forms of payment can I use?

Credit Cards

Currently, you must use a credit or debit card to rent from us. We accept credit and debit cards with the MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover symbol. You will specify your preferred method at checkout.

Why is my credit/debit card being rejected?

The following are reasons why your credit/debit card may be denied: Insufficient funds; Incorrect CVV number; Billing address does not match card holder's address; Expiration date of the card is before the end of your rental period(s).

Why was my credit card charged a $1?

Anytime you place an order on this site, a $1 pre-authorization is temporarily held on your card. This is done to ensure that the credit or debit card provided is valid.

This pre-authorization is NOT a charge. In most cases the $1 hold is released by your financial institution within 3 to 5 business days. In some instances, especially with prepaid credit cards, the issuing bank may take longer or require that you contact them directly to get the $1 hold released.

Will I be charged sales tax?

Maybe. Companies selling over the Internet are subject to the same sales tax collection requirements as any other retailers. The amount of sales tax charged, if any, is primarily based on the shipping address of your order.

What shipping methods are offered?

You can have your order shipped via free Standard shipping or with the expedited options of Express or Express Plus shipping. Orders can be shipped to all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (unfortunately we do not ship to U.S. territories or APO/FPO addresses). Please view the Shipping Page for information on these shipping options.

Do you ship to Hawaii and Alaska?

Yes, we ship to these states all the time! Please note that all shipping methods cost extra when an order is shipped to either Hawaii or Alaska.

Is the information I submit secure?

Yes! Anytime you submit private information (e.g. name, address, or credit/debit card number) on our website, you will see the phrase "You are using our secure server" at the top of the page. This banner indicates that a secure connection is in place. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Placed Orders back to top

How do I track my order?

All shipments have a tracking number, which provides the date and time of delivery or attempted delivery. To check the status of your shipment, login to My Account and click the "Track Shipment" link on the My Rentals page.

Can I check my previous orders?

Yes. Go to the Order History page under the My Account section. Order History summarizes all your past orders, displaying the order date, number, and status. Click on the "Order Number" to see the details of a particular order.

Can I cancel an order I've recently placed?

Because we try to process and ship orders as quickly as possible, the majority of orders cannot be cancelled once placed. If you request to return an item for a refund by generating a label on the refund page, we will automatically try to cancel your order if it has not yet shipped. However, even if your order has not shipped, it most likely cannot be cancelled. If we are able to cancel your order, you will be sent an email confirming the cancellation and will not be charged for the order; otherwise, you will have to return the item for a refund. Please see the Refunds Section for more information.

It's a few days past my delivery estimate, will I be getting my order soon?

Due to delivery estimates being approximations, your order may be not get to you on the same date as your delivery estimate. If you haven't received your order by your delivery estimate, do the following:

First check the tracking number for your order by going to My Rentals. If the tracking shows your order as being delivered, check with your neighbors or mail room, if applicable, to see if they signed for your order. Also check with your mail carrier and around your mailbox and/or front door to see if the order was left for you.
Second, see if your tracking number shows your order as being in a city nearby your shipping address. If it is, it's likely that your order will be arriving soon. We ask that you wait 2 business days after your delivery estimate to give the shipper time to deliver your order.
If you're unable to find your order after checking with your neighbors/mail room/mail carrier or if it's more than 2 business days past your delivery estimate, contact Customer Service about getting a refund or replacement order.

Where will my order ship from?

Our books ship from multiple warehouses across the United States. We do not know where your order will ship from, nor can we request that they leave from a specific location.

Where do I find my order's estimated delivery date?

To find your order's delivery estimate, click your order number under Order History. Your delivery estimate will show under the Track Shipment link.

How do I return a book for a refund?

Please visit the refund page within 21 days of placing your order, select your item and reason for return, and print your prepaid shipping label. Ship your book(s) from a FedEx, Post Office or UPS location using the prepaid shipping label within 21 days of the order date. Please note that it is important you use the prepaid shipping label available in the My Account section and not your own shipping method.

Refunds due to our error will be refunded in full. For refunds not due to our error, the price of the rental plus any applicable tax will be refunded; please note, shipping is not refunded.

All items must be returned in their original condition. Please allow 2-4 weeks for your refund to process completely and appear on your credit/debit card statement. See the Refunds section in the Service Policy for more information.

What should I do if my book arrives in a damaged condition?

To notify us of damage that occurred in transit or from previous use, contact Customer Service within 21 days of your order date. If you want to return a book due to damage, see the above question How do I return a book for a refund?

Can I return my book more than 21 days after purchase and receive a partial refund?

After the initial 21 day refund period is up, books are no longer eligible for a refund.

Using Books back to top

Can I write or highlight in my book?

Yes, acceptable amounts of writing and highlighting are allowed. See the Service Policy for more information.

What happens if I lose my book?

As stated in our Service Policy, you are responsible for returning the book at the end of your rental period. If you are unable to do so, you will be charged the buyout price of the book. Once you are charged, you opt out of the rental agreement and the book becomes your property.

What happens if my book is damaged during my rental period?

Books are required to be kept in like-new or better condition while in your possession. If a book you send back at the end of your rental period is damaged and rendered unusable, it will remain the property of BookRenter and you will be charged the buyout price for the book. For examples of like-new and damaged books, please refer to the quality chart below.

Required Condition - No Damage Fee: The book has a firm cover with no noticeable damage. All pages must be intact (no creases, tears, or stains present). There can be minimal writing or highlighting, but no damage to the binding.

Unacceptable Condition - Damage Fee Applies: Minor Damage ($15)

There is light damage to the book's cover (markings on the inside or outside, or portions ripped off) or pages (medium to large creases, tears, stains, or liquid damage).; Major Damage (buyout price)

The cover is noticeably damaged or missing. Pages are stained, missing, illegible, or otherwise warped. There is heavy writing and/or highlighting throughout the book. Any other condition that renders the book unusable, including exposure to chemicals, perfumes, cleaning agents, or tobacco, smoke etc. that causes any noticeable odor, will also result in a major damage fee.

I didn't get the book I ordered, what can I do?

So we can get you the correct book, let Customer Service know that you received the wrong book within 3 days of your order being delivered.

How do I calculate the due date of my rental?

Your rental period will begin on the date your order arrives. The ending date of your rental period can be calculated in one of two ways: 1) Add the number of days in your rental period to the date your order was delivered; or 2) Log in to My Account and look at the Due Date on My Rentals page.

(At times we may offer special promotions that increase the length of a rental period for free. If your order qualifies under such a special, please find your due date using method 2 above.) When returning your rentals, your shipment must be dropped off at a FedEx, Post Office or UPS location by the due date displayed on the My Rentals page.

Will I receive any money back if I return my rental early?

No, we do not refund your credit/debit card for any amount if you send your rental back before its due date.

Can I get a discount if a book has significant wear and tear?

The books we rent and the used books we sell are in good condition or better, but the amount of wear and tear will vary from book to book. We do not offer any discounts on used books that appear more worn, but if you are unhappy with the quality of your book, you can choose to return it for a refund.

End of Rental Period back to top

What are extensions?

Extensions are the option to prolong a rental beyond its due date. We offer extensions for 6 different lengths of time: 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days. You can also choose to purchase the book at the end of your rental with the buyout option.

How do I extend my rental?

Go to the Extensions/Buyouts page under the My Account section. Once you're on the Extensions/Buyouts page, choose how many days you want to add to your rental (10, 15, 30, 45, 60, or 90 days) or select the buyout option. Add the extension or buyout to your cart and complete the check out process.

What is a 15 day auto extension?

If you do not return your rental by its due date, a 15 day auto extension is added to your rental to give you additional time to return it. You can be charged multiple auto extensions per book if your rental is not returned on time more than once; however, an automatic extension will never be charged if it is more than the buyout price for the book. In this case, an auto buyout is added to the rental instead.

The price of a 15 day auto extension can be found by going to the Extensions/Buyouts section and selecting the 15 day extension option.

What is an auto buyout?

An auto buyout is added to your account when you have not returned a book by it’s due date and the price of a 15 day auto extension is more than or equal to the buyout price of a book. If your rental has been charged an auto buyout, you are no longer under the rental agreement as you now own the book.

The price of an auto buyout can be found by going to the Extensions/Buyouts section and selecting the buyout option.

For how long can I extend a rental?

Extensions allow you to add an extra 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, or 90 days to your rental due date. Along with keeping a rental for more time, you can choose to keep it forever by selecting the buyout option.

Is there a limit to how many times I can extend a rental?

You may extend your book as many times as you like; but if there comes a point when extending your rental would be more expensive than the price to buyout the book, only the buyout option will show under the Extensions/Buyouts page.

How do you set the buyout price for a rental?

To calculate your buyout price, we take the purchase new price of the book and deduct the original rental price plus any extensions you've already paid.

How will I be charged if I buy an extension?

When you extend or buyout your rental, you will be asked for credit/debit card information at the end of the checkout process. The credit/debit card you enter will be charged for the price of the extension or buyout.

Once I extend a rental, where do I find my new due date?

Your new due date is shown on your My Rentals and Extensions/Buyouts pages.

What if my due date falls on a weekend or a holiday?

If your due date is on a weekend or holiday, you should take your return to a FedEx, Post Office or UPS location the following business day. However, you still need to print out your return shipping label on or before your due date, even if the due date falls on a weekend or holiday.

Can I buy my rented books?

Yes, you can buy your book if you need to keep it permanently. Your rental price will go towards the purchase of the book. To purchase a book you are currently renting, sign into your account and go to the Extensions/Buyouts Page. Select the option "buyout," then add it to your cart and check out. See the question How do I extend my rental? for more information on how to extend a rental.

How do I return my books when I'm done?

Please follow the steps below for a smooth return:

Login: Choose the books you want to return on the Rental Return page and confirm your shipping address
Print: Print the packing slip and shipping label
Package: Securely seal the package with the books you're returning and your packing slip. For postage, you must use our prepaid FedEx/US Postal Service or UPS label.
Ship: Drop the package off at any FedEx, Post Office or UPS location.

For further details on how to return your order, please go to the How to Return page.

How do I package my rental(s) for return?

To send your rental(s) back to us, feel free to use the box your book(s) arrived in. If you use this box or any other previously used box, be sure to cover up all old labels and markings.

You can use any size box or mailer to send your book(s) back, as long as it amply fits your book(s) plus packaging material, which should be used to avoid any in-transit damage. You can purchase boxes and other packaging materials at most mail centers, including FedEx, US Post Offices, or UPS Stores.

Will you send me a reminder when my rental is due?

Yes, you will receive reminders via email 7 days and 3 days before your rental is due.

We also offer the ability for SMS/text messages to be sent to your cell phone. If you want reminder text message alerts sent to your cell phone, add your mobile number to your account profile.

Please note that BookRenter is not responsible if you do not receive these reminders. We recommend that you add the email addresses donotreply@bookrenter.com and support@bookrenter.com to your address book to ensure our reminders are not caught in your spam/junk folder.

Are there any late fees?

No, but if your book is not postmarked by the end of your rental period, you will be charged for a 15 day auto extension at the same daily rate of your rental.* If your book has not been returned by the end of this 15 day extension, you will be charged recurring 15 day auto extensions after each due date passes. These automatic extensions will continue until the book is either returned and checked in, or the rental has been bought out. A rental can be bought out in one of two ways: If a user goes to the Extensions/Buyouts section and chooses to buyout the book; or if the price of a 15 day auto extension is greater than or equal to the buyout price, the buyout price will be charged instead (a.k.a. an auto buyout). Once you are charged the buyout price for a book, you opt out of the rental agreement and the book becomes your property.

To avoid being charged for the book, you can extend or buyout your rental.

*You can view the price of a 15 day extension for your book at any time by logging into My Account and going to Extensions/Buyouts.

What happens if I return the wrong book?

If we receive a book that is different from the one you rented from us, you'll be notified via email that we didn't receive the right book back. You have one week from the date of this email to send us back the correct book with a prepaid shipping label available through your account.

If you don't send back your rental within a week, your rental will start getting auto extensions. Your rental will be charged auto extensions until you send back your rental. If you never send back your rental, you'll eventually be charged an auto buyout. Once you're charged an auto buyout, you've purchased your book and no longer need to return it.

How do I track my return?

Miscellaneous back to top

How are you able to offer low prices?

To give you the best possible prices, our inventory is sold using dynamic pricing. If we cannot offer a low rental price, we will not offer the book for rent. Although such books cannot be rented, they are often available for purchase.

Can I order from anywhere in the world?

We currently only serve customers living in the United States of America. Orders are shipped to all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. (Unfortunately we currently do not ship to U.S. territories or APO/FPO addresses.)

Why did my books arrive in an Amazon.com box?

We work with Amazon, so shipments may have the Amazon name printed on the side. Amazon is not otherwise affiliated with us, so if you have any questions about your order, please contact us.

What happens if I return something other than my rental?

If we receive an item that is not our property, a member of our Customer Service team will attempt to notify you of the extra item. Even though we’ve successfully returned bowling shoes, an iPod, a diamond ring, and more, to the rightful owners, we do not guarantee the return of any items sent in error.

Glossary

Definitions of terms found on this website:

Additional Charges:: Charges you have accrued from books that were damaged or not returned.
Cart:: The shopping cart. When you find a book you want and add it to your cart, it is listed here.
Date Ordered:: The date you placed your order.
Date Shipped:: The date your order left our warehouse to be shipped to you.
Not Available: The book is not in stock. Due to the dynamic nature of our inventory, we cannot provide estimates as to when the book will become available.
Order Number:: The ID for a particular order.
Rental Period:: The length of time you have chosen for your rental.

Rental Status descriptions:

In Transit Back:: Your book has been shipped back to us using our shipping label and is in transit back to our facilities.
Not Returned:: Although you were given an extra 15 days to return your rental when it was Late, your rental was never sent back. As a result your credit/debit card was charged for not returning the book.
Overdue:: Your rental was not returned on time and needs to be sent back. If you do not follow the return steps within a few days, an auto extension will be added to your rental.
Processing:: We have received your order and will ship your book soon.
Refunded:: You have been credited for your book.
Rental Returned:: Our facilities received your rental return on time.
Renting:: You have received your order and your rental period is currently active.
Shipped:: Your book has left our facilities and is in transit.

Your Cart