Promo code restrictions

The basics of a promo code (discount type, value, dates) cover most scenarios. Restrictions are what turn a blunt instrument into a precise campaign — "10% off" becomes "10% off, first-booking-only, dump trailers, minimum 2-day rental, not Memorial Day weekend." This article covers every restriction TrailerBase supports.

First-booking-only

Turn on First booking only to restrict the code to renters who have never booked with you before. The system checks at redemption time — if the renter already has a completed or active rental attached to their email, the code is rejected.

Use cases:

• Acquisition campaigns on Google, Facebook, local radio.
• "First-time renter" banner on your website.
• Partnership codes where the goal is new customers specifically.

Gotcha: the check is by email and phone. A renter who books once under one email and again under a different email will be treated as two different people. If that matters, tighten up your renter de-duplication in Settings > Renters.

Specific trailers

Select one or more specific trailers that the code applies to. At redemption, the rental must include one of those trailers for the discount to apply.

Use cases:

• Moving inventory on a single trailer that is not renting well.
• Rewarding a partner with a discount only on your premium unit.
• Seasonal promos tied to a specific trailer's niche (off-road utility in spring, covered cargo before winter).

You can multi-select any number of trailers. The restriction is OR — the rental needs to include at least one of the selected trailers.

Specific trailer types / categories

Broader than per-trailer: pick one or more categories (Dump, Utility, Enclosed, Specialty). Any trailer in those categories qualifies. Use this when you want to discount an entire line without maintaining a list of individual units.

Minimum days

Set a minimum rental length in days. A 1-day rental is rejected by a code with a 3-day minimum.

Use cases:

• Encourage longer bookings, which are more profitable per day of operational overhead.
• Prevent cheap-day discount abuse.
• Align with weekday incentives ("Save on 4+ day rentals").

This is independent of the minimum dollar value you can set on the main form — you can combine both (minimum $200 and minimum 3 days).

Specific renter tags

TrailerBase lets you tag renters with custom labels. Two built-in tags are VIP and Commercial. You can add more under Settings > Renter tags (Wholesale, Partner, Non-profit, whatever).

The Renter tags restriction limits the code to only renters who have at least one of the selected tags.

Use cases:

• VIP — loyalty codes only for your top customers.
• Commercial — bulk-discount codes only for contractors.
• Partner — a 20% code for anyone referred by a specific shop, tagged when you add them.

Renters without the tag who try the code see a polite "not eligible" message.

Blackout dates

Blackout dates are date ranges where the code does NOT apply. The rental window must fall entirely outside the blackouts — if any part of the rental overlaps a blackout, the code is rejected.

Add blackouts one at a time with a start and end date. Multiple blackouts can coexist.

Common blackouts:

• Holiday weekends — Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day (when demand is so high you do not need to discount).
• Major local events — festivals, sporting events, graduation weekends.
• Your slow periods when the code would apply during a different sale — preventing accidental double-dipping.

Stackable toggle

By default, only one promo code can be applied to a rental. Turn on Stackable to allow the code to combine with other stackable codes.

Stackable codes apply in the order they are entered, and the math is applied sequentially. A $500 rental with two stackable 10% codes becomes $500 → $450 → $405, not $400. This prevents "free rentals" from chaining too many percent-off codes.

Use cases for stackable:

• Loyalty codes that add on top of seasonal sales.
• Service-recovery credits ("here's a code for your trouble") on top of an existing sale.
• Bundle promotions ("free delivery + $50 off" as two codes).

Keep stackable off by default. It is safer and avoids unpleasant math surprises.

Combining restrictions

All restrictions are ANDed together. A code with First-booking-only + Dump category + 4-day minimum + No Memorial Day weekend only applies when every one of those conditions is true. This sounds narrow but is actually how serious operators run targeted campaigns.

Testing your restriction logic

Before distributing a code, go to Promo Codes > [your code] > Test and simulate a rental. Pick a trailer, pick dates, pick a renter (or a "new renter"), and click Simulate. You will see the exact validation output — green if the code would apply, red with a specific reason if it would be rejected. Fix rules until the test matches your intent.

Monitoring usage

The code detail page shows real-time redemption count, total discount given, and a list of every rental that used the code. Use this to decide whether a campaign is worth repeating, and to spot abuse (the same renter trying to redeem a first-booking code from multiple addresses).