RV Rentals – Peer to Peer (P2P)

Hey Dad,

I’ve talked a lot about RV rentals and what prospective RVers need to know before they
buy. From choosing the right RV to renovating, I’ve shared quite a bit of my RV
knowledge. But it recently struck me that I haven’t really covered one area of RVing that
tends to be confusing – renting an RV. The truth is, it’s a great way to dip your toes into
the RV lifestyle. However, if you don’t know much about renting, it can be pretty
befuddling.

Peer-to- Peer Rentals – The New Way to Rent an RV

Chances are, you’ve noticed a rental place or two in your town. It’s gotten to the point
where you can find RV rentals just about anywhere. Back in the day, it was only possible
to rent an RV from a large chain corporation or a small local business. Maybe, if you were
lucky, you’d find a private RV rental on Craigslist or happen upon one with a “for rent”
sign in the window. Now, private rentals are everywhere.

As more and more families have bought RVs (this has been a record year), more and
more families realize that maybe they don’t have as much time to use their RVs as they’d
like. In fact, the vast majority of RVs sit unused for 90% of the year. So, RV owners have
turned to peer-to- peer rental companies like RVshare to rent out their RVs and
supplement their income. For you, that means you can find affordable, private RV rentals
quickly and easily.

Here’s How Renting an RV Works (And Why P2P is a Good Idea)

RVshare is a peer-to- peer network, meaning you work directly with the owner of the RV
(think Airbnb for RVs). RV owners can list their RVs for free, and the company provides
the marketing, liability coverage, and all that jazz. The owner creates the listing,
negotiates the rental terms and policies, vets potential renters, and ultimately gives you
the walkthrough and hands over the keys. The whole process is much like renting from a

dealership, just without the middleman and the crowded showrooms. There are a few
significant benefits to this:

● Since it’s a P2P rental and there’s no overhead, the rental rates are often cheaper
than renting from a dealership. You can also find lots of different promotional
specials, like unlimited mileage and long-term rental discounts.

● RVshare’s inventory is hugely diverse, unlike corporate rental companies, which
are usually limited to just one or two types of RVs. There are hundreds of
thousands of different types of RVs in RVshare’s network all over the country.

● You still get all the perks that you would get from renting from a big company, like
liability coverage and 24/7 roadside assistance. RVshare also kicks in a 5%
cashback reward on all rentals, which you can use toward your next vacation.

● P2P RV rentals are often in better condition than company rentals. Rental
company RVs are constantly being rented out, driven, and dinged up. P2P RV
owners tend to take much better care of their RVs, and the RVs themselves
usually have fewer miles on them.

● Working with an individual RV owner instead of a large company just feels better –
you know what I mean? You’ll of course get better customer service and quicker
response times. Plus, you’ll be helping out a fellow RV lover by renting their rig for
a few days.

Save Some Cash and Your Sanity – Tips for Renting an RV

If you’re curious about RVing, renting an RV is an excellent way to start learning about
how it all works. It’s also a great way to test out different types of RVs – in real life, not

just at the dealership. Whatever your reason for renting, here are a few tips to keep in
mind:

● Try to book your rental as early as possible. If you rent from a large company,
rates work similarly to booking a hotel or flight and the earlier you book, the better
chance you’ll have of locking in a low price. RVshare owners usually have flat
rental rates, but they tend to book up quickly.

● Don’t forget to look for special deals and discounts. You can find anything from
one-way deals to free unlimited mileage and generator use. There’s also a good
chance you’ll get a huge discount if you rent during the off season.

● Pay attention to the rules and fees listed in the ad. Unlike big rental companies,
P2P rentals have all their applicable fees right in the advertisement, so you don’t
have to go digging around in the fine print. Leave room in your budget for security
and damage deposits, mileage and generator fees, insurance, and cleaning costs
(if applicable).

● Each RVshare listing has built-in reviews and rating about the RV and its owner.
You can read real reviews from customers about the condition of the rig, the
owner’s customer service, and more.

● If you have questions or want to try negotiating a deal, you can use the messaging
feature to shoot the owner an email. They’ll get back to you within a day or two.

● When planning your trip, use an app like Roadtrippers to plan your routes,
especially if you’re trying to adhere to daily mileage limits. You don’t want to get
lost and end up paying fees for an overage! Roadtrippers also shows you a list of
cool places to check out along your route.

● Gas is always going to be a hefty expense when you travel in an RV. GasBuddy is
a handy site that shows you local gas prices in real time so that you can find the
cheapest gas in the area. Use it to save a couple of bucks for more interesting
stuff, like food and entertainment.

Get Out There and Find The Perfect RV Rental!

That’s it! You should be well-schooled in RV rentals now. Renting an RV is a great option
for beginners who want to learn how RVs work or what life on the road is like. Buying an
RV is a huge investment, so why not rent an RV first to be sure it’s the right lifestyle for
you? It’s a small price to pay for the experience and the knowledge you’ll gain. If you’re
still confused about the process or how to find rentals, check out the RV Rentals Guide
for a comprehensive how-to manual. Happy trails!