What do first-time renters need to know about booking with RVshare? Before you book, you’ll want to know how to contact the owner, how RVshare verifies your ID, which fees apply, when you’ll be charged, and how cancellations work. RVshare collects payment securely, includes Insurance and Protection on every rental, and backs your booking with a Worry-Free Rental Guarantee. Support is available 24/7 by phone, chat, or email. Most first-time renters find the process simpler than they expected once they know what to look for, and this guide walks through the questions renters ask us most.
Key Takeaways
- You can message an owner with questions, request a quote, or request to book directly from any listing.
- Every RVshare rental includes Insurance and Protection, and your payment is handled through RVshare’s secure platform, never off-platform.
- Two mandatory renter fees apply on top of the nightly rate: the service fee and the screening fee.
- Cancellation terms depend on the policy the owner chose: Flexible, Standard, or Strict. All three refund you in full only when you cancel 30 or more days out.
- The Worry-Free Rental Guarantee protects your payment, your security deposit, and your booking if something goes wrong.
- RVshare support is available 24/7 by phone (1-888-482-0234), chat, or email.
How Do I Contact the Owner and Book an RV?
There are a few ways to reach RVshare’s owners during the rental process. If you have questions about a listing you’re considering, use the Contact Owner button to send your questions directly through the free-form text box.
You can also use the Request Quote button to get specific pricing for your proposed travel dates.
When you’re ready to go, the Request to Book button sends a rental proposal straight to the owner. That’s the option to choose if you don’t have any lingering questions and want to lock in your trip.
How Does RVshare Verify My ID?
You’ll need to verify your identity to get full access to RVshare’s services, and the process is quick. Our secure platform walks you through step-by-step, on-screen instructions to photograph and upload your driver’s license or passport, and to complete a quick facial verification (a selfie) so we can confirm the person behind the wheel matches the ID.
Most IDs are reviewed within minutes, though it can occasionally take a few hours. You’ll get an email notification once you’re verified, and then you can move forward with your reservation.
What Fees Will I Pay to Rent an RV?
Beyond the nightly rate the owner sets, most rentals include a few standard charges. At checkout, you’ll see a full breakdown of the rental price, any owner fees, taxes, and RVshare fees before you confirm.
| Charge | What It Covers | Refundable? |
| Service fee | RVshare’s platform costs and support; a percentage of the reservation, excluding taxes and refundable fees | Refunded on an owner-initiated cancellation |
| Screening fee | The vetting process that qualifies renters and vehicles for the platform | No (non-refundable) |
| Insurance and Protection | Coverage while the RV is on your trip; shows on your statement as “RVshare Protection Plan” | See cancellation terms |
| Security deposit | A refundable hold for potential damage or overages | Yes, released after return (or choose the waiver below) |
What is the service fee?
The RVshare service fee is a charge from the platform that helps cover secure booking and support. It’s calculated as a percentage of your reservation, excluding taxes and refundable fees, and it’s charged once your booking payment processes. If an owner cancels your booking, the service fee is refunded in full. It is not refunded on a partial refund tied to a renter-side change.
What is the screening fee?
The screening fee is a mandatory administrative charge that covers the vetting process every renter goes through to qualify for the platform. It is non-refundable.
When Will I Be Charged, and How Do I Update My Payment Info?
When you’re charged depends on your travel timeline and the owner’s policies. If you book more than 30 days before your travel dates, you may be able to split the payment in two, paying part up front and the rest closer to your trip. Some owners ask for the full amount up front instead. If your travel dates are within 30 days, you’ll be charged in full at booking.
Your Insurance and Protection charge appears as a separate line item, under “RVshare Protection Plan,” and is charged at the time of booking.
Your card is also authorized for a security deposit, which shows up as a hold shortly before your trip and is released after you return the RV safely. If you’d rather not tie up funds with a hold, many rentals offer a Security Deposit Waiver: a smaller, non-refundable fee you pay at checkout instead of the deposit.
Need to change your card? Log in to your RVshare account, go to Account, then Payment Method, and follow the prompts. Note that RVshare keeps one card on file at a time, so whichever card is saved at booking is the one that will be charged.
Can I Cancel My RVshare Reservation?
Yes, you can cancel your RVshare reservation. Each listing uses one of three cancellation policies, chosen by the owner, and the policy determines your refund. On all three, canceling 30 or more days before your trip gets you a full refund, minus the service fee and screening fee.
| Policy | 30+ days before | Closer to the trip |
| Flexible | Full refund (minus fees) | 50% refund within 30 days of the start date |
| Standard | Full refund (minus fees) | 50% refund 14–29 days out; no refund within 14 days |
| Strict | Full refund (minus fees) | No refund within 30 days of the start date |
There’s also a short grace period after you book. If you reserve 7 or more days before your trip, you have 24 hours to cancel for a full refund, minus the screening fee. For bookings made less than 7 days out, that window is 1 hour. If an owner cancels for any reason, you receive a full refund, minus the screening fee.
You can review a listing’s exact cancellation policy on the listing page before you book. For more help, check out our Ultimate RV Rental Insurance Guide.
What if an Owner Asks Me to Pay Outside the RVshare Platform?
If an owner asks you to pay outside the platform, don’t do it, and please report it. RVshare’s platform exists to protect your sensitive information and the owner’s. If an owner asks you to submit any part of your payment outside the platform, that’s a breach of our terms of service, and it bypasses our security measures, including your Worry-Free Rental Guarantee.
We strongly advise against honoring any request for off-platform payment. Reach out to our support team by phone, chat, or email to report it.
What Is the Worry-Free Rental Guarantee?
The Worry-Free Rental Guarantee adds a layer of protection for both you and the owner, and it applies as long as you pay through RVshare’s secure system. It provides up to $10,000 per occurrence of protection and includes:
- Payment protection against listing fraud
- A dedicated Customer Solutions Team to answer questions before or after your reservation
- Rental assistance if the RV is significantly misrepresented or you’re denied access
- Rebooking assistance to help you find another RV if an owner cancels last minute
- Security deposit protection to help you dispute a charge that was wrongfully withheld
To be eligible, all funds must be paid through RVshare’s secure payment system. If the RV is significantly not as described, unsafe or unsanitary, or you’re denied access, contact support within the first 12 hours. For a covered event, contact support within 30 days of the incident (or within 12 hours of pickup if the RV wasn’t as advertised or wasn’t available).
How Can I Reach RVshare With More Questions?
Our support team is available 24/7 to help at every step:
- Phone: 1-888-482-0234
- Live chat: available on the Help Center, How It Works, and Insurance pages
- Email: submit the online contact form
Expert Tip
If you learn best by watching, RVshare’s Road Diaries and YouTube library cover the rental process from start to finish. New renters tend to get the most out of a quick primer before their first booking.
Common First-Time Renter Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying or communicating off-platform – Keep everything inside RVshare so your Worry-Free Rental Guarantee stays intact.
- Missing the cancellation window – Refunds drop sharply inside 30 days, so know your listing’s policy before you book.
- Overlooking the security deposit hold – Plan for the hold on your card, or choose the Security Deposit Waiver.
- Skipping the Departure and Return Forms – These are required and protect you if a damage question comes up later.
What Real Renters Say
RVshare averages 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, with the majority of reviewers highlighting the responsiveness of the support team and how easy the platform is for first-timers. One reviewer described the online chat as fast and staffed by a real, knowledgeable agent who got them from nothing to an insured RV in minutes. Another, new to renting online, appreciated how patient the agent was in walking them through the process.
Read more renter reviews on Trustpilot.
If you still have questions about your upcoming rental adventure, never fear! Our support team is here to help you at every step along the way.
Ready to rent? Check out RVshare’s listings here.
