The peer-to-peer RV rental market is groundbreaking for so many reasons. It’s amazing to be able to choose from such a wide range of vehicle types at affordable prices. But it’s also true that renting an RV from someone you’ve never met can feel unfamiliar — especially if it’s your first trip.
That’s why trusted rental marketplaces — like RVshare — use multiple layers of security before, during, and after every reservation. It’s our responsibility to keep everyone safe so you can focus on having fun.
Below, we’re going to walk you through many of those layers in detail, including:
- ID verification that ensures everyone is who they say they are
- Payment protection that makes the transaction safe and secure
- Secure messaging so that everything is in one place — and you can get help if you need it
- 24/7 roadside assistance included in every rental
- Protection options that mean you won’t have to worry about life’s big surprises
- Safety best practices that you can take on to make yourself feel even more at ease
Understanding these safeguards can help ensure you’re feeling confident as you book, and, more importantly, as you travel. So let’s take a closer look at them.
Is It Safe to Rent an RV?
Yes. Renting an RV through a trusted marketplace like RVshare is generally safe because multiple safeguards help protect both renters and hosts. These include identity verification, secure payment processing, protected communication, roadside assistance, and customer support. Following platform best practices can further reduce risk, create a smoother rental experience, and, most importantly, offer you the peace of mind you need to fully relax and enjoy your trip.
Peer-to-peer platforms connect people looking for services (like travelers wanting to rent an RV) with people who can profit off of them (like RV owners who want to rent out their RVs when they’re not using them). There are a lot of benefits to this model, including a broader range of vehicle types on offer and more affordable prices than some traditional rental outlets.
And while these platforms can help build trust between hosts and renters, the good news is, the security technology built in means trust is built in, too. We offer a wide range of protections that helps make every transaction, message, and moment safe on both sides of the equation.
(Psst: Want to see how it works for yourself? Explore verified RV rentals across the country.)
How RVshare Verifies RV Rental Accounts
So, how exactly does RVshare verify RV rental accounts and keep you and your party — and RV hosts — safe?
It starts with an identity verification using government-issued ID, as well as verifying important contact information such as user email addresses and phone numbers. We partner with the world-leading software in ID verification, Onfido, to verify users using an actual photograph of them. Users must verify in order to have full access to their account.
Next, during the rental process, our Monitoring Team is constantly monitoring accounts for suspicious activity and potential fraud — which is why it’s so important to conduct all of your communication within our secure platform. And when it comes time to make a transaction, we again partner with a trusted third party, Stripe, to ensure financial information is kept safe and secure. (We also offer our Worry-Free Rental Guarantee that ensures you’ll have help if the owner decides to cancel at the last minute or if the rig you’ve rented is severely misrepresented.)
The safety measures continue after the rental, too, with our review system. Renters have the opportunity to review RV hosts and their RV rental experience to help other users on the site understand what it was like to work with them. Because of the identity verification process, reviews follow users no matter what, and help create trust over time.
Together, these steps can increase confidence for renters looking for legitimate listings and trusted communication, while for hosts, these steps mean safer bookings, reduced fraud, and verified guests.
How RVshare Helps Protect Your Personal Information
It’s not just about trusting that the person on the other end of the line is real. It’s about trusting that your personal information is going to be protected and secure the whole time.
That’s why RVshare uses an encrypted payment processing system (so that the actual details of your credit card information are never visible to anyone but you at any point during the transaction), along with secure platform messaging that ensures we’re available to help at every step along the way in the very rare instance that anything fishy is going on. (This also keeps you from needing to share personal contact information, like your phone number or email address, with the other party.)
Best Safety Practices
Along with all the ways RVshare protects users, there are also some best safety practices that you can employ to keep your information even safer — both on our platform and across the web.
- Use a strong password. No easy-to-hack sets of letters and numbers, and no repeated passwords. We strongly recommend using a password manager to ensure you can have a distinct and secure password for every online login you have.
- Enable multi-factor authentication where possible. Yes, it can be a bit of a pain to have to check your phone for a code every time you log in, but way less of a pain than identity fraud!
- Never send payment information directly. Always only enter credit card information and other sensitive payment details into secure and encrypted systems.
- Keep all communications within the secure platform. At RVshare, that means using our dedicated (and easy-to-use) messaging system rather than trading phone numbers or email addresses.
- Watch for phishing emails pretending to be support. If something feels off, it probably is.
Verification Checks That Help Reduce Risk
| Verification | Why It Matters |
| Identity verification | Confirms user identity |
| Driver eligibility checks (where applicable) | Supports safe vehicle use |
| Secure payment verification | Reduces fraud |
| Reviews | Builds trust through previous experiences |
| Verified photos | Creates accountability |
| Booking history | Adds transparency |
| Platform messaging | Documents communication |
While no single verification prevents every issue, together, these layered protections significantly reduce risk.
Roadside Assistance: Staying Safe During Your Trip
One of the features we’re proudest to offer is 24/7 roadside assistance for covered emergencies on every single RVshare rental. Our roadside assistance package covers:
- Towing Service: Towing to the nearest qualified location with assurance that the dispatched truck is capable of towing your RV.
- Tire Service: Tire replacement with an inflated spare, or re-inflation of a flat tire, no matter where you are in the country.
- Emergency Supply Delivery: Delivery of emergency supplies such as gasoline, water, oil or other necessary supplies.
- Battery Service: Battery charging and minor battery repairs while on the road.
- Lockout Service: Dispatch of a locksmith in event of a lock-out.
- Extraction and Winching Service: Recovery of RVs that are stuck or have gone off road.
- RV Technical Assistance Services: Hotline is staffed by certified RV technicians to easily guide you through common RV questions or issues, such as: slide outs, leveling jacks, appliances, water systems and much more.
- RV Mobile Mechanic Assistance: Highly skilled mechanics come to you to repair issues that render the vehicle unusable or unsafe , such as: inoperable leveling jacks, inoperable slide outs, appliances, LP gas and more.
We also ensure that every vehicle is covered by our Protection Plan, which helps ensure financial coverage on any unforeseen accidents or events.
You can make your journey even safer by traveling with an RV emergency kit. Some common items that can be useful to have on hand include:
- Flashlight
- Reflective triangles
- Extra potable water
- Battery pack phone charger
- First-aid kit
- Emergency contacts
- Basic toolkit
- Printed reservation information
How Payment Protection Works for RVshare Hosts
Obviously, it’s not just renters who have to worry about security in this transaction. RVshare’s platform protects hosts (owners renting their RVs), too. Because we utilize secure platform payment processing, you won’t have to worry about collecting cash transactions or any other kind of off-platform payments. This helps prevent fraud and also ensures there’s documentation of everything, including communications between you and the renter, for every trip.
Safety Tips for RV Hosts
- Photograph the RV. Knowing exactly what the conditions are like before each rental helps hold renters who cause damage accountable.
- Complete inspections. You want to be up to date on what’s working — and not — in your rig.
- Keep conversations on RVshare. Our secure platform is designed with your safety in mind. Extra-platform conversations (via text or email) undermine our ability to help ensure safety.
- Report concerns promptly. We’re here to help, but we need to know what’s happening to help!
- Review applicable protection details before each booking.
Additional Tips for Renting an RV Safely
While, again, our platform does a lot to help increase and ensure your safety, there are tips and tricks you can follow to make your chances for success even better.
- Read reviews. They’re there for a reason, and they really can help you understand what others’ experiences were like.
- Choose highly rated hosts. This goes hand-in-hand with reading the reviews. Choose ones that reflect highly on the hosts and their equipment!
- Ask questions before pickup. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or information through our secure messaging system.
- Understand protection options. RVshare’s Protection Plan comes in several tiers, depending on the RV you’re renting.
- Know cancellation policies. Each host has their own unique settings as far as cancellations, but either way, knowing them ahead of time helps keep you flexible for life’s surprises.
- Complete the walkthrough, and be sure to document any existing damages so you won’t be held responsible for damage you didn’t cause.
- Know who to contact for help. RVshare’s direct roadside assistance number is (855) 229-9696, and you can reach our customer service team at 1 (888) 482-0234.
Working together makes every rental experience that much safer and smoother.
Frequently Asked Questions
While it may sound scary, it can be! When you rent through a trusted peer-to-peer platform like RVshare, you benefit from world-class safety standards like encrypted payment processing and secure messaging. It’s a lot different than renting from a stranger on the street.
Yes. Every RVshare payment is processed through Stripe, and information is fully encrypted. The host never actually sees sensitive information like your credit card number. However, it is important to keep all payments (and all communications) on the platform to ensure the layered protections can work.
Yes. RVshare verifies all users by partnering Onfido, the world leading ID verification software. This platform matches government-issued ID with facial biometrics to ensure the person on the other end of the line is who they say they are, every time.
Good news: Every RVshare rental includes 24/7 roadside assistance on many covered, common emergencies, including towing service, tire service, and lockouts. Every rental is also covered by our Protection Plan, which is insurance designed specifically with rental RVs in mind.
For RV hosts, user verification helps ensure prospective renters are who they say they are. Additionally, encrypted payment processing and secure messaging help ensure that all transactions are private and monitored, which reduces fraud and ensures help is just a click or call away if something goes awry.
Before leaving with an RV rental, it’s important to thoroughly inspect the rig both inside and out. On the RV exterior, look for any damage or marks — and document existing damage so you won’t be held responsible for damages you didn’t cause. Inside the RV, inspect the various appliances and features to ensure everything is functioning properly and, again, document anything that is not.
Modern RV rental marketplaces combine verification, secure payments, customer support, roadside assistance, and protection options to help create a safer experience. The result? An incredible way to share the magic of RV travel at affordable prices, between people who already genuinely understand what makes it so special.
Find your next dream getaway vehicle with confidence at RVshare.
