For those who are new to RVing and thinking of trying it out, the RV rental world can be a vast and confusing place. This can leave many newbie RVers feeling completely lost and overwhelmed as they attempt to plan their first RV adventure. This is where our RV rental for newbies guide comes into play!
Here you’ll find all of the most important RV rental basics all in one place so you can start out your RV trip with confidence, and end it with memories that will last a lifetime.
RV Rental Requirements
Many new renters have questions regarding exactly what you need to qualify, book, and drive a rental RV. The good news is that qualifying to rent a recreational vehicle is actually pretty straightforward.
You must possess a valid driver’s license and a major credit card to qualify to book a rental RV. You do not need a CDL. It’s important to note that temporary licenses are typically not permitted. Sometimes a credit reference, employment references, or verification of a foreign passport may be required prior to a rental agreement.
The minimum age requirement to rent an RV is 25. While some states do legally allow drivers to rent RVs when they’re as young as 21, individual rental agencies can create their own age policies. Plus, oftentimes companies that rent to drivers between 21 years of age and 24 years of age will tack on extra fees like a daily surcharge.
Where to Rent an RV
Considering this is an RV 101 article, it’s likely that you aren’t even sure where to look for a trailer or motorhome rental. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.
There are two main routes you can take in terms of who you rent from:
Nationwide Rental Companies — Nationwide rental companies are chains with locations in various places across the country. Some of the better-known rental companies include Cruise America and El Monte RV. These are an okay choice for some, but do have a good number of drawbacks.
For starters, they don’t have locations in every city, meaning you may not have easy access to a chain rental company. Additionally, the RVs rented by these companies tend to be very basic, offering none of the homey amenities or variety in floor plans that many are looking for.
Private RV Rentals — The other option is to go with a private RV rental. In some cases, you can find rentals through local RV dealerships. That said, it’s much easier to find a suitable private RV rental right here on RVShare!
Renting an RV with RVshare
RVShare is a peer-to-peer rental site that hosts the largest community of RV owners and renters out there. We have thousands of privately owned RVs available for rent in nearly every city in the country. RVshare’s selection of unique RVs come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and floor plans, and with all kinds of extra amenities to choose from, making it easy to find the perfect rig for you and your travel party.
How does renting through RVshare work?
Although we have thousands of RV rentals to choose from, we make searching for your perfect rental a breeze.
Simply head to rvshare.com and locate the search box and follow these steps:
- Enter your location, or where you want to rent the RV from. This could be anywhere you choose, whether that’s your hometown, or closer to your camping destination.
- Enter the dates you want to pick up and drop off your RV. If you can be a little flexible with your dates, you may be able to save a little extra money
- Select your desired RV type.
- Choose “destination delivery” if you would like your RV rental delivered.
- Filter your results. You can then narrow your search down by rental price, vehicle length, price range, whether or not pets are allowed, and amenities such as shower, toilet, refrigerator, TV, and more.
- When you see one you like, just click “request to book” and that’s it!
If you’re a little confused with anything, you can always reach out to the owners themselves and ask any question you want. On top of that, when booking with us, you get a 24-hour travel concierge included to help you with any other details you can think of.
Some RV owners also offer Instant Book which allows you to book your RV instantly without having to send a request first. This makes booking your RV rental super quick and easy, as you don’t have to wait for the owner’s response to confirm.
RVshare Worry-Free Rental Guarantee
At RVshare, your safety and enjoyment are top priorities which is why every rental comes with a worry-free guarantee. While we trust our owners to resolve their customer issues independently, we’re here in the event that something should go wrong.
The Worry-Free Rental Guarantee provides:
- Payment protection against fraudulent listings
- A dedicated Customer Experience team to answer your questions before, during, or after your reservation
- Rental assistance if the RV is significantly misrepresented or you are denied access
- Our Booking Service team to rebook you another RV should your RVbe canceled by an owner last minute
- Security deposit protection if a charge is wrongfully withheld after your reservation
Insurance and Roadside Assistance
One of the most important things to look for in an RV rental is the availability of roadside assistance. Lucky for you, RVShare makes this easy by offering one of the best 24/7 RV roadside assistance programs out there. This will ensure your RV adventure will not be ruined in case any issues arise, so you can travel with peace of mind.
The other thing you absolutely must have before hitting the road? RV insurance, of course. Once again, RVShare makes this easy. The RVShare RV rental insurance policy is top-of-the-line, meaning you can rest easy knowing you are protected while using the motorhome or trailer of your dreams.
The Essential Package of insurance and protection will be automatically included in the quote when booking an RV that is covered by RVshare Protection Plan. Renters will then have the flexibility to choose a different package at the time of booking.
RV Rental Cost and Fees
Rental rates vary widely depending on several factors such as the season, the size of the RV, how old the RV is, and the length of your trip. Similar to booking a hotel – the earlier you book, the better chance you have of locking in a low rate.
You’ll have to pay a deposit to reserve the RV, and in most cases, a refundable damage deposit as well. Regardless of which rental service you use, always check the terms of the rental since there are often extra fees. These may include prep and cleaning fees, service fees, mileage fees, or generator fees. Other cost factors include tax and insurance.
Choosing an RV Rental
The next section of this guide will cover how to find and rent the right RV for you and your travel party. First, take a minute to learn about the different types of RVs. Once you’re familiar with the options, you’ll need to decide which one is best for you and what you wish to get out of your RV rental.
Try asking yourself the questions below and use your answers to narrow your options:
- What kind of camper am I? Do you like to rough it, or do you prefer to camp in style? Am I traveling to see sights or enjoy nature? Read this article to help you figure it out.
- How many people will I be traveling with? A couple can be happy in a tiny camper. Meanwhile, a large family will need something bigger.
- What is my budget? Obviously, you will need to find a rig in your budget.
- How often will I be moving? If you’ll be moving often, a motorhome is much more convenient than a trailer.
- Am I comfortable driving an RV? If the answer is no, an RV rental that can be delivered is a must.
Planning Your Route Ahead of Time
You likely already have an idea of where you want to go in your rental RV, but have you thought about how to get there? It’s good practice to plan your route ahead of the trip itself. This will give you a chance to identify the campgrounds you wish to visit. It’ll also help ensure you don’t go over daily mileage limits or run into low clearance bridges, steep grades, and other situations that could be dangerous in a big rig.
RV Rentals with Unlimited Miles
If you’re worried about daily mileage limits, you might want to look for rentals with unlimited miles.
If you choose an RVshare rental with a free mileage rate, you can travel the USA with peace of mind, knowing that you have free unlimited miles, and won’t be charged extra, no matter how far you travel.
Packing for an RV Trip
Another important aspect of RVing for beginners is figuring out what to pack.
First, consider where you’re going and the type of weather you’ll be camping in. If you’re camping during the summer, you’ll obviously want to think about items like bug spray and sunscreen. If you’ll be doing some winter camping, a ski coat and extra blankets might go on your list.
It’s also never a bad idea to plan for unexpected weather, even for summer camping, as temperatures can drastically change from day to night. We recommend always having a rain jacket, ponchos, an umbrella, and long shirts/pants — just in case! You never know when a thunderstorm or cold front might roll in.
Pack accordingly for any adventures you plan to partake in. This could mean bringing hiking boots, snow gear, or beach towels. Your list should include everything you need to stay comfortable and safe on your RV adventure.
What does my RV rental come with?
Of course, you won’t need to pack those things that are included with your rental. Find out if these items come on board your RV rental, so you know what you need to bring along.
- Coffee maker/ french press
- Microwave
- Oven
- Eating and cooking utensils
- Measuring cups
- Cutting boards
- Grill
- Generator
- Cleaning supplies
- Emergency supplies like a first aid kit, tool kit, and fire extinguisher
- Fire starting supplies
- Trash bags
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Bath/ Kitchen towels
- Flashlight
Always Inspect your RV Rental
Before you set off on your RV adventure, conducting a reasonable inspection is good practice. Make sure to note any cosmetic, mechanical, or structural issues so that you have a record to clear up any confusion later on. If you notice any glaring issues that could affect the quality of your trip, consider the ramifications carefully. You may also be able to use these flaws to negotiate a discounted rate with the owner.
Driving an RV
As you might imagine, driving an RV is quite different from driving a regular vehicle, and certain RV models can even be very different from one another in terms of how they drive. Although the RV owner will almost certainly give you a quick rundown of how to operate their vehicle, it’s a good idea to gather some information on how to drive the RV you’ll be renting.
Some of our favorite RV driving tips include the following:
- Leave plenty of distance. Big rigs don’t stop as quickly as smaller vehicles. Leave yourself plenty of extra room to put those brakes to work.
- Look ahead. Because braking can take longer, make sure to always be watching as far ahead as possible so you can anticipate stops.
- Take turns wide and slow. Turning in a large vehicle or when towing is tricky. Make sure to slow way down and take turns wide in order to avoid hitting trees, poles, and curbs.
- Avoid low bridges and steep grades. Low clearances and steep mountainsides are recipes for disaster in an RV. Avoid these troublesome obstacles by using a trucker’s atlas to plan your route.
- Know how to hitch up properly. Doing a poor job hitching up could be a huge problem down the road. Make sure your vehicle is rated to tow the trailer in question, and then hitch it up correctly before you pull out. (Of course, this assumes you’ll be going in a travel trailer or fifth wheel instead of a motorhome.)
- Know how to back up and park safely. This is incredibly tricky at first, and since you need this skill to pull into almost any campsite, learning ahead of time is ideal. Consider asking the owner if you can take the RV for a quick test drive with them before you head out.
- Watch the weather. Driving an RV in high winds, snow, or even rain can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, we strongly recommend keeping a close eye on the weather at all times and avoiding days that could be problematic in terms of weather.
RV Rental Delivery
If you’ve booked your RV for delivery, chances are it’s because you’re traveling from out of state or looking to avoid towing or driving the RV altogether. For a newbie, this is totally understandable and even recommended if you’re not quite comfortable with the idea of taking an RV on the road yet. The owner of the RV will simply meet you at your desired destination with the RV rental and set it up for you.
The delivery price range is defined using two rate types: a delivery base rate and a fee for delivery over a certain mileage.
- The delivery base rate represents a fixed price that a renter will be charged for traveling up to a set mileage
- The fee for delivery over a certain mileage represents a per-mile charge up to a set mileage outside of the owner’s delivery base rate range
Stationary RV Rentals
If you don’t wish to tow or drive an RV, you also have the option to book a stationary RV rental with RVshare. This can make for a great getaway if the owner’s property is a destination in itself. The RV owner will provide a description of the property where the RV is located and help you understand what kind of hookups are offered (dry or not) as part of the rental.
Hopefully this guide to RV rental for newbies helped you out. Now why not apply what you’ve learned and book your rental RV today? The sooner you start planning, the sooner you’ll be out there having the time of your life.
