How to Rent Out Your RV Successfully

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Renting out your RV can be a good source of income, but it’s not without risks!

Below, I cover how to rent out your RV successfully – from where to list it to dealing with renters. Plus, how to protect yourself (and your RV) throughout the entire process.

How to Rent Out Your RV Step-By-Step

To rent out your RV, you need to list it for rent, manage the bookings, prepare and hand over your RV, and get paid!

While it sounds simple, there are some important details you need to know to successfully list your RV and turn it into a revenue-generating machine.

Let’s take a closer look at each step.

Step 1: List Your RV for Rent

The first step to renting out your RV is getting it in front of potential renters. There are a few different ways to do this, including advertising it locally or on Facebook groups, etc. Or our preferred method, by using an RV rental company.

An RV rental company, like Outdoorsy or RVshare, will help you advertise your RV for rent by putting it before thousands of interested renters. You get a team of people dedicated to promoting your listing. Plus, they handle 24/7 roadside assistance, provide insurance for your RV while it’s being rented out, have an easy-to-use online booking and payment system, and more!

And it’s free to list your RV! They do, however, take a percentage of the rental fee once you complete a booking.

Outdoorsy, for example, takes 20% of the total reservation cost, while RVshare has a variable fee based on the revenue booked on its platform.

No matter which rental company you choose, the process to list your RV is essentially the same.

1. Go to Outdoorsy or RVshare
2. Click the “List My RV” button and sign up for an account
3. Create your listing by adding photos, a description, and the location of your RV.

Here are a few best practices to make your listing stand out from the rest.

Listing Best Practices

• Taking Photos: The first thing renters will notice are photos of your camper. This can make the difference between them clicking on your listing or scrolling by. Take 15-20 high-quality photos and include images of you and your family enjoying your RV on vacation to help build an emotional connection.
• Writing Catchy Headlines & Descriptions: Just as important as your cover photo is a compelling headline that catches the user’s attention. Try highlighting unique features in your headline, and be thorough in your listing description. Try to answer all the questions a potential renter might have.
• Requesting Reviews: Building up a lot of positive reviews can really make your rental listing stand out from the competition. Think about it, rarely does anybody buy a product or service online without first reading the reviews! So, don’t be afraid to ask your renters for honest reviews, and be sure to respond to each and every one.

Step 2: Manage Your Bookings

Both RVshare and Outdoorsy have dashboards that make it easy to manage your bookings online. There’s an inbox for easy messaging, a tab to view your requests & bookings, and more.

But, the real excitement happens when you get your first booking request! You typically have around 24 hours to respond to the request. And you don’t have to accept every request. Message the interested party using the built-in messaging system, get to know your potential renter and learn about their trip. If they seem like a good fit, go ahead and accept their booking request.

Now it’s time to prepare your RV!

Step 3: Hand Over the Keys

Before you hand over your RV to the booking party, you must prep the camper and the renters themselves. This will help you get good reviews and prepare the renters for their trip in your RV.

Tip: Your renters are probably as anxious and excited as you are, so it’s good to build that relationship beforehand and offer all the support they need.

Prepping Your RV

To prepare your RV, it’s a good idea to have a checklist of tasks to complete before handing it over. This checklist should include:

• Interior and exterior cleaning
• Routine maintenance (oil changes, etc.)
• Checking fluids
• Lights and signals check
• Tire inspection
• Systems check (appliances, water pump, water heater, etc.)
• Test drive
• Paperwork prepared (rental agreement, return form, etc.)

Prepping Your Renters

Once your RV is ready to go, and the renters arrive, it’s time to prepare them for their trip. Again, a checklist for handing off your RV to a renter is good to keep handy.

• Do a walkaround of the RV and check for any damage with the renter
• Show the basic operations of the RV
• Show the renter how to set up the RV at the campsite
• Give the renter a quick driving lesson
• Make sure you’re on the same page when it comes to fees and responsibilities
• Take pre-trip photos of your RV
• Take fuel and mileage readings

Tip: Create an electronic manual for your RV and send it to the renters ahead of time so they can get familiar with your rig. Include a walkthrough and instructions to operate the appliances, refill the water tanks, etc. You can use Touchstay to create the e-guide.

Step 4: Collect Your Money

Upon return, you’ll need to fill out a return form to close out the booking. Essentially, you’ll want to do a walkthrough with the renter and look for any signs of damage, overages, etc.

Once everything checks out, you can close out your booking and get paid! Typically, the rental company will hold the money for 24 hours after the RV is returned, then it will be deposited into your account.

Tip: The income you earn through renting out your RV is taxable unless you’re exempt. If you make more than $600, you will receive a 1099 form. Be sure to consult a tax professional.

Pros and Cons of Renting Out Your RV

Deciding whether to rent out your RV is a big decision! So, it’s important to understand the pros and potential pitfalls of renting your RV before jumping in.

Pros

• You make money: Obviously, the biggest pro to renting out your RV is that it’s a source of income. This is extra money in your pocket you wouldn’t have if your RV were just sitting in storage.
• You get to meet like-minded people: It’s fun to meet people who want to travel and enjoy the RV lifestyle like you. You get a chance to connect with others, introduce them to a lifestyle that you enjoy, hear stories about their RV camping trip, etc.
• It can help pay down your RV: The extra money made can help justify the large expense of buying an RV.
• Save on storage costs: Why pay for storage when you can make money renting out your RV to others?

Cons

• Stress & anxiety: Letting a stranger drive away in your RV can induce a little stress and anxiety. It’s normal to run through every worst-case scenario the first time someone pulls away in your RV. Having the proper insurance in place and doing pre and post-walkthroughs will help give you peace of mind.
• There’s a learning curve to make it profitable: If you just want to make a few extra bucks, this might not be a big deal. But, if you want to turn this into a business, there’s certainly a learning curve involved. From marketing your rental so it stands out from others to providing excellent customer service to get great reviews, there’s quite a bit to learn to make the most of renting out your RV
• Time investment: You’ll have to invest time managing your bookings, cleaning and maintaining your RV between rentals, working with renters, etc. The amount of time you invest can directly influence the success of your rental.
• Insurance limitations: While your RV is protected when it’s being rented out through the RV rental company, you’ll need private insurance when it’s not. And unfortunately, most private RV insurance companies won’t cover your RV if it’s used as a rental. Luckily, companies like Roamly offer private insurance for RV rentals.

Are you ready to start renting out your RV? Head over to Outdoorsy or RVshare and list your camper for free today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are RV Rentals a Good Investment?

RV rentals can be a good investment if you’re comfortable with others driving and living in your vehicle. You can make between $50 to $275 per night, depending on the type of RV. It’s a great way to generate income when you’re not using your camper.

How Much Can I Rent My RV For?

You can rent your RV out for $50 to $275 on average, depending on the type of RV you have. For example, a smaller pop-up camper might rent out for $50 per night, while a Class-A motorhome could fetch $275 per night (some luxury models go for $450/night)!

The average rental price ranges for the various types of RVs are:

If you use a rental company, they will take a portion of the reservation cost. For example, Outdoorsy takes 20% of the total cost when somebody reserves your RV through their platform.

Can I List My RV on Airbnb?

Airbnb allows RV owners to list their campers as a rental. They allow RV owners to “host an RV or camper,” making it available to rent by their many users. This allows you to make extra income and share the RV way of life with others.

To rent out your RV on Airbnb, create an account, click the “become a host” button, select the “Unique Space” option, and list your RV or camper.

What Kind of Insurance Do I Need to Rent Out My RV?

You’ll need two types of insurance to rent out your RV – insurance during the rental period and insurance outside of the rental period. Rental companies like Outdoorsy or RVshare will cover your RV during the rental period. Personal insurance through a company like Roamly will protect your RV outside the rental period.

Important: Check with your personal RV insurance company before renting out your recreational vehicle to see if they allow renting. Many don’t. And they may even deny claims or drop you if they learn you’ve been renting out your RV.