Last Updated: September 27, 2021
RVShare Vs. Outdoorsy: Best RV Rental Company?
Thinking about renting an RV? RVShare and Outdoorsy are both excellent RV rental companies in the US, and they’re the best options on the market. They connect RV owners with renters, providing insurance for both parties in case something goes awry.
How do they work, what’s the difference between the two, and is one better than the other are just some of the questions I will answer in this detailed comparison. I’ll also talk about their policies for both owners and renters – although they’re both awesome RV rental companies, they have different policies in place for both types of customers.
Read on to see the good and bad about both RVShare and Outdoorsy, and figure out which RV rental company is the better option for you!
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RVShare and Outdoorsy are both RV rental companies. RV owners can rent out their vehicles through these companies to people who would like to travel in an RV occasionally, but don’t want to bite the bullet and buy a vehicle just yet.
Read on to learn more about these RV rental companies, and see which one is better for owners and renters!
Pros Of Renting (Out) An RV
Recreational vehicles give you the ultimate freedom of travel, but they’re not for everyone. Owning an RV is expensive, especially if you’re not a full-time RVer who spends all their time on the road. That’s why RV rental companies are growing so fast – there are lots of pros of both renting and renting out RVs, so let’s talk about those for a moment!
For campers who would like to rent an RV for a few days the pros are:
- You can try out different kinds of RVs (campers, vans, trailers, etc.) and see which is best for you
- Great way to see if you like camping in an RV before you buy one
- You don’t have to worry about maintenance and storage
- You can have it delivered to your home
- Usually cheaper than hotels
There are lots of benefits for RV owners as well, especially those who are stuck with an expensive vehicle they barely ever use anymore:
- The money from renting out the RV helps offset the original RV payments
- Rental companies offer insurance if something happens to the vehicle
- You don’t have to pay for storage
- Less maintenance is required when an RV is always being used as opposed to just sitting in the driveway
Cons Of Renting (Out) An RV
The drawbacks for people looking to rent an RV can include:
- High rental fees
- Pets aren’t always allowed
- You must pay for damages out of your own pocket.
If you ask me, the pros of renting an RV heavily outweigh the cons.
There are more drawbacks to renting out your RV if you’re an owner. The risks are generally higher, but so are the rewards and it’s up to you to decide whether you’d rather share your RV through one of these companies or just have it sit in your driveway:
- Your RV might not get rented meaning you don’t get paid
- Your RV could be booked at a time you would like to use it
- Various damages and misuse could occur and it could take a while before you even notice there’s anything wrong with the vehicle
- You might have to deliver the vehicle to the customer
Can You Guarantee Your RV Gets Rented?
You can never guarantee it, but you can do everything in your power to make your RV as attractive to potential renters as possible. Consider what would you look for in an RV if you were looking to rent one, and then try to make sure that your vehicle checks all the boxes.
You will likely need to invest some money in the vehicle when you first start renting it out, but the rental fees should offset the initial investment pretty fast.
Start with the big things – make sure there’s a spare tire in the vehicle, as well as any tools necessary for quick repairs. Also, it’s smart to make the RV look attractive from the outside because that’s the first photo potential renters will see. If it’s an old vehicle with some scuffs and bruises, a fresh paint job could go a long way towards ensuring it gents rented.
The small things are just as important as the big things. Think about all the things you need in an RV and make sure that it has them all, from leveling blocks to enough dishes. The better equipped your RV is, the more you can charge for it – it’s as simple as that.
What About The Extra Fees?
There are extra fees for both owners and renters, so the price of an RV for the weekend is never the final amount you need to pay.
Owners have to pay an average fee of 20-25%, depending on the exact rental company they decide to list their RV with. The fee goes directly to the rental company and in turn, the owner is protected in case of any damages or problems.
Renters also pay a fee that can be anywhere from 5% to 20%, depending on the exact company and the length of the rental. The longer you want to rent an RV, the higher the fees are going to be. But, they’re necessary because they keep both the owners and renters protected in case something were to happen.
RVShare has a great search system in place that lets you filter everything from location to the features in the RV. You can also narrow down the list of available vehicles to display only the ones that are in your price range, so you don’t get tempted by RVs you can’t afford.
One thing to note about renting with RVShare is that all renters must verify their IDs before they’re allowed to rent anything. This is absolutely necessary, so make sure to get this out of the way before you try to book anything. It can take a few days, and it’s better to get it over with immediately so you don’t have to delay your trip.
Once you’ve looked through hundreds of different recreational vehicles and found that perfect one for you, RVShare connects you directly to the owner of that vehicle. You can make all the arrangements with them, whether you’re picking up the RV or having it delivered to your door. And that’s it – it’s quick, easy, and absolutely painless.
RVShare has a secure payment platform and all the renters are protected against fraud, which is great. Also, every reservation that you book through RVShare includes Roadside Assistance.
Hopefully, you don’t need it, but in case you do, it’s much better to have the option. You can also choose between several types of insurance when you’re booking the RV – a standard insurance package is included with all orders placed through RVShare, but you can upgrade the package if you desire.
When it’s time to return the RV to its rightful owners, RVShare requires all renters to dump the waste tanks and refuel the vehicles. You should just return the RV in the exact same – or better – condition you received it. If you had a great experience with a particular owner and you would like to rent an RV from them again sometime, RVShare has an excellent rebooking system in place that makes this effortless.
One tip for all renters is to take detailed photos of the RV before they return it. You never know with the owners – they might try and blame you for some damage just to avoid paying for fixes out of their own pockets. If you have photos of the condition you returned the RV in, you can avoid penalties and bans.
Listing your vehicle on RVShare is very simple. You can add as many photos as you want, you can write whatever you want in the description, and you get full control of what potential renters can see when they look at your listing.
If someone likes your RV and wants to book it, the platform connects them directly to you and you can choose to decline or accept their booking request. Owners have a lot of freedom and control on RVShare, which is always beneficial.
The main advantage of listing your vehicle on RVShare is that you get access to the largest customer base in the world. You have better chances of renting out your RV, plus you get to dictate all the rules.
RVShare lets the owners dictate their own rules (up to five), as long as they clearly state them to potential renters. If your RV is not returned in the same condition you sent it out, the company’s insurance kicks in.
Renters are charged daily insurance and the total amount depends on the value of the vehicle. It’s worth noting that this fee covers any unexpected damages that might happen on the road, including dead batteries, tows, flat tires, and others.
The main drawback of listing your vehicle on RVShare is that you must pay a 25% commission to the company. It’s a big chunk of your earning, but it’s reasonable considering all the protections in place, as well as the fact that they’re the largest platform of this kind.
Outdoorsy For Renters
The process of renting an RV through Outdoorsy is pretty much identical to the process of doing it through RVShare. You can filter the thousands of available RVs to only see the vehicles that have all the features you want and are in your price range, and once you’ve found the perfect vehicle you can send the owner a booking request.
Outdoorsy also requires all renters to verify their IDs and it’s one of the first things you’ll need to do. It’s worth noting that you can also add several drivers so be sure to do that if you’re not the only one who’s going to be driving the rental RV. Letting someone drive who isn’t verified through Outdoorsy can break their policy and incur penalty fees and it’s best to avoid that.
When you’re connected to the owner you can ask them anything you want and make arrangements for RV delivery or pickup. When it’s time to return the RV, make sure to return it in excellent condition and check whether the owner has any additional requirements.
Outdoorsy allows more freedom to the owners and some might have requirements in place that you don’t expect – not abiding by those could incur you some sort of penalty, so it’s crucial that you read the fine print.
Outdoorsy For Owners
Outdoorsy is a bit more attractive for RV owners than RVShare. It allows more freedom to owners – you can send customized quotes to potential renters, you can choose if you want to deliver the RV on your own or not, and you can get a lot of control over the RV listing.
It’s possible to adjust the cost of your RV depending on the season, you can require that your vehicle be rented for three nights minimum, and you can even let potential renters book your vehicle instantly – a useful feature if you don’t care who drives you RV as long as you get paid.
On top of all that, Outdoorsy takes a smaller commission than RVShare. Owners are charged 20% of each reservation, but it is worth noting that this is generally a smaller platform, so you might not reach as many people.
If you’re a renter, the difference between the two companies is really not that big that one is clearly the better option. Ultimately, it will come down to which offers a better price for the vehicle you want to rent. The fees are the same, both companies offer renter’s insurance, and in the end, it all comes down to availability.
For owners, Outdoorsy seems like a better option simply because they allow more freedom to the owners. You’re entirely in control of who gets to rent your RV, plus they take a smaller commission than RVShare. But Outdoorsy has a smaller customer base – your vehicles won’t be seen by as many people, which reduces the chances of it getting rented.
Many people prefer to list their vehicles on both platforms, but this only works if you have the time to keep track of reservations and update the availability of your vehicle on both sites fairly often.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
