RVShare Review [Updated: 2022] Is RVshare Safe?
RVShare is a platform for renting RVs across the US. It works as an RV search engine that allows users to find an RV or to rent out their RVs for short holidays. If you have landed on this RVShare review 2022 you are either looking for a way to rent an RV or you have an RV you want to rent out and make some extra cash. You’re wondering if this is a legitimate company that you can use.
This company has some unique features that kind of sets itself apart from the other RV rental companies out there.
Finding a good RV can be complicated, especially around the holidays. RVShare is a type of RV sharing platform that has a few distinct benefits such as multiple locations, vehicle, and price filters.
In this RVShare review, I will cover the aspects of renting an RV or hiring out your own RV. There’s a lot of RV rental companies to choose from so you can also check out our review of RVshare vs. Outdoorsy.
Types of vehicles on RVShare
There are multiple types of vehicles on RVShare for all types of travelers. From pet-friendly RVS to full travel trailers, there are plenty to choose from.
- Travel trailer
- Class A Motor Home
- Class C Motor Home
- Fifth Wheel
- Class B Camping Van
- Pop-up camper
- Toy Hauler
What is RVShare?
RVShare is an RV-sharing platform both for travelers and for RV owners who want to share their vehicle. The platform handles bookings and payments making RV renting easier.
A few other small details make the platform a worthy stop for all of those looking to rent an RV. For example, RVShare offers mileage information for its vehicles so that you can estimate the amount you’ll spend on gas.
The length of the vehicle is also important and shared on each listing. Other RV-sharing platforms don’t offer this information.
RVShare Has A Network Of RVs, Motorhomes, and Campervans All Over The USA
A Brief History Of RVShare
RVShare was established in 2012 after Mark, the owner, and his wife, Rachel, used a recreational vehicle to tour the country for their honeymoon. The couple loved the experience and chose to share it with others by renting out their automobile.
A few months into the business, Mark discovered that the market lacked an ideal platform for RV rentals. He then founded RVShare, and it has since grown to become the most prominent RV rental business in the United States.
Check out the RVShare.com Website
Pros and Cons of RVShare
Let’s see the pros and cons of RVshare when it comes to whether it’s safe to rent with them.
Pros
• At the time of this writing, RVShare has a positive rating on the BBB website
• Owners receive an insurance cover of up to $1 million
• Renters can request for optional upgrades and delivery at a nominal fee
• Prospective buyers can use RVShare to test a vehicle before purchasing it outright
• RVShare users enjoy 5% cashback discount on future trips
• It is free to join
• Renters get free 24/7 roadside assistance for the trip’s entire duration
Cons
• There is a limited number of RVs for people living outside urban areas
• You may have to wait to get a response from owners
• Some owners charge renters for extra mileage and wear and tear
• Renters do not have to undergo yearly DMV checkups
How Much Does RVShare Cost?
The cost of renting an RV mostly depends on the owner. Other factors that influence the pricing include the season, the condition of the vehicle and its model.
For most locations, the rental starts from $100 per day.
How RVShare Works
You can find an RV for your holiday easily on RVShare. Most vehicles are found in large urban areas of the US, as expected. However, there are also some RVs which can be delivered to your desired location.
Find an RV by location
The first and most important benefit of RVShare is that it covers the entire country. It lets you easily find the best vehicle at a fair price at the location of your choice.
Why is this important? It eliminates smaller RV rental companies with a local focus so that you can find a vehicle on the same platform no matter where you travel around the country. At the same time,
The location is the first and most important filter on the website, but it’s a layer filter as others can follow and be applied next. The type of vehicle and even specifications such as having anti-sway accessories can be enabled next.
Choose from various types of RVs
There are various types of RVs visitors can choose from at RVShare. From all-modern RVs to towable options, users can count on almost any type of vehicle here. The large selection of vehicles is unlike a large selection offered by local RV sharing companies that actually own the vehicles. RVShare offers vehicles of private owners which means visitors have access to a larger number of RVs to choose from.
Destination filters
Destination filters work in 2 ways on RVShare. The first option is to choose a destination to find RVs in while the second option allows you to choose a destination to see which RVs can be delivered there.
This means most travelers should be able to find an RV no matter where they are in the country. Some vehicle owners offer the option of any-location pick-up and drop-off which eliminates the stress of having to look through endless local directories to find a suitable vehicle.
A system of reviews
Another major advantage of RVShare is its transparent system of reviews. Each vehicle has a number of reviews, depending on the time it has spent on RVShare. Users can filter vehicles out by reviews. Why is this important?
User reviews offer first-hand experience information on the state of the vehicle as well as the entire renting process. It offers a better picture for potential clients to reduce any renting risks.
The reviews appear similar to product reviews in online shopping. You can see which person left a review and if the vehicle owner has responded to the review. Many negative or partially-negative reviews are often quickly fixed by the owner.
Renting on RVShare
You have to meet specific criteria before hiring a vehicle on RVShare. These include having a valid driver’s license, at least three years of driving experience, and being 25 years old or more.
In some instances, albeit rare, the owner might set the minimum age at 28.
Some factors that prevent you from booking an RV from RVShare include having a suspended license, driving under the influence, and two or more negligent collisions or speed tickets over the past 12 months.
Provided you meet all requirements listed above, here are the steps to follow when renting an RV from RVShare.
Search the Listings
RVShare has abroad range of options – you can rent from an individual who owns one vehicle or an agency that has a fleet of RVs. Some of the types available on the platform include motor homes, campervans, trailers, and fifth wheels.
Book Your Preferred Option
Once you identify an RV that suits your needs, the next step is booking. It is a straightforward process that only requires you to share your name and contact information.
Some RV owners like using the ‘Instant Book’ features. This means that your reservation requests get booked instantly instead of undergoing the standard procedure to see if the chosen RV is available.
Contacting the Owner
After booking, you need to contact the RV’s owner. Tell them about yourself, who you will bring along, and the trip’s destination. The more information you share, the better.
Keep in mind that the objective is to establish trust so that they choose you over other suitors.
You can also request for optional upgrades when talking to the owner. The most popular choice is called the ‘Easy Living Package’, where you pay extra fees to have the vehicle cleaned and conditioned after using it.
Make Payments
The final step of renting an RV is confirming the request and making payments. Here, you will need to provide your card information and the corresponding billing address.
Once you make payments, you will be redirected to the RVShare dashboard for identity verification. First-time users have to upload a copy of a government ID and a recently taken selfie – if the two match, you will receive a link for verifying your profile. This process usually takes a few minutes.
Besides your photo, other things that you need to include in your profile include the date of birth, place of birth and a short bio.
Upon the verification of your identity, you will have to wait for up to 24 hours for the owner’s response. However, the results are faster if you use the Instant Book feature.
Listing an RV on RVShare
The other major component of RVShare is the ability to list your own RV on the platform. This essentially means you’re able to rent out your RV when you aren’t using it.
One of the first tools to help beginners in this area is the estimated yearly revenue. You can input vehicle details so that RVShare can estimate the amount of money you can earn by listing it on the platform. Revenue can fluctuate but it offers a type of estimation other RV renting companies can’t.
Certain details help maximize profits when renting out an RV on the platform. The age and state of the RV play a considerable role. But even extras such as offering a spare battery can play a role in the success or the number of days an RV is rented on the platform. Vehicle maintenance is also important, especially for RVs that are already a few years old.
A feature which has a lot of interest in air conditioning. This is one of those extras that many clients filter RVs by. Air conditioning, hot and cold water, as well as onboard entertainment are features that can drive more revenue through the year.
List Your RV and See How Much You Can Earn
Deliverable RVs
The capacity to deliver an RV to a client’s destination can also increase the higher percentage of days the vehicle is on the road. This is why many new owners choose the option of delivering the RV to remote areas when they want the vehicle to be rented more.
Pet-friendly RVs
A final but still important filter of the website involves pet-friendliness. Not all RVs allow pets. Many local renting companies don’t allow any pets at all.
Campers get to choose only the RVs which are pet-friendly by activating a search filter. This is a top feature that is recommended for families or individuals traveling with dogs or cats.
However, many pet-friendly RVs aren’t as easy to find in a remote location. As with other types of extras, the most options users have are typically tied to densely-populated areas.
RVs with electric generators
Electricity isn’t too easy to find in remote camping locations. Campers often need to restrict themselves and their facilities such as showers and entertainment without sufficient power. RVShare has a filter for RVs that come with electric generators. Most of these generators are needed for those who can’t easily find a campsite or for those preferring to camp in sites without electricity.
What Does the RVShare Rental Protection Include?
The following are the most significant things covered by the cost of RVShare rentals.
Payment Protection
When you transact on RVShare, you get payment protection. This means all aspects of your transaction are protected against fraud. If anything goes wrong, the company will refund you.
Fraud Screenings
RVShare verifies all profiles on its platform to protect users against potential fraud.
24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance
Suppose you experience any crisis while traveling, you can seek assistance from the RVShare emergency team that is available 24/7. Some of the services they offer include solving battery issues, towing, fixing punctures, and unlocking RVs.
Emergency Rebooking Service
Sometimes, the owner can cancel your booking request at the last minute. If this happens, the RVShare support team will help you find a similar RV in time for your trip.
Cancellation Policy Coverage
The cancellation policy is aimed at protecting renters from unwarranted cancellations by RV owners. As long as you do not violate any regulations, you can either a partial or a full refund, depending on whether you had already picked up the RV.
It is worth noting that all refunds, both partial and full, are subjected to a $99 cancellation processing fee.
Damage Deposit Protection
The damage deposit protection policy covers you when the owner files a damage claim against you. In this case, RVShare will pay the charges on your behalf.
Insurance Coverage
Different insurance covers protect both renters and owners.
For owners, the insurance gives them peace of mind knowing that the vehicle will be repaired if it gets damaged. On the other hand, renters are assured that they will not be liable for any pre-existing defects in the RV.
The RVShare insurance policy guarantees owners a liability cover of up to $500,000 that can increase to $1 million. Even better, this coverage is entirely free.
The system is designed such that renters pay the insurance’s deductible costs through their security deposit.
When you rent an RV, you get an automatic enrolment to the 24/7 roadside assistance service until your trip ends.
Suppose you experience an incident on the road, you can get help from nearby towing and car repair shops by calling RVShare. The company then sends the mechanics to help in the shortest time possible.
Final Words
RVShare aims to simplify RV renting. Some travelers are interested in making this process as easy as possible. With a large RV selection and an easy process of payments and delivery, the platform is ideal both for new and experienced campers.
It also offers RV owners the chance to rent out their RVs easily. This option is ideal for people who want to earn while not using their RVs. A built-in tool allows quick earnings estimations for owners who aren’t sure renting out their RVs would be profitable.
Filters for multiple features allow users to quickly select only the type of RV that suits their needs. In turn, this saves time. This is the largest asset RVShare offers to its customers. It allows you to save time finding that good RV for your next family holiday without making sacrifices such as not having a generator, onboard entertainment, or other extras such as air conditioning.
Like many rental companies, RVShare has its advantages. What impressed us the most is the readiness of the support team to solve customer issues. For instance, if you puncture your tires, they will contact the nearest mechanic to fix it on your behalf.
The drawback of the platform is that people living in remote areas can view fewer listings compared to those in towns.
That said, RVShare is a reputable company and you can find the RVShare review rating by the Better Business Bureau. What’s more, users can leave comments on particular RV’s that can guide first-time users to making the right choices.
Wow! What a cool idea and one I had never even considered. I don’t own an RV but it sounds like a lot of fun to drive around and travel. RVShare would be perfect for someone who doesn’t want to commit to a full purchase of an RV but would still like the experience. Thanks for letting me know about this. Great post!
Hi Shyla,
Thanks for your great comment. Yes, hiring and not buying is perfect for most who do not have the funds or space for an RV. Its a fantastic company and you will have a great experience should you ever rent from there. Remember if you do ever buy one you can list it for hire also and make some money back on it 🙂
I love the great outdoors, but sleeping in a tent kind of sucks. It seems like every time I have gone camping a monsoon turned the campout into a bad experience. A few years ago I just packed up and went home. Or you managed to sleep on a rock.
I have always considered getting a camper for such occasions, but they are pricy and I don’t go camping that much.
This is a great idea. Renting an RV.
What do you do if an owner makes a false accusation and tries to sue you? Is that covered? Can they sue the individuals are would they go after share? There are always people out there with an agenda. I see it is covered by insurance… that would be another concern.
Thanks for the information. Brian
Hi Brian. Thanks for your comment. To answer your question. The insurance is pretty comprehensive and covers all sorts of situations. From personal experience, I have never had an issue though. I’m sure there are dodgy RV owners out there but for the most part, I reckon you would have to be very unlucky to have someone try to scam you like that. RVSHare is a source of income for RV owners and owners behaving in an unscrupulous manner would probably cause RVShare to kick them out of the company.
But if it does happen and you are 100% sure any damage was not caused by you or anyone in your family then RVShare will sort out the issue for you.