An RV rental marketplace is one where you can rent an RV directly from its owners — rather than an RV rental company. It’s another manifestation of the peer-to-peer or sharing economy we’ve seen explode over the last decade or so, the one that’s made it possible to rent out part of your home as a vacation rental, for example.
The peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace we’ve built here at RVshare allows renters to choose from a wider variety of vehicle types, as well as to enjoy the lower prices available when you’re renting directly from the owner. Below, we’ll walk you through exactly how an RV rental marketplace like ours works — and why the rentals you’ll find here are both cheaper and, in many renters’ opinions, better than the ones you find at big-box rental outfits.
RV Rental Marketplaces vs. Traditional RV Rental Dealerships: At a Glance
Before we get into the details below, here’s a quick, at-a-glance comparison table that can help you understand the key differences between peer-to-peer RV rentals and traditional dealership rentals.
| RV Rental Outlet Type | RV Rental Marketplace | Traditional RV Rental Dealership |
| Who owns the RV? | The company | A private owner |
| Costs | Can be higher | Often lower |
| Variety | Usually only one or two RV types available | A wide variety of RV types available |
| Rules and Extras (mileage; generator use; insurance; etc) | Set by the company | Set by the owner (sometimes aided by the platform, i.e. insurance and roadside assistance) |
How Do RV Rental Marketplaces Work?
If you’ve ever stayed in a peer-to-peer vacation rental or hopped in a stranger’s car after summoning them on an app, you already have some understanding of how RV rental marketplaces work. Just like other areas in the sharing economy, these marketplaces enable RV owners to interact directly with hopeful renters so they can earn extra money by renting out their privately owned rigs.
On the other side of the table, RV renters who use marketplaces like these benefit from a wider variety of rental options, more affordable prices, and the opportunity to connect one-on-one with the RV owners — which is to say, like-minded travelers like them.
How Do RV Rental Marketplaces Make Travel Better?
One of the main benefits of renting off a rental marketplace is simply the wide variety of vehicles available. Usually, if you’re renting from a traditional rental company, you may be able to choose from one or maybe two types or styles of vehicles — and often, each vehicle is basically in its factory setting, without too much character.
On an RV rental marketplace, you’re renting real RVs from real people. That means you can choose from Class A, Class B, and Class C motorcoaches as well as travel trailers of all shapes, styles, and sizes. And often, the rigs you’re renting will be appointed with homey touches and color. After all, the owners use that vehicle for their own vacations, too!
This makes RV rental marketplaces an especially great opportunity for those considering purchasing an RV of their own. While a dealership may allow you a test drive or two, you don’t really know what a certain RV type or style is going to feel like on a camping trip… until you camp in it. On the RV rental marketplace, you can “try before you buy,” hopping around between soft-sided pop-up trailers, enormous fifth wheels, camper vans, Class A motorcoaches, and every other type of RV out there.
And if you have a special interest in a certain make (like Airstream, for example), a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace makes it possible to look for that specific type of RV in your community.
Why Are RV Rental Marketplaces Cheaper Than Traditional Rentals?
Along with all the variety and the hominess of the vehicles, the other main benefit of the RV rental marketplace is a lot more logistical. Put simply, peer-to-peer rentals often cost a whole lot less.
Why? Well, just like any other sharing economy service, RV owners on the peer-to-peer market aren’t faced with the steep overhead costs of running business that a traditional rental dealership is. There are no giant lights to keep on, no full-time employees to pay — none of that. Just the regular costs associated with owning an RV in the first place.
Of course, there are certain perks to having a corporate assistant in the rental agreement. For example, a private owner might not be able to afford to offer additional insurance or roadside assistance to their renter, if that renter simply walked up to the owner and asked if they could borrow their rig for a few bucks.
That’s where a platform like RVshare steps in. We help ensure that each rental transaction takes place safely and offer the extras, like insurance and roadside assistance, that both renters and rent-ees need to feel comfortable and confident during the rental period.
Tips for Your First Time Renting on the RV Rental Marketplace
Ready to try out an adventure in a rig rented from the peer-to-peer marketplace? Here are our top tips to help you pick the right rental for your needs. (Don’t forget, those needs can change — which is exactly why you can come back to the rental marketplace and get a totally different RV next time!)
- How many people will be in your travel party? Different types of RVs comfortably sleep a wide range of humans, from just one or two in a cozy camper van to 10 or more in a huge fifth wheel travel trailer or Class A motorcoach. The size of your party should be one of your first considerations when choosing a rig.
- What kind of trip will it be? That giant Class A or fifth wheel might be comfortable and well-appointed, but if you’re trying to get into remote, off-grid areas, it might also simply be too big and unwieldy to safely get you there. A Class B sleeper van could give you a lot more flexibility.
- What kind of camper are you? Some people are all about luxurious rigs in developed campgrounds with full hookups, cable TV, wifi and the works. Others are trying to get away from all the connectivity, even if it means foregoing electricity for a few days. If you’re considering boondocking, looking for a smaller, more nimble RV with solar installed can make your adventure a lot easier.
- What are your goals on this camping trip? It may sound like a strange question at first — your goal on vacation is just to be on vacation, of course! But some people like to use an RV rental marketplace as a try-before-you-buy opportunity to test out some different rigs before they make a commitment. Or maybe you’re excited to finally have a go in an Airstream, Casita, or other specific make you’re a fan of!
Key Takeaways
- RV rental marketplaces allow you to rent an RV directly from an RV owner, rather than from a company. (However, these transactions are still performed through a platform, which helps increase security and takes care of extras like insurance.)
- RV rental marketplaces offer cheaper rentals because there’s less overhead associated with running the business.
- There’s a wider variety of types of RVs on an RV rental marketplace, as compared to a traditional rental dealership.
- Additionally, the RVs available through a peer-to-peer marketplace tend to be more cozy and customized than the fleet of manufacturer-standard vehicles available from a big-box rental outfit.
- Many people use peer-to-peer RV rental marketplaces as an opportunity to try out a specific type, make, model, or floor plan of RV (or several) before they commit to buying one.
Ready to book your own marketplace adventure? Browse RVshare vehicles near you now.
RV Rental Marketplaces: Frequently Asked Questions
While each marketplace varies, every RVshare rental comes with liability coverage up to $1,000,000 for RV owners and protection for renters as well during their trip. It’s important to check your paperwork, however, as private car insurance usually does not fully cover rental RV vehicles.
While it’s almost always a good idea to book as early as you can, renting off the peer-to-peer market can make it easier to find a rig that will work for your price point at the last minute.
We work hard to make our prices as transparent as possible. However, each owner has their own fee schedule, so it’s important to check the listing. Cleaning, mileage, and generator fees can add up — but even with those costs, marketplace rigs often end up being cheaper than those rented from traditional rental outlets.