RV Share is considered one of the biggest RV rental companies in the United States. It was created to give people the option to rent an RV so that they can travel comfortably and in style. By using the service, people can either find the perfect rental or list their own RV so people could rent it. Think of it as Airbnb, but for RVs instead. This RVshare review will go into detail about whether or not it’s a good choice for you.
With so much money to pay left and right, the last thing people want is renting a hotel room for several nights, reaching outrageous amounts. Traveling through airports can also be troublesome, as you have to consider the waiting times, flight hours, luggage, and so on. In this situation, RV rental comes as the perfect solution, preventing any of these troublesome processes.
Furthermore, it’s a wonderful travel option at the moment, given the pandemic, restrictions, hygiene norms, etc. Flights are very limited and sometimes you may not even be able to travel without certain requirements. But RV rental automatically makes things easier.
Since RV Share is such a big rental company, people must know what they can get from it and how good the services are. This is why we’re going to review RV Share and give you the chance to decide for yourself if you wish to rent an RV through them.
What Is RV Share?
It all started for RV Share in 2012, when Mark, the co-founder, and his wife Rachel went on their honeymoon. They bought an RV for their journey and traveled the country. What made this even better was the fact that they could enjoy freedom. There was no need to deal with plane tickets or all the processes involving traveling by plane.
However, once they got home, the RV didn’t serve any purpose anymore. Another disadvantage was that it would have to sit there unused for the entire year, while they still had to deal with payments towards the ownership.
So, Mark came up with a solution – renting his RV. This was a great way for him to deal with the RV costs, but also allow other people to experience the joy of traveling in an RV without having to purchase one. Given there wasn’t any proper platform to perform this sort of operation, Mark found the option to do peer-to-peer RV rentals. That’s how RV Share was born.
RV Share is a platform where people can rent an RV or list their own RV for others to rent. On the website, there are proper profiles for users that show reviews for both categories of people: those who rent and those who list their RVs for rent.
From the profile of the owners, people can find where to contact them and start a private chat. A secure payment system will also be set up to make sure you’re not giving money away to an untrustworthy individual.
Is RV Share a Legit Company?
At first, renting an RV online might seem risky. You don’t know what to expect and you are worried you might send money to someone who won’t deliver the RV or rent an RV that will break in the middle of your trip. It’s especially concerning for you if you’ve never used RV Share in the past. This RVshare review will explain their current ratings and how they are a legitimate company.
Fortunately, RV Share is a legit company, and you have nothing to worry about in this aspect. Most people had a positive experience with the service and recommend it. Now, of course, there is always the occasional bad experience, but that’s no different from other rental services or just any type of service. On Trustpilot, the company has a 4.4-star rating, which points to an overall good experience.
This is separate from the owner ratings on the platform, as those are unique to each person based on the experience of the people who rent. For this reason, it’s still essential to check out the owner rating before proceeding with the payment for a rental.
For your peace of mind, you should also know that the company managed to rent more than two million nights since they have been established.
Insurance
One thing that makes things great and will reassure you that RV Share is legit is the insurance. RV Share offers insurance for both owners and renters, so everyone can get coverage when certain situations occur.
- Renter Protection
When you rent an RV, there is standard insurance coverage that is immediately included in the quote. RVShare Rental Insurance offers this coverage. If you want an upgraded coverage, though, you can pay for it when you book the RV.
With motorhome rentals, a standard coverage includes state statutory liability limits, free tire, and towing service, as well as free roadside assistance 24/7. On top of that, depending on the value of the RV you rent, there is also up to $200,000 collision coverage.
As for trailer rentals, standard coverage includes free tire and towing service, as well as roadside assistance 24/7. Furthermore, based on the value of the RV, you will have a comprehensive and collision coverage of up to $200,000.
- Owner Protection
As an owner, you will be able to make sure you’re covered in case something happens to your RV. You can activate the coverage without dealing with any cost. Listing using RV Share gives you this amazing advantage of having the coverage for free.
There are several things included in the coverage, such as free tire and towing service, plus roadside assistance for free 24/7. Comprehensive and collision coverage is also offered depending on the value of the RV, and the coverage can be up to $200,000. Lastly, you also get liability coverage of up to $1M.
Coverage also depends on how old your RV is. For example, if you have an RV that is 15 years old or less, then you have a coverage of $200,000. However, if your motorhome is over 15 years old, the only thing you can activate is liability coverage.
Fees
Both renters and owners will have certain fees applying for them. Especially if you wish to rent, it’s important to know all fees upfront.
The Service Fee is a tax that you have to bear in mind before you rent. This represents a percentage of the amount of your reservation, and over time, this fee will vary. It’s also important to keep in mind that it excludes refundable fees or taxes. Aside from this, you will pay for your Roadside Assistance, which means you should confidently use it when it’s needed.
Other fees you may have to pay apart from the Service Fee include the pet fee, late fee, cleaning fee, post-trip fee, dumping fee, abandonment fee, and refueling fee. It all depends on your particular situation. For example, if you do not dump the waste tanks before you return the RV, then a dumping fee will apply.
Rental Process
So, how does the rental process unfold? There is a small form you can fill out on the main page of their website, but there are some details you may want to know before you proceed with that.
The first thing you have to do before you actually rent an RV is to create an account. Once you have a renter’s account, a rental becomes possible. There are a few requirements you should meet to be able to register, though. You need to be at least 25 years of age and have a driving history of at least 3 years. A passed DMV check will be required too, and you also need a valid driver’s license. After going through the registering process, you’re ready to rent.
There are numerous vehicles available. You can settle for drivable RVs, such as Class A, Class B, or Class C motorhomes, but also towable RVs, which include popup campers, travel trailers, 5th wheel, or toy haulers. You should choose the type of RV based on how much experience you have with driving big vehicles or buses.
All you have to do when you want to rent is enter your pickup address and location, as well as the date of the pickup and drop-off and the number of guests. Based on this information, you’ll be able to search for available RVs and see what prices and options you have available.
You will be able to see an Interactive Map Widget on the right side of the page, which allows you to see listings in the area you entered before the search. The price tags will also enable you to see more details about each particular listing. At the same time, the left side will show you some Listing Cards that give you more details about the offers. They mention the location, vehicle type, cost per night, maximum sleep capacity, and the rating. If you click on any of them, you can find more details and explore your options.
Customer Service Experience
If you want to contact their customer service, there are different options. You can call their phone support, use the chat, or send them an email. Phone support is one of the best options to contact them as it’s fast and is available 24/7. If all you want is something quick, then this is the best way to do it. Their phone support number is 1-888-482-0234.
There is also a live chat at the bottom right of your screen, which is another great method to contact them if you want a faster answer and prefer to text rather than call. Just like with the phone number, the chat is available 24/7.
Lastly, you can try the email contact option, but this is only recommended if you don’t need a fast answer. The only downside is that you cannot directly email them – you can only do it through a contact request form from their platform.
Overall, the experience with the customer service is very positive. Most people can get the answers they are looking for on time. But the experience may be less amazing through email, especially if you need to have a longer conversation. It may take several hours until you finalize it. However, if you know how to describe everything properly in the first email, things may go smoother, and you’ll get your answer much faster.
Pros and Cons of RV Share
The company has several benefits, but some things could be improved. Here are some of the benefits and the drawbacks of RV Share that you should know about:
Pros
- Free Roadside Assistance at All Times
If your RV breaks down while you’re enjoying your trip, RV Share offers you roadside assistance for free 24/7, as part of their insurance. So, you can get going again even if the RV breaks down. All you have to do is contact them and communicate the issue.
- The Support Agents Are Amazing
You have different ways to contact the customer support, and the agents are friendly and very knowledgeable. If you have any questions or issues, they know how to answer or help you so you can have the best experience ever.
- It Lets You Save Money
Thanks to RV Share, you don’t have to spend money on your own RV or pay for hotel rooms all the time. You’ll be able to drive around the country and have more freedom than you would if you traveled by plane. Besides, there are no ownership costs – you only pay for the rental and some associated fees.
Cons
- Not Many Options in Areas with Smaller Populations
If you live in a less populated area, you will have fewer options in terms of RV rentals. This will make it hard for you to find what you want.
- Separate Accounts for Owning and Renting
If you want to rent and own at the same time, you need separate accounts for each operation. You can’t do both operations on a single account.
Conclusion
RV Share is a great rental company with plenty of experience in the industry. They can be a great option to visit remote areas, especially when travel options are limited. Renting will also help you save money, making RV Share an even better option. We hope you found this RVshare review informative and helpful. They still have some improvements to make but overall, they are pretty convenient if you make sure to work with the right RV owners.
