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Don’t let expensive hotels and restaurants crush your dream vacation. You never know what lies in the future, therefore, don’t depend on it. So what’s the solution? Hit the road now by renting an RV. Outdoorsy and RVshare are both RV rental platforms. Apart from renting a motorhome, you can also list your RV up for rent as an owner.
It’ll be a great side-income with zero investment from your side. But how will you figure out which one to go for? Since looking through so many details is quite troublesome, we’re here with an impartial comparison of Outdoorsy Vs RVshare to clear your dilemma in this regard.
What Are They Offering You?
Since both Outdoorsy and RVshare are in the same line of work, they are bound to have some services in common. You will get liability coverage, roadside assistance, insurance policies, and penalties for comprehensive collision on both of these platforms.
Also, both of these platforms allow pets so you won’t have to leave your furry buddy behind. You’ll be able to list your RV or look for available vehicles nearby on their respective websites for free. We always recommend them over traditional RV rentals as they are a great source of extra income for owners as well as a reliable platform for renters.
What Are The Types Of RV Rental Companies?
If you don’t know any RV owners personally but want to hire one, you’ll find a few options laid out in front of you.
- Corporate RV rentals: These companies invest in RVs and keep them in their inventories. These are the traditional RV rentals where you can rent a motorhome from.
- Peer-to-peer RV rentals: These platforms allow you to rent RVs from private owners.
- Marketplace Sites: These websites collaborate with corporate RV rentals and allow you to search for listings from different companies while providing a few benefits compared to a deal directly with the company.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Features |  |  |
Insurance For Comprehensive And Collision | $250,000 | $200,000 |
Liability Insurance | $1M | $500,000 |
Roadside Assistance | Free | Additional Charges |
Customer Service | 24/7 Emails and Live Chat | Emails And Live Chat |
Are Pets Allowed? | Depends On Owners | Depends On Owners |
Is Mileage Included? | Depends On The Deal | Depends On The Deal |
BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
Cancellation Policy | 3 Packages | 3 Packages |
Class A | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Class B | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Class C | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Pop Up Trailers | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Travel Trailers | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Fifth Wheels | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Campers | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Sounds Interesting, Let's Try |
Rental Details You Shouldn’t Miss Out On
- How many classes of RVs are they offering for rent?
- Does the RV have entertainment sources like a TV?
- Are the rental prices reasonable?
- How will you use their roadside assistance?
- Does the package include mileage?
- Will they provide extra necessities on demand?
- Is their insurance policy promising enough?
- Can you take your pet along with you?
- How convenient is their cancellation policy?
- Is their customer service line cooperative?
RVshare Vs Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy and RVshare are both platforms that provide peer-to-peer RV rental services. There’s a huge competition between these two since they’re both quite successful and fall into the same category of rental platforms.
But which has the upper hand over the other? Let’s find out.
Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy is quite a familiar name in the peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace. It is an online platform that lets you rent motorhomes from private owners and people also regard it as the ‘Airbnb of RV rental’ which is courtesy of the fantastic service they provide.
What Is So Special About Outdoorsy?
So, why should you opt for Outdoorsy instead of traditional corporate RV rentals? There are several reasons for this but I’m going to start with the availability of thousands of camper and RV vehicles on their site.
The huge variety means you’ve got several options at your disposal. And you’re bound to find a suitable match within the thousands that fulfills all of your requirements. Apart from that, your location will never be a limiting factor if you choose Outdoorsy.
Outdoorsy offers pickup locations not only in the US, but in Mexico and Canada as well! Searching for a vehicle is the easiest part of the job. All you have to do is enter the start and end dates of your trip, and your pickup location.
A simple click will arrange thousands of RV rental options for you and you can book your favorite ride in no time. You won’t need help from anyone else to complete the booking process.
But that’s not all. They offer 24 hours roadside assistance, so you don’t need to worry about any inconveniences during your trip. They’ve always got you covered.
Apart from that, many customers have praised their customer service officials’ cooperative nature. We’ve heard that no matter how many times you call, they will always treat you with the utmost respect.
And if you ever have to cancel your booking due to unavoidable circumstances, you’ll get that chance too. Outdoorsy has three types of cancellation and refund policies that will keep you at ease. We’d say it’s one of the best RV rental sites out there.
But What About The Owners?
That’s reassuring for the renters. What about the RV owners who will rent their motorhomes to strangers? Well, you’ll be delighted to know that Outdoorsy has an insurance policy of up to a million dollars!
Yes, a million dollars. Renters will have to penalize even based on a comprehensive collision. But bear in mind that this policy does not include non-collision damages like broken equipment inside the RV.
In most cases, you won’t find the chance to complain because renters are always careful and rarely damage anything inside the RV. Outdoorsy will collect details from the renters for a background check before they notify you about the request.
Hence, your RV will be in safe hands. Additionally, the peer-to-peer dealing system allows you to get to know the renter since you’ll meet them in person or talk to them directly through text or over the phone.
Are Outdoorsy Reviews Good Enough?
You’ll be glad to know that the company has received over 5000 reviews among which a majority of satisfied clients showered Outdoorsy with 5-star ratings. It has an average rating of 4.87 out of 5 stars. But hey, that’s pretty impressive, right? Most people don’t even have a CGPA that high!
The icing on the cake is that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given Outdoorsy RV rental an A+ where it almost bagged a 5-star status with an overall of 76 reviews.
The Pricing
Now let’s get to the real deal. Pricing is a deal-breaking factor for most people. So you should have knowledge about the price range of different vehicles on Outdoorsy before you take a step forward. Generally, there’s a huge difference between the prices in different states and cities.
But, we’ve managed to collect enough data to give you a rough idea of what each type of vehicle may cost you.
- Class A RVs can cost you anything from $175 to $275 for each night.
- Class B RVs have a little lower price ranging from $100 to $200 for each night.
- Class C RVs are pretty much as expensive as class Bs and can cost you $150 to $200 a night.
- Pop-up trailers are the most reasonable vehicles and have a price range of $50 to $100 a night.
- Travel trailers can cost you around $50 to $125 per night.
- Fifth wheels may require approximately $60 to $150 a night.
However, as we’ve told you earlier, you must be aware that these are just estimations. Prices may vary massively depending on your location and any festivals or holidays at the time of renting.
If you don’t have a clear idea about the rate at your destination, simply browse through a few options. You’ll be able to know the average rate and decide accordingly. Apart from that, some RV owners offer great deals for off-season rents.
We’d advise you not to miss out on those if you’re free. Decide on an exciting destination that will make your trip enjoyable on cold winter days and avail of reasonable discounts on your rent! We’ll discuss the pros and cons of choosing Outdoorsy below.
Pros
- Massive collection of different types of vehicles.
- Pickup locations across the US, Mexico, Australia, Canada, and Mexico.
- Outdoorsy will take care of all the financial transactions and paperwork for you.
- Attractive insurance policy.
- Lower prices than most traditional RV rentals.
- Excellent customer service and roadside assistance.
- Vehicle set up and delivery on demand.
Cons
- Some owners don’t allow pets in their RVs.
- If you don’t complete your booking, you’ll receive promotional emails from Outdoorsy.
- Prices vary depending on the amount of customers and time of season.
RV Share
RV share is also a peer-to-peer RV rental platform similar to Outdoorsy. However, the services offered by this company don’t match its rival.
Although we call it an RV rental platform, you can rent a lot more than an RV if you use this site. Approved renters can easily find a ride for themselves from private owners. Be it an RV, tent camper, travel trailer, or camper van, you’ll find everything here.
Why Should You Choose RV Share?
There are numerous recreational vehicle rentals out there. Then what makes RVshare RV rental stand out amongst them?
To start with, RV share features a huge variety of premium RVs that you’ll be happy to get your hands on. They provide 24 hours roadside assistance so that you don’t have to face any problems alone. RV Share will always have you back and guide you to safety no matter the time.
Searching for a vehicle is not a task if you’re using RVShare. Just fill out your requirements for the body, style, and type of vehicle you’re looking for, and explore through tons of exciting RV listings. You’ll also have to enter the details of your destination.
And if you’re unsure of where you want to go, don’t worry, they’ll help you with that decision too. RV Share will provide you with a list of the most exotic and convenient vacation spots for an RV so that you can enjoy your trip without any second thoughts.
Moreover, RV Share offers you a 5% cashback if you plan to use their services frequently. Along with that, their customer service team will help you access the nearest towing company if you need one.
Why Is RV Share A Favorite Among Motorhome Rental By Owners?
This online platform offers motorhome owners RV rental insurance coverage of $500,000 in liability. Apart from that, owners also acquire comprehensive and collision penalties depending on their RV’s value, but this doesn’t exceed $200,000.
If you wish to upgrade your policy for a slightly higher nominal fee, you can attain insurance coverage of up to a million dollars! RVs that are more than 15 years old will automatically gain liability coverage.
The most reassuring part is that this coverage includes damage due to natural disasters such as earthquakes or hailstorms. Both owners and renters can sign up for free and access the marvelous service of this rental platform. The insurance period starts right when the renter signs the agreement.
Both owner and renter remain happy. That’s because the homeowner knows the vehicle is in safe hands, meanwhile, the renter gets to experience a vacation in a well-maintained RV without any kind of operational issues.
Now you know how tough it is to compare RV rental services when both of them offer such desirable features. Thank us later! For now, let’s proceed without any further ado.
What Do Customers Think Of RV Share?
The RVshare reviews are pretty good. They’ve received 4-star reviews from over 150 customers along with a couple of 5 stars as well. This makes their average rating a 4.40 out of 5.00 on Trustpilot in recent times.
From the information that we’d gathered, customers are pretty satisfied with their services. Perhaps this is why the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given them an A+ rating.
Sure, they have a remarkable rating, but they’re still a couple of steps behind Outdoorsy in this regard. However, they’re the second-best in this field and that’s commendable.
The Pricing
You’ll find a lot of similarities between the price ranges of RVshare and Outdoorsy. You should keep in mind that the prices vary a lot depending on the destination and number of available customers. But here’s an approximation we managed to make.
- Class A RVs will cost you from $175 to up to $275 a night.
- Class B requires a reasonable $100 to $200 per night.
- Class C can cost anything ranging from $150 to $200 per night.
- Pop-up trailers will cost around $50 to $100 a night.
- Travel trailers require $50 to $125 for a night.
- Fifth wheels can cost $60 to $150 per night.
Again, if you’re not familiar with the current rate of the vehicle you wish to rent, we’d suggest you browse through the available offers to acquire a rough estimation of the average rate.
And if you know the normal rate but come across offers demanding more, make sure you consider any local festivals or holidays before reviewing the company negatively.
To make things more interesting, some RV owners offer unlimited miles, so you don’t have to pay any extra costs. However, others may provide up to 100 miles free of charge after which you’ll have to pay a fixed amount for each extra mile that you use.
We’ve noticed that the offers providing free miles don’t last very long. So don’t hesitate to complete the booking if you come across one because someone else may already grab it in a matter of a few seconds.
Take a look at the pros and cons of choosing RVshare.
Pros
- Optional $1M insurance for owners who want to upgrade.
- Easy browsing through hundreds of listings online without having to show up in person.
- 5% cash back for customers who intend to book more rides.
- 24 hours roadside assistance to help you in times of adversity.
- Renters acquire a $10,000 peace of mind guarantee when they pay using the Share Payment System.
- RVs are well-maintained and frequently checked for any operational problems.
Cons
- Remote cities won’t provide you with many options when it comes to certain models and styles.
- Prices of each category of the vehicle will vary depending on the state and season.
- Sometimes, homeowners take a lot of time to approve the request from the renter.
- A few people have complained about customer service officials not returning their emails.
Outdoorsy Vs RVshare Rental Payments
If you want to get your RV listed on one of these platforms instead of renting one, we’re sure you’re more interested in getting to know the payment details.
We know how crucial financial procedures are for owners. And hence, we’ve tried to compare the payment methods for both Outdoorsy and RV Share so that you can make a fair choice.
Platform | % Of Amount Paid After Booking Is Finalized | When Are The Payouts Released? | Payment Transferred |
Outdoorsy | 100% | Held for 24 hours starting from the day of pick-up and then released | 3-5 business days |
RVShare | 100% | Released on the first business day after pick-up | 1-2 business days |
Outdoorsy Vs RVshare Roadside Assistance
As we’ve mentioned earlier, both Outdoorsy and RVshare provide 24 hours roadside assistance. The insurance package from Outdoorsy includes roadside assistance. But if you don’t choose that package, you’ll have to pay an additional USD 15 or CAD 18 per day to avail the service.
On the other hand, RV Share does not provide a breakdown of how much they cost for roadside assistance. Instead, they include it in their service charge.
Outdoorsy Vs RVshare Insurance Policy
The insurance coverage packages of both Outdoorsy and RVshare are pretty attractive. These packages allow renters and owners to be in a peace of mind knowing that they won’t have to incur any losses due to any deals using the platforms.
So, let’s make a quick comparison between the insurance packages offered by both companies.
Cancellation Policies
Whether you go for Outdoorsy or RVshare, you will have three cancellation policies at your disposal. Each package has its specific conditions and refund options. So, let’s take a look at them.
COVID-19 Response
The novel Coronavirus has inevitably taken over the world. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many customers days before their reserved dates.
Since all businesses have been considerate of the limitations of their customers in this time of adversity, let’s take a look at how Outdoorsy and RVshare have tackled the cancellation problems caused by this pandemic.
From what we’ve gathered, it looks like the individual companies refund their share of the money. But unfortunately, they can’t force private owners to alter their cancellation policy. Hence, whether you’ll get a 100% refund depends massively on the owner of the RV.
Therefore, we’d say it’s wise to go through the policies of the owner as well when you are renting an RV from such platforms.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Q) How much does it cost to rent an RV for a week?
Price range depends on the class of the RV. Class A RVs come for $175-$275. Class B comes for $100-$200. Class C comes for $150-$200. All rates are per night.
Q) What percentage does RVshare take?
The percentage of commission that RVshare takes depends on a lot of factors. Hence, it varies with each other. You’ll be able to view the commission from your booking by going to the ‘RV Share Fees’ tab in the dashboard.
Q) What is the cheapest RV rental?
Both Outdoorsy and RVshare have roughly the same price ranges. Corporate RV rental companies are usually pricier than peer-to-peer rentals. So you won’t be able to rent an RV for a price lower than that.
Q) What percentage does Outdoorsy take?
About 70% to 80% of the reservation cost you pay goes to Outdoorsy.
Q: Can you make money with RVshare and Outdoorsy?
Yes, if you own a motorhome or trailer, you can earn more than $30,000 a year by renting it out to peer-to-peer rentals like RVshare and Outdoorsy.
Q: What is the best RV rental company?
Currently, Outdoorsy is ruling the RV rental world.
Q: Is there an AirBNB for RVs?
AirBNB.com lets its users list their RVs for rent. So, we can say that there is an Airbnb for RVs.
Q: Is RVing cheaper than hotels?
There are a lot of factors that determine the answer to this question. But if you drive a small RV, then you can end up saving a lot of money when compared to staying in a hotel.
Q: Can you rent an RV to live in?
You can’t lease an RV, but you can rent it for a short period for vacations and short trips.
Final Verdict
Overall, using Outdoorsy and RVshare have their share of benefits. For instance, we’ve noticed that RVshare is comparatively a little cheaper than Outdoorsy. Besides, their service charges and deductibles are also lower than that of Outdoorsy. So it will be an economical choice for you. On the other hand, if you want top-notch customer service and assistance, and are willing to spend a few extra bucks, then Outdoorsy will be the perfect choice for you.
