RV Rental by Owner

RV rental by owner means you hire a motorhome, camper van or trailer directly from a private owner instead of a rental company. On Outdoorsy, the platform behind our listings, you book through the site, pay the owner's rate plus a 10% guest service fee, and choose a protection package for the trip. It can give you more choice and a more personal handover, but the owner sets many of the rules, so read each listing carefully.

How RV rental by owner works on Outdoorsy

You search by location and dates, choose a listing, and send a booking request or use Instant Book if the owner offers it. While you wait for confirmation, you upload your driving licence for driver verification. Payment is taken through Outdoorsy as shown at checkout, and the full pick-up address appears once the booking is confirmed. Between booking and departure you can message the owner about the details. The platform sits between you and the owner, so payment goes through Outdoorsy rather than a bank transfer to a stranger.

Bookings made through our partner Outdoorsy include insurance and payment protection. The cover you choose, and the deductible, depend on the protection package. A basic kitchen kit comes on every listing, and separate cleaning fees are not allowed, because they are folded into one prep fee. Bedding and linens can be an optional extra. For a wider look at renting an RV, see our RV rental guide.

What you can rent from an owner

Owner listings cover almost every type of RV. Drivable options include Class A, Class B and Class C motorhomes, and towable options include travel trailers. Typical nightly rates run from about $150 to $350 for an RV, with travel trailers commonly $75 to $225, so a towable can suit a tighter budget if you already have a tow vehicle. Check the tow rating of your own vehicle first. See Class A, B and C explained if the terms are new.

Protection packages and the deductible

Guests can choose between four packages: Essential, Preferred, Peace of Mind and Stationary. Each gives liability, comprehensive and collision cover, though Stationary cover differs. Liability is at the state minimum unless you pick a higher limit, with $500,000 available on the Peace of Mind package. Comprehensive and collision cover can reach $300,000, based on the value of the RV.

Three points are worth knowing:

• The cover is secondary: if you have your own insurance that applies, it pays first. The Outdoorsy package is primary only where no other policy covers the loss.
• The deductible applies per loss: two separate incidents mean two deductibles. Your security deposit is applied towards it.
• Some things are excluded: mechanical breakdown, normal wear and tear, interior damage, damage caused by your pets and damage that cannot be confirmed as happening during the rental. Entering Mexico voids cover for the whole booking.

24/7 roadside assistance is optional. Cover for the trip starts when you take the keys and ends when you hand them back. Read the full terms on Outdoorsy's protection packages page.

Fees and deposits

The 10% guest service fee is charged on the rental amount and any owner fees, such as delivery, and is shown at checkout. It does not include protection packages or taxes. The security deposit is a hold, not a charge. It becomes a charge only if the owner claims for something like a toll, dumping fees or a rule breach, or if an insurance claim is filed. The hold may take a few days to disappear from your bank balance after release. Our guide to RV rental costs covers nightly rates, and the Outdoorsy help centre explains how the security deposit works.

How to vet an owner

• Read the reviews, especially recent ones, and look for comments about cleanliness and the handover.
• Check the photos: real photos of the actual RV, including the washroom and bed, are a good sign.
• Look at response time: an owner who answers quickly before booking is likely to answer on the trip.
• Read the house rules and policies: pets, smoking, generator hours, mileage and cancellation.
• Keep everything on the platform: messages and payments on Outdoorsy keep a record if something goes wrong.

For more on how the platform works, see our Outdoorsy review.

Delivery and setup

Delivery is optional and up to the owner, who sets the fee. It can vary with distance, fuel and setup time. If you ask for a stationary setup at a campground, your protection switches to the Stationary package and the RV must stay put for the whole trip. That is often a lower-cost option for a first trip or a big family event. If you plan to drive it, choose pick-up or a delivered RV you can move. Allow 30 to 60 minutes at pick-up and about 45 minutes at drop-off, and complete the in-app handoff with the owner because it is the record if a claim is needed.

House rules: pets, smoking and mileage

Owners set their own rules. Pet policies can include size limits and fees, and smoking is often banned, with a charge from the deposit if the rule is broken. Mileage and generator allowances vary from one listing to the next, and extra miles or hours are charged per unit. Ask about these in the message thread, and agree anything unusual in writing before you pay. Always check the listing for hook-up and tank requirements, including whether you must empty the tanks before return.

Owner or company: pros and cons

• Pros: a wide range of RV types and prices, a personal walk-through, delivery options and listings you can compare side by side.
• Cons: rules and condition vary from one owner to the next, availability depends on one person's calendar, and there is no standard fleet.

Prefer a fleet? Our guide to how to choose an RV rental compares owners and fleet companies. On a tighter budget, see the budget RV rental tips.

How hire works

1. Search by location, dates and the number of travellers.
2. Check the listing: RV class, sleeping places, rules, deposit and cancellation policy.
3. Book through our partner Outdoorsy, where insurance and payment protection come with every booking and 24/7 roadside assistance is optional.
4. Collect or have it delivered, then complete the handoff in the app.

FAQs

What happens if the owner cancels my booking?

Under Outdoorsy's cancellation policy, if the owner cancels a confirmed booking you get a full refund of everything you paid. Keep all messages on the platform so there is a record.

What happens if the RV is damaged?

The owner files a claim, and the protection package responds subject to its terms and your deductible. The security deposit goes towards the deductible. Take photos at pick-up and drop-off.

Can I take an owner's RV into Canada or Mexico?

Canada, usually yes: Outdoorsy cover applies to losses in the US and Canada. Mexico, no: cover is void for the whole booking if the RV enters or tries to enter Mexico. Owners can add their own limits, so check the listing rules.

Will an owner let me bring a pet?

Some do. Pet-friendly listings are marked, and owners can set size limits and fees, so ask before you book.

Can an owner deliver the RV to a campground?

Many can, for a distance-based fee. Delivery is optional on the owner's side, so look for the "Get it delivered" option on the listing.

Find owners near you: RV rental near me.