RV Rentals Guide: How much is it to rent a camper?

Why Rent?

The idea of owning an RV sounds exciting, but it comes with substantial costs and responsibilities. Renting, on the other hand, offers several benefits:

• Flexibility: Rent an RV only when you need it, without the long-term commitment. Save your driveway space and rent a van only when you want to take an adventure!
  
• Cost-Effective: Avoid the high purchase price, maintenance, and storage fees associated with RV ownership.
  
• Variety: Choose from different models and sizes depending on your trip’s requirements.
  
• Try Before You Buy: Renting allows you to experience RV life before making a big investment.

Fleet vs Peer-to-Peer Rentals

Before discovering how much is it to rent a camper, you’ll need to decide which rental model works best for you. There are two main types of rental models you’ll find today:

Fleet Rentals

Fleet rentals are managed by companies that own and maintain a fleet of vehicles. They offer reliability, customer support, and often, newer models. Some downsides to renting from a traditional fleet, is that it could be difficult to get immediate support during your rental. The vehicles will also lack variety, as most fleets purchase or produce several of the same model.

• Newer models
• Standardized quality
• Lack of variety
• More difficult to get support

Peer-to-Peer Rentals

Peer-to-peer platforms like GoCamp connect you with individual van owners who want to rent their own vehicles. Since each van owner sets their own price, these rentals can be more affordable and offer a unique, personalized experience. You’ll usually find a wider variety of makes and models of vehicles, as well as many options that have been custom built and outfitted. You’re much more likely to find those wonderful gems. Also, you’ll have the ability to connect the van owner anytime during your rental for support.

• Diverse variety of vehicles
• Competitive pricing
• Direct owner support
• Personalized experience

How are RV Rentals Priced?

When researching how much is it to rent a camper, you are sure to discover that prices vary widely. It can be difficult to determine if you’re getting a good deal or being hung out to dry. To help understand how rentals are priced, here are a few basic factors that contribute to the overal rental cost.

Model and Amenities

Newer camper van models will usually have more features and will cost a little more than other models. When it comes to price, amenities like a toilets, showers, number of sleeping spaces, and AC/heaters will play the biggest role. You can still find great deals with the peer-to-peer rental model, since van owners will compete to bring you the lowest cost.

Season and Demand

Peak travel seasons, such as summer and holidays, often see higher rental rates due to increased demand. Booking during the off-season can result in significant savings. High season is generally considered to stary around May and last until September.

Rental Duration

Longer rentals often come with discounts. Renting for a week or more can reduce the daily rate compared to shorter rentals. At GoCamp, discounts start at seven nights. For rentals 20 nights or longer, the savings are even greater!

Let’s Break Down the Cost

Now that we have a general idea on what influences how much it is to rent a camper, here some other basic charges and fees that go into the final rental total.

Insurance

Most rental agreements require you to have insurance coverage. For peer-to-peer services, your own automobile “rental insurance” won’t cut it. Becuase of this, peer-to-peer services usually offer insurance coverage when renting. Some include it in the rental price, while others offer it as an add-on. At GoCamp, every rental comes with insurance included.

Roadside Assistance

Having a roadside assistance plan can provide peace of mind during your trip. Some rental companies offer this as part of their package or as an optional add-on. For peer-to-peer rental platforms, each van owner will determine if roadside assistance is required or not. Review the check-out page for clarification, or reach out to a GoCamp Counselor for more information.

Taxes and Service Charge

These costs are usually unavoidable and include charges that help the rental company operate. The amount of service charge varies from company to company, but you can expect it to be around 10% in most cases. The amount of taxes will depend on the rental location. Some locations do not charge tax at all, so if you’re looking for a deal, check out places like Portland, OR.

Add-Ons and Extras

Many rental companies offer extra amenities like delivery, extra time, bike racks, camp stoves, WiFi, and even canoes. These can enhance your trip but come at an additional cost. Check the van description for a list of optional add-ons.

One-Way Rental Fees

You can often schedule a one-way rental for an additional fee. You’ll need to reach out to the rental company to ensure they offer this service and to determine which vans are eligible. You can read about one-way GoCamp rentals here!

How to Cut Costs

As you can see, there are many factors when finding out how much it is to rent a camper. To make your camper van or RV rental more affordable, try these tips:

• Book Early: Secure your rental well in advance to take advantage of lower rates and better availability. It’s just like booking a plane ticket. For the lowest cost, plan ahead!
  
• Be Flexible with Dates: If possible, travel during the off-season. You can rent the same van for much less if you book for the fall and winter months
  
• Check for Promotions: Most companies will either have this on the main website, or will offer promotions through marketing emails. Sign up for the GoCamp newsletter to get special deals right to your email.
  
• Be a Repeat Renter: Companies love when renters come back again and again. And they’ll usually reward you for doing so! Check with the rental company to see if they can offer you a discount for coming back (GoCamp does offer repeat renter discounts!)

See You on the Road

Renting an RV offers a fantastic way to experience the freedom of the open road without the hefty investment of purchasing one. With various types of campers available and a range of factors influencing rental prices, it can be difficult to determine how much it is to rent a camper. Hopefully this guide offered some insight on how rentals are priced and what you can expect when putting together the total cost. Remember to consider additional costs like insurance and roadside assistance, and look for ways to save by booking early and checking for promotions.

Not sure where to go next? No problem, check out our other helpful travel guides for trip inspiration! Or, you can browse through available rental options in your area at GoCamp.com. Happy trails!